Historical September–October 1998 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
In the mid-1960’s, the area that is now known as Skinker-DeBaliviere was beginning to experience crime, great unease, overcrowding and some dereliction of multifamily buildings. “For Sale” signs were up, and families were moving.
The neighborhood began to show the signs of an urban area in decline.
However, many fine people did stay. And, frankly, due to the really fine quality of the housing which sold at very depressed prices, many new and. at that time, young people and families were able to afford this wonderful housing stock and began to buy into the area. At the same time, realizing the pressure that did exist, the two neighborhood improvement associations (Rosedale-Skinker and Washington Heights Neighbors), three churches and the administration of Washington University came together and formed a new umbrella organization, the first of its kind in the St. Louis area, the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council.
The purpose of the Council was to stop the decline.
The question was. how? Jack Wright and his wife. Chris, were two of the younger people that moved into the neighborhood and raised their three children there. Jack was a member of St. Roch’s, a Boy Scout leader and more importantly. a member of Washington Heights Neighbors.
With that membership in hand, Jack was one who was an important element in the formation of the Council.
He was an early board member, representing Washington Heights.
But his most outstanding contribution to the Council, and the neighborhood. was when he agreed to serve as Chairman of the Board. Before Jack became chairman, the Council had tried to solve the neighborhood problems with various programs, many social in content..
They may have bef.2n good programs, but nothing changed and the decline continued. Finally the Council received the reality statement it needed. Two derelict, single family houses were torn down and several others were on the city’s list to be demolished. Knowing this, Jack strongly suggested to the board that a small staff and limited funds require a clear priority and that priority should not be the social programs.
He said clearly and bluntly that the priority for the Council should be the development of programs to maintain, rehabilitate and market the housing stock of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood.
This is when Jack really began to take the heat and a lot of it.
He had every social advocate, in and out of the neighborhood, coming to Council board meetings to challenge the new priority of the Council.
Some yelled, some cried and all left angry, because Jack did not waiver. Jack’s point was always very clear. You can have all the social programs you want. but if you don’t have adequate housing. then you won’t have people there to benefit from the programs. Good housing meant stability and a place for growth.
I lived in Skinker-DeBaliviere for almost 30 years and knew Jack for almost all of that time.
I worked with him when he was the Chairman of the Council, and I can honestly say that he was one of the toughest, quiet men have known.
Most of the people who gave him those hard years of problems and irritations are no longer in SkinkerDeBaliviere and have gone on to other ventures.
I am certain of one thing—on those hot and crowded, often noisy Monday nights at 6008 Kingsbury. if Jack did not have a heavy and quick hand on the gavel, I doubt that the quality of life and the housing stock in SkinkerDeBaliviere would be as fine as it is today.
A footnote: After the meetings, Jack and a few others would retire to my house for a few “refreshers” in order to review the meeting and discuss the future.
As the night would wear on, Jack would sometimes mention not running for Chairman of the Council again; that he had enough abuse.
I was always thankful that he was only bloodied and still had the strength to man the ramparts once again.
I will always remember him with great gratitude and fondness.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 1998.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1998_09.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
