Affordable senior living in South City.

Benton Park Place — Bringing Life to a Long-Vacant Corner in Benton Park West

Benton Park Place is a transformative, mixed-income senior housing development designed to provide high-quality, affordable apartments for residents aged 62 and up. Situated at the prominent intersection of Jefferson and Arsenal, this development will breathe new life into an underutilized site, creating a welcoming space for seniors to age in place while contributing to the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Project Overview

Benton Park Place will bring much-needed senior housing and community amenities to Benton Park West. It will be a new-construction, three-story development that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhood while offering modern amenities tailored to senior residents, featuring:

  • 49 mixed-income apartments (36 units at 60% AMI, 8 units at 30% AMI, 5 market-rate units)

  • A dedicated rental assistance fund to support residents in Permanent Supportive Housing

  • A new community garden designed for resident and neighborhood use

  • A community room and gathering spaces to foster social connections

  • Corner commercial/retail space to enhance the pedestrian-friendly environment

  • 55 off-street parking spaces for residents and visitors

Location & Impact         

Located at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Arsenal, Benton Park Place will:

  • Provide affordable housing for seniors wishing to remain in their community

  • Activate a long-vacant lot and strengthen the Benton Park West neighborhood

  • Be a welcoming and community-focused design that aligns with the Gravois-Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan

  • Support economic justice and equitable housing opportunities

  • Support the prevention of elderly homelessness by offering units with permanent supportive housing assistance

Development Team

DeSales Community Development leads the project with an experienced team dedicated to creating impactful, high-quality housing:

  • Developer: DeSales Community Development

  • General Contractor: E.M. Harris Construction Co.

  • Architect: Naismith-Allen Inc.

  • Legal Counsel: Spencer Fane LLP

  • Development Consultant: Select Development

  • Property Management: Fox Grove Management

Development Timeline

  • 2023: Awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from MHDC

  • 2024: Predevelopment work funded and in progress

  • 2025: Construction begins

  • 2026: Completion and leasing begins

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Since 2019, Benton Park Place has engaged neighbors and organizations to shape the project. The development has received strong support from:

  • 7th Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier

  • Benton Park West Neighborhood Association & Benton Park Neighborhood Association

  • Gravois Jefferson Development Review Committee & Dutchtown South Community Corporation

  • St. Louis Senior Fund & Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (HOPE)

  • Five Star Center, Gateway Housing First, and Seed STL

Click on the picture to the left to see the Benton Park Place proposal featured on KSDK in the fall of 2022.

Funding Sources

We are grateful for the generous support of our funders who are helping to bring Benton Park Place to life.