The passion and the pride of restoring historic St. Louis buildings and neighborhoods will be on full display at the DeSales Community Housing Corporation’s 1st Annual “Better Neighborhoods Awards,” being held Thursday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the new City Garden Montessori School in Botanical Heights.

Five recipients will be honored for projects around the City and a Better Neighborhoods Person of the Year named. KMOX’s Debbie Monterrey, a City resident who lives near Botanical Heights, will emcee the event and present the awards. Mayor Slay is expected to speak. The DeSales Community Housing Corporation is a community-based non-profit organization that promotes revitilization, affordable housing and good property management in 6 City neighborhoods.

Award Winners

Urban Improvement Company (UIC)

Once called “McRee Town,” the area around the Missouri Botanical Gardens and Tower Grove Road has been completely transformed (see featured photo of McRee and Tower Grove Road). Brent Crittenden, Sarah Gibson and Chris Hulse of Urban Improvement Company (UIC) will be honored for their work in Botanical Heights, including the renovation of the event location (the new home of City Garden Montessori) and an old gas station that will house a new restaurant opening this fall. UIC has created more than $13-million dollars of development in just 5 years, with plans for more!

Greater Ville Neighborhood Preservation Commission and Northside Community
for Dick Gregory Place Apartments

Sometimes a picture truly is worth a thousand words! Just check out the before and after of this building, lovingly restored by the Greater Ville Neighborhood Preservation Commission and Northside Community!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

South Grand Community Improvement District

The thriving area around Grand and Arsenal in the Tower Grove area looks even better these days, thanks to the South Grand Great Streets Initiative. Thanks to money provided by federal stimulus funds, a six-block area got new sidewalks, curb-cuts, plantings, trees, rain gardens, pervious concrete, lighting and more. The current look of the street is only the beginning!

Michelle and Mehra Veremakis
Mixed-Use renovation at 2800 Shenandoah

Carondelet Community Betterment Federation and Carondelet Housing Corporation
for Carondelet 21st Century Art Program

Person of the Year
Stephen Acree
Executive Director of the Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance

A City native who has worked in three mayoral administrations, Acree was the unanimous choice of the awards selection committee. Under Stephen’s leadership the RHCDA’s recent projects include Crown Square in Old North St. Louis, the Dick Gregory Place Apartments (also an award-winner), Sinai Village in East St. Louis and Fairview Village Senior Apartments in Jennings. His award will be presented by Peter Benoist, president and CEO of Enterprise Bank and Trust, a generous sponsor of the event.

Written by Debbie Monterrey
dcmonterrey@cbs.com