CDA Announces Vacant Unit Turns for Tornado Recovery Awards

Etzel Place apartments to be renovated to house tornado-impacted residents.

The City of St. Louis’ Recovery Office and the Community Development Administration (CDA) today provided a status update on the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns Program, which is using Rams Settlement funds to repair vacant rental housing and rehouse families displaced by the May 16 tornado.

To date, 101 rental units are actively under construction or repair. The program was expanded in October to include for-profit landlords to unlock more housing quickly across affected neighborhoods.

CDA is grateful to the many nonprofit organizations, developers, and landlords who applied to the Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns Program. The strong response reflects both the scale of need following the May 16 tornado and the commitment across St. Louis to help restore housing for displaced residents.

Due to limited funding and program requirements, not all applicants were able to receive awards through this funding round. Interested organizations and property owners are encouraged to sign up for CDA’s newsletter to receive updates on future programs at www.stlouis-mo.gov/CDA/#subscribe

The Vacant Unit Turns Program is supported by $2.5 million in Rams Settlement funds and focuses on minor repairs and targeted rehabilitation to bring vacant units back online as safely and efficiently as possible. Across approved projects to date, the total cost of repairs is $968,590 with an average cost per unit of $9,590.00

Projects funded through the program span eight City wards and multiple north and south neighborhoods, including Baden, Central West End, Dutchtown, Fox Park, Greater Ville, Hamilton Heights, Hyde Park, Lewis Place, Mark Twain, Mount Pleasant, Old North St. Louis, O’Fallon, Penrose, The Ville, Tower Grove East, Walnut Park East, Walnut Park West, Wells Goodfellow, West End, and the West End Neighborhood. Units funded through the program are expected to be occupied by tornado-impacted households very soon, and affordability requirements apply.

“We’re moving fast and doing the work carefully. CDA staff are conducting site visits, reviewing scopes of work, and making sure proposed budgets match real conditions on the ground so these units can come back online quickly and responsibly, ” said Matt Moak, Executive Director of CDA. “Since the May 16 tornado, CDA is focused on keeping residents in the City with safe, comfortable, quality and affordable housing.” 

CDA oversees compliance, construction review, and is coordinating with social service providers who are helping place displaced families once units are ready.

Tornado-impacted households seeking housing support should contact or visit the STL Recovers Outreach Center, which offers in-person support to connect residents recovering from the May 16, 2025 tornado with available programs and services.

STL Recovers Outreach Center
Address: 4401 Natural Bridge Ave.
Phone: 833-925-0977

Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Seniors (age 60+) and individuals with disabilities who need assistance applying may contact the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging at 314-612-5918.

Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns awarded projects: 

DeSales Community Development

• Neighborhood(s): Tower Grove East; Fox Park
• Ward(s): 7
• Number of units: 12

Eliot School LP

• Neighborhood(s): Hyde Park
• Ward(s): 14
• Number of units: 1

Etzel Place I, LP

• Neighborhood(s): West End
• Ward(s): 10
• Number of units: 20

Etzel V

• Neighborhood(s): West End
• Ward(s): 10
• Number of units: 11

Hyde Park South Apartments LLC

• Neighborhood(s): Hyde Park
• Ward(s): 14
• Number of units: 4

Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation

• Neighborhood(s): Mount Pleasant; Dutchtown
• Ward(s): 3
• Number of units: 2

KPHP LLC

• Neighborhood(s): West End Neighborhood
• Ward(s): 10
• Number of units: 1

Loveless Legacies

• Neighborhood(s): Walnut Park West; Mark Twain
• Ward(s): 13
• Number of units: 1

Rise Community Development

• Neighborhood(s): Old North St. Louis; Dutchtown
• Ward(s): 13, 14
• Number of units: 20

River Blues Community Development Organization

• Neighborhood(s): Greater Ville
• Ward(s): 12
• Number of units: 2

Source 2.0 LLC

• Neighborhood(s): Walnut Park East; Penrose; Hamilton Heights; O’Fallon
• Ward(s): 11, 12, 13
• Number of units: 2

St. Louis Housing Authority

• Neighborhood(s): Lewis Place; The Ville; Baden; Mark Twain; Central West End
• Ward(s): 9, 10, 12, 13
• Number of units: 25

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About the Community Development Administration (CDA):

Established in 1974, CDA invests approximately $25 million each year in affordable housing, community development, and public services across St. Louis. As the City’s housing and community development agency, CDA works in partnership with HUD, the Planning and Urban Design Agency, and the St. Louis Development Corporation to ensure that funding priorities are transparent, competitive, and community-driven.