Historical February–March 2011 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Overview The Skinker DeBaliviere Community is a beautiful historic neighborhood with tree-lined streets and brick residences located in the west end of the City of St. Louis.
It is bounded by the city limits on the west, Delmar Boulevard on the north, DeBaliviere Avenue on the east, and Lindell Boulevard on the south.
The community is within walking distance of Washington University, Forest Park, and the University City Loop. Neighborhoods within Skinker DeBaliviere include Kingsbury Square, Nina Place, Parkview, Rosedale and Washington Heights. Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council (SDCC) was established in 1966. Delmar Baptist Church, (now New Cote Brilliante Church of God), Grace Methodist, St. Roch Church, and Washington University, along with neighborhood associations of the times – Rosedale Neighbors and Washington Heights – came together to improve the neighborhood. Through the years, the nature of some of the programs, as well as community’s residential base, has changed.
The role of the Council has evolved as well.
It continues to serve as a forum where residents raise concerns, forge solutions, and address problems and assists in the ongoing improvement of the community, working with City of St. Louis, residents and the Alderman to keep a finger to the pulse of the community and to identify, assess, and resolve immediate concerns. Strategic Planning Process In 2010, the SDCC Board of Directors created a Long-Range Planning Committee, the membership of which is noted in Appendix A, to make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding SDCC’s near term goals and strategies.
The Committee had a robust process to garner input from key constituencies as well as from others outside the neighborhood to help form its recommendations.
The following inputs provided valuable information and the survey/questions for each are attached in Appendix B: • Neighborhood-wide online survey • Board of Directors survey • Benchmarking interviews with peer community based organizations in the region • One on one interviews with and surveys of individual and institutional stakeholders in the SDCC service area An extensive array of census data was also compiled and is available in summary form as Appendix C.
The Committee reviewed and discussed findings and developed the following for the Board of Directors consideration and adoption: A. Statement of organization values B. Vision and mission statement C. Goals and strategies D. Outcome measures Statement of Organizational Values The SDCC operates based on the following core principles which provide a framework for decisionmaking, leadership and action: Service to and promotion of the neighborhood Inclusiveness and diversity Partnership and collaboration Accountability and transparency * Respect and integrity Vision and Mission Statement The vision of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council is to be the connector, coordinator and facilitator of all aspects necessary to maintain and enhance the diverse, desirable and thriving community of Skinker DeBaliviere.
The mission of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council is to serve and promote the community and advocate on behalf of the residents to enhance their quality of life. Goals and Strategies SDCC has six primary goals to guide the work of the Board of Directors which should be reviewed annually and revised as needed.
The strategies noted in each of the six goals are recommended for implementation in 2011 and progress for each should be reviewed quarterly with new or ongoing actions developed for 2012. Goal 1. Preserve and improve the physical condition of the community, particularly housing, by being proactive as it relates to neighborhood planning, implementing both residential and commercial improvements. Strategies to achieve this goal include: Create a work group that by June 30, 2011 will examine and prepare a report to the SDCC and SDCHC Boards of Directors that recommends the most effective organizational/operational solution to cause development and redevelopment that is in the best interest of the Skinker DeBaliviere community (SDCC and SDCHC). In collaboration with the SDCHC, undertake the research, assessment, and planning activities necessary to position the Council/Community to begin a comprehensive master planning process for the continued improvement and development of the community. Advance commercial development that serves the needs of the residents by continuing to support the Delmar Commercial Committee and by creating a work group to consider the creation of a DeBaliviere Commercial Committee in collaboration with the DeBaliviere Place Neighborhood Association and other stakeholders. Connect with adjacent neighborhoods to work collaboratively on these issues. Goal 2. Position, promote, and market the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood as a desirable community in which to live and work. Strategies to achieve this goal include: Establish a marketing work group or committee to draft a marketing plan, which should include web site improvements, use of other technology and other communication tools to advance marketing priorities and then execute the plan once approved. Develop regular and consistent communication strategies. Goal 3. Create opportunities for neighbors to know one another and advance neighborhood cohesion. Strategies to achieve this goal include: Develop a more robust, diverse, and inclusive volunteer base and new leaders that reflects the composition of the neighborhood Improve communications systems, including block captains, email, newsletters and by making good use of the neighborhood newspaper The Times of Skinker DeBaliviere with regular submissions of articles, calendar items, and minutes of council meetings. Organize diverse and inclusive annual events, develop background information for each, and create a plan that evaluates current events and considers new events to advance community engagement. Reestablish among residents and institutional partners the role and identity of SDCC as a diverse and inclusive organization, and how it serves the community Goal 4. Create a safer neighborhood. Strategies to achieve this goal include: Create a security action plan by April 30, 2011 and implement as appropriate. Educate residents about issues related to individual, household and neighborhood safety and security. Connect with adjacent neighborhoods to work collaboratively on these issues. Goal 5. Actively engage institutional partners and other neighborhood groups such as The TIMES of Skinker DeBaliviere to collectively advance the goals and activities of SDCC. Strategies to achieve this goal include: Reestablish among institutional partners the role and identity of SDCC. Develop regular and consistent communication strategies with institutional partners. Clarify and restate the communication and liaison responsibilities of the Board members representing member institution. Goal 6. Establish and maintain policies and procedures to ensure fiscal and performance accountability to the community and funding institutions. Strategies to achieve this goal include: Revise Bylaws and adopt corporate compliance policies for SDCC. Reexamine & recalibrate the committee structure, role and charge, mission, leadership & membership of each – to achieve the goals of the SDCC.
This should be accomplished by June 30, 2011. Hire executive director and develop a cohesive organizational staffing structure. Clarify boundaries within SDCC service area in which SDCC will actively work. Measuring Progress for 2011 Progress for each goal noted below should be reviewed quarterly at each SDCC Board of Directors meeting.
The following note measures of advancement for each goal by the end of Fiscal Year 2011: * Goal 1: Work group completes it report and presents it to SDCC Board of Directors for action.
The SDCC Board of Directors develops a strategy for advancing housing development, redevelopment and improvement within its service area and adjacent neighborhoods. Goal 2: Create a marketing committee that submits a plan for SDCC Board of Directors’ approval and implementation Goal 3: Create a comprehensive calendar of diverse and inclusive events and neighborhood involvement activities; develop a robust, diverse, and inclusive volunteer data base; develop a strong communications system that provides the basis for communicating with volunteers and SDCC residents. Goal 4: The security committee submits an action plan for the SDCC Board of Directors approval and implementation. Goal 5: There is regular and consistent communication to institutional partners by SDCC staff and board about the work of the Council; institutional partners attend events. * Goal 6: Budget is balanced; Bylaws have been reviewed and revised as necessary; Executive director is hired; SDCC committee structure is reviewed and revised as necessary.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2011.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Appendices A, B, C referenced but not printed in issue; censusdata and underlying survey instruments unavailable here, not fabricated.
Original source: SD_Times2011_02.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 5; PDF page(s) 1, 5.
