Looking back at a year of community events, development, and growth!
Thank you to all of our neighbors, friends, partners, and supporters for the countless volunteer hours, words of support, and attendance at our events over the last twelve months. While the organization has returned to our roots of an all-volunteer effort for the time being, we haven't slowed down. Read on for a recap of new homes built and sold, music festivals, farmers' markets, and stabilized vacant homes finding new life.
For the first time in nearly 8 years, new homes were constructed and sold in the neighborhood!
3 New Homes in Old North
The long awaited Monroe Street Homes project took flight in 2017 with three new homes completed in September. The energy efficient modular homes were brought in sections from Iowa and placed on foundations, bringing life to a long empty block along N 14th Street.
The House Tour in May featured a tour of one of the homes, beautifully styled by local company Carousel Home Staging.
By the end of September, two of the homes were off the market leaving just one left waiting to welcome the next new family to Old North! The final home was sold in early 2018, marking the project complete!
11th Season of the North City Farmer's Market
Since 2007, Saturdays in the summer in Old North are filled with fruits, vegetables, art and community. Neighbors and volunteers work together throughout the year to manage the 13th Street Community Garden, growing more than 1600 pounds of food per year on average that is old each week at the North City Farmer's Market.
Central Print provided garden-themed print making activities each week during the market, including screen printing and paper making using plants from the garden. Neighbors also hosted a Pollinator Day, bringing in educational activities for kids to learn about bees and butterflies.
Since 2008, the market as accepted EBT cards, providing a much needed access point for fresh, local, organic produce. In 2017, the Market introduced a "dollar model", selling everything grown for just $1 per pound or less!
Annual House Tour & Spring Fling
May 13th, 2017 saw Crown Square turned into the Annual Spring Fling Vintage Festival and House Tour. More than 30 local vendors lined N. 14th Street with everything from vintage decorations from the 1940s to children's toys from the 1990s.
The House Tour featured 15 stops around the neighborhood, including a shuttle and special admittance to both The Griot Museum of Black History and the George B. Vashon Museum on historic St. Louis Avenue. The entire day let visitors capture a glimpse into the rich history of Old North and surrounding communities.
Park's Building Finds New Tenant in Restaurant Contest
Community Partners Rise Community Development, Equifax Foundation, Small Business Development Center, and the North City Business Center launched a competition to find a restaurant tenant for the former Park's Drug building at the corner of N. 14th and St. Louis Ave. Out of more than 200 applications, 10 finalists were presented to the community and a panel of judges for voting.
Good Life Growing took home 1st place and two years of free rent for their "Old North Provisions" concept, bringing a new fresh foods grocery store and fresh buffet concept to the neighborhood. Expect a grand opening in 2018!
2nd Annual North x Old North A Success
Five local bands called the Crown Square stage home on September 30th as the 2nd Annual North x Old North music festival brought neighbors and visitors to their feet. In addition to 20 local arts vendors, the music line up included:
Renaissance Rhythm & Blues
Mt. Thelonious
J'Demul
Soulard Blues Band
Roland Johnson
Other Notable 2017 Events
Family Dollar opens at the corner of N. Florissant and St. Louis Ave in April, bringing in access to everyday items like shampoo, toothpaste, towels, food items, and more.
St. Louis Place Neighbors and Old North join forces to host National Night Out in Crown Plaza with grilling, face painting, open mic, and a bounce house.
New Pocket Park is installed along N. 14th Street by a team of volunteers from Rebuilding Together St. Louis
Restoration Group sells stabilized home on Benton Street to new neighbor. Extensive Rehab work is currently under way!
Building Futures completed the renovation of the former Old North Co-Op building on N 13th Street, providing more space for their youth programming with direct access to the community garden.
Local resident completes another historic renovation project of a two-story building in the 1300 block of Benton, creating two new apartments for rent in the neighborhood.
Zuka Arts installs new collaborative mural along Montgomery at N 14th Street.
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