“It’s amazing how that piece of property has gone downhill.” Sound familiar? It should, you’ve probably said it yourself recently. But, like people in general, you made the comment and immediately forgot the problem until the next time you passed the property. Fortunately, the West St. Louis Businessmen’s Association at 325 DeBaliviere is aware of the problem and has decided to take action.
At its last meeting the association voted to provide a tenant screening and maintenance service for area landlords and to help upgrade the area through local businesses. In addition to association members, the meeting was attended by ten to fifteen business representatives from adjoining areas.
Mr. Bryon Tompras an active association member, stated that at present the two services are not profit-making ventures. Within a few months, however, they hope that the projects will be self-sustaining and eventually show a small profit.
Describing the association’s motives, Mr. Hyman Kaufman, executive secretary said, “Our area doesn’t deserve what has happened to it. We are close to the park and to transportation, we have easy access to downtown and shopping.” With this in the area’s favor, he feels that with care and concern the business district could again be built up to what it once was.
Basically, the aim of the screening service is residential improvement. According to Mr. Tompras landlords recognize the need for screening tenants, but few of them do it. Once they have a deposit, their screening is at an end. Taking over from the landlord who perhaps hasn’t the time or the knowledge the association screens prospective tenants through use of references and credit applications. An interview is also conducted and a followup study is done. Landlords using the service are charged a fee; there is no charge to the tenant.
To insure that both landlord and tenant fulfill their obligations, an agreement, drawn up by the Municipal Businessmen’s Development Commission, is signed by both parties. Mr. Kaufman feels that good landlords using the service can obtain reliable tenants and thereby improve the quality of rental property in our area. In return the tenants are assured of well-maintained apartments and responsible management.
For budgetary reasons the screening service, has not yet been advertised, so information about it passes by word of mouth and telephone calls. Mr. Kaufman says, however, that at the next meeting funds will be allocated and an advertising campaign will be launched.
In addition to the screening service, the association is also working with businessmen in the area to try to improve and maintain the neighborhood commercially.
The businessmen have voted to pay a $20 a month subscription fee for the next four months (September to December) to try to accomplish this goal. At the end of the four month period, Kaufman says the program should be on its feet so that the monthly fee could be replaced by annual membership dues. In the interest of fairness, each business would be charged according to size. It was emphasized that members expecting to vote and take active part in association meetings must have paid their dues at the time of the meetings.
Of the estimated 100 merchants in the area served by the association ( Delmar-Lindell-Skinker-Union). Kaufman says there are 20 paid up members. By December he hopes to have 70-80% participation.
In order to get this participation Kaufman has launched a three-way campaign. He plans to contact each business by letter, by telephone and personally. In these contacts he emphasizes that conditions in the area must be improved and that improvement can only come through a joint effort. He also makes it clear that both the financial support and the suggestions of the businessmen are needed. At the same time he wants them to know that this is more than a one time contribution. Only by continual, collective work can the job be done successfully, and only then will new businesses feel confident to move into our area.
Volunteers are needed to man the office for one to two hour periods while Mr. Kaufman is making personal calls on businessmen. Duties would be restricted to answering the telephone, taking messages, and calling people to acquaint them with the screening service. People who would like to volunteer time, but who must stay home, are needed to phone about the screening service. A listing of names and numbers are available at association headquarters. Anyone interested may contact Mr. Kaufman at 325 DeBaliviere, 862-6945 or at home, 863-1107.
Mr. Kaufman says the association has tenants applying for apartments and at present none are available. Any apartment owner interested should get in touch with him. Also the association has union maintenance men for plumbing, electrical service, carpentry, etc. willing to work for apartment houses or businesses at reasonable rates.
Originally published in The Paper, October 1970.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1970_10.pdf, printed page(s) 4.
