Launched in 2000, Lewis Place Historical Preservation is revitalizing the historic Lewis Place neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. Once closed to Black homebuyers, the neighborhood is now 86% African American. This community played an essential role in striking down racially discriminatory real estate covenants when the US Supreme Court’s 1948 Shelley v. Kraemer decision ruled that such covenants are unenforceable under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. But the devastating consequences lingered. “There was a real disinvestment in this community and surrounding communities,” says Pamela Talley, DNP, executive director of Lewis Place Historical Preservation, citing a lack of city services and challenges getting home improvement loans. Instead of saving homes, the city issued violation or condemnation notices. So neighbors created Lewis Place Historical Preservation to educate their community and appeal to local and state officials. The group preserves the neighborhood’s complex history and historic architecture, including Italianate and Romanesque Revival homes. It fights for safe, affordable housing and is creating a vibrant, joyful community.
Celebrating National Night Out in Fountain Park. Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, Fire Captain Garon Mosby, Alderwoman Shameen Clark Hubbard, Gail Brown, real estate broker, Rashonda Johnson, Urban League of Metro St. Louis, and neighbors who volunteered for this event.
Lewis Place Historical Preservation has half a dozen staff, volunteers, and a board that looks like the community it serves. Its meetings are open to the neighborhood. The organization is reducing vacancies in Lewis Place by refurbishing abandoned homes. It planted two community vegetable gardens (remediated to eliminate lead) and an orchard. Kids help in the gardens and will soon have a 4-H club for exploring topics like weather and air temperature. In another eco move, the group got a service contract with the city to beautify 20 vacant lots. “We’ve been able to hire people in the neighborhood who have been part of our beautification crew since 2012,” Talley says. “We’re helping our elderly neighbors and areas where the city was neglectful.” An AmeriCorps VISTA helps with resiliency projects, and the organization educates residents about environmental justice issues. When an advanced manufacturing center broke ground in their midst, for example, they expressed concerns to the EPA and warned the company that they’ll be checking air quality boxes. Says Talley, “We have more folks getting engaged, just building the energy, because we’ve got to stay for the long haul.”
Ojasi Kirtikar, AmeriCorp Vista worker, raising awareness about climate change.