Historical March–April 2013 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Todd Swanstrom, a political scientist, is the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Community and Public Policy at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
He has been in St. Louis for over 11 years and previously taught at Saint Louis University He is engaged with the Community Builders Network of St. Louis.
This network includes all community development nonprofits and attempts to increase their capacity by providing training.
As a part of his role in this endeavor, Swanstrom has looked at Skinker DeBaliviere and its community council.
I asked the professor to assess Skinker DeBaliviere at this time when we are engaged in a planning effort.
He said, “I don’t worry about Skinker DeBaliviere.” He feels the neighborhood is very well-situated close to the Loop, Washington University, the coming trolley, the greenway, and Forest Park.
He feels Skinker DeBaliviere will keep going up.
It is one of the best neighborhoods in the region in the last 10 years.
We seem to be addressing the Delmar Divide question–that Delmar is the line of racial division in this city. Swanstrom said that the area north of the Loop has things happening and there is cooperation between the expanding Loop and West End leaders. Skinker DeBaliviere, in consortium with University City, the Loop and the West End has been chose to explore further for an arts initiative by the Kresge Foundation.
It joins Grand Center and several other areas in this venture. Swanstrom also commented on the planning for the Delmar Metro Station. Along with trolley construction there will be the laying of a special cable that will link business and neighbors in an incredible interactive spread at much lower cost. Swanstrom feels our neighborhood is still affordable and continues to be diverse racially, economically, and by age.
He touted the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council, which he sees as very active with many events. Swanstrom hopes that continuing development will link neighborhoods and continue progress eastward along Delmar.
He spoke very positively of Design Alliance’s construction for housing and commerce on Delmar at Hamilton.
It was nice to hear such a positive picture of our neighborhood from a recognized scholar of community development.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, March–April 2013.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2013_02.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
