Enhancing Inclusivity & Vibrancy
This is why we do the work…
On December 8, it was announced that DeSales Community Development secured approvals for two Low-Income Housing Applications from the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The first approval is for Benton Park Place Apartments, a new 49-unit mixed-income building for seniors aged 62+, located at the corner of Jefferson and Arsenal, across from Benton Park. The second approval is for Virginia Plaza, a 78-unit mixed-income family development along S. Compton Ave. and Virginia Ave. in the Dutchtown neighborhood.
These transformative projects will enhance the inclusivity and vibrancy of South City.
Benton Park Place Apartments, situated at the intersection of two of the city's most prominent streets, will breathe new life into a long-vacant corner. The project includes 36 units designed for individuals with incomes at 60% of the Area Median Income, with an additional 8 units specifically allocated for individuals with incomes at 30% of the Area Median Income.
Benton Park Place Apartments is also designed to foster community, with a dedicated community room, corner commercial/retail space, and a new and improved community garden.
This development fulfills a genuine community need – affordable senior housing for neighbors who wish to age in place.
Virginia Plaza, a mixed-income and mixed-use development, is poised to make a significant impact on both the Virginia Ave. Commercial Corridor and the historic Carondelet, Dutchtown, and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods. With over 25% of the population in the proposed development's census tract living in poverty—children constituting 32% of that demographic—the need for revitalization is evident.
This project aims to revitalize nine buildings, including long-vacant properties owned by the City's land bank and an empty Family Dollar store. Of the 78 total units, 55 are designated for individuals earning 60% of the Area Median Income, 12 units for those making 30% of the Area Median Income, and 8 units at market rate. Virginia Plaza is also a family-oriented development with amenities such as a new playground and community gathering spaces.
By combining historic preservation with family-oriented redevelopment, Virginia Plaza strives to set the stage for positive change in an area with both challenges and opportunities.