CDA Announces $1.14 Million in Neighborhood Plan Implementation Awards

The City of St. Louis - Community Development Administration (CDA) today announced $1.14 million in new Neighborhood Plan Implementation Awards, supporting transformative community-led projects in Skinker DeBaliviere, West End, Downtown, Downtown West, Covenant Blu-Grand Center, Jeff-Vander-Lou and St. Louis Place neighborhoods.

The City’s Economic Development Sales Tax (Ordinance 70435) dedicates 10% of sales tax revenue to Neighborhood Plan Implementation — creating lasting, place-based investments that bring adopted neighborhood plans to life. These awards advance the priorities identified by Neighborhood Plans adopted by the City of St. Louis Planning Commission. Each adopted plan is the result of extensive community engagement—reflecting the goals, values, and shared vision of residents, businesses, and stakeholders.

Together, the adopted neighborhood plan and the award turn neighborhood priorities into action and ensure that local voices continue to shape the future of St. Louis. The City’s Planning & Urban Design Agency, through its PlanSTL Program, is actively working with additional neighborhoods to develop and adopt new Neighborhood Plans that strengthen community-led planning across St. Louis.

“The best ideas for how to strengthen St. Louis come from the people who live here,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “These projects are the result of residents working together to plan the future in neighborhoods and the City of St. Louis following through with the resources to make their visions real.”

“These awards represent neighborhoods taking charge of their future,” said Nahuel Fefer, Executive Director of CDA. “Residents have spent years developing thoughtful plans. This funding helps turn those plans into action—making visible progress toward safer, stronger, and more vibrant communities.”

2025 Neighborhood Plan Implementation Awards

Brickline North CDC

• Award: $279,500
• Neighborhoods: Jeff-Vander-Lou and St. Louis Place
• Description: Brickline North CDC will deploy three pilot shipping-container business incubators along the Brickline Greenway. These reimagined containers will potentially host vendor markets, food pop-ups, and cultural events that showcase neighborhood creativity and small businesses. In partnership withMission St. Louis and Tabernacle CDC, the initiative will also provide hands-on training for new entrepreneurs—advancing inclusive growth and community ownership in alignment with the forthcoming Project Connect Plan.

“This is exactly why theBrickline North CDC was formed, to support neighbors in building capacity and opportunity,” said Daphne Redding, Vice President of BNCDC and resident of St. Louis Place.

Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council

• Award: $242,825
• Neighborhood: Skinker DeBaliviere
• The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council will transform two underutilized lots along Delmar Boulevard—at Hamilton Avenue and Des Peres Avenue—into vibrant community spaces. The Hamilton site will become a welcoming public gathering area, while the Des Peres lot will be developed into a new neighborhood dog park. Both projects advance the WeCollab Reinvestment Plan (2023) by activating vacant land, fostering connection, and enhancing quality of life along the Delmar corridor.

Downtown Neighborhood Association 

• Award: $388,000
• Neighborhood: Downtown West
• Description:  TheDowntown Neighborhood Association (DNA), in partnership with the Locust Business District, will implement key elements of the Design Downtown STL Plan (2020) through new wayfinding improvements. This grant will support the design, fabrication and installation of monuments, wayfinding signs and video signage throughout Downtown West/City Commons in high visibility display locations. Focused on the “City Commons” corridor between 18th and Jefferson, the project enhances pedestrian safety and visibility around CITYPARK and nearby developments—helping connect Downtown West to Grand Center, the NGA campus, and the Brickline Greenway.

"The timing and impact of this CDA placemaking and wayfinding grant for City Commons is absolutely incredible. With new investment and activity in the Downtown West area - including Energizer Park, the Brickline Greenway, the Victor, NGA, and the future AHM developments and Metro Green Line - it's essential to help visitors and others navigate the area,” said Ann Kittlaus, Executive Director, Locust Central Business District. “This part of St. Louis is emerging as the key connecting piece between Downtown and Midtown, Grand Center, and north and south City."

"The Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Locust Business District are excited and grateful to learn that our grant application to make improvements in the Downtown West neighborhood has been conditionally approved. The first phase of our planned projects will provide wayfinding signage for visitors,” said James Page, Executive Director, STL Downtown Neighborhood Association. “We envision future investments that will provide improvements to safety, security, quality of life, and sense of community for residents, workers, visitors, and sports enthusiasts— all guided by the Downtown Plan. We're excited to serve Downtown West and in doing so, the City of Saint Louis that we are proud to call home!"

 

Cornerstone CDC

• Award: $234,376
• Neighborhoods: West End 
• Description:Cornerstone CDC will redevelop the long-vacant 900 Hodiamont Avenue warehouse into a vibrant community asset at the western trailhead of the planned Hodiamont Greenway. The project builds on recent improvements atGwen Giles Park, transforming the site into a safe, flexible space for neighborhood events, pop-up markets, and small business activations. Located at a key connection point linking the Hodiamont, Ruth Porter, and St. Vincent Greenways, the redevelopment will bring new life and visibility to this important corridor. By leading this effort, Cornerstone CDC is turning a long-blighted site into a catalyst for resident-driven revitalization and future greenway investment.

“The residents’ vision for a vibrant, multi-use green corridor is one step closer to reality,” said Monique Thomas, Cornerstone CDC Executive Director.  “Combined with the activation of the western trailhead to the Hodiamont Greenway, this marks an exciting milestone for the West End, the weCollab plan, and the power of resident-led planning.”

Together, these projects advance the goals of adopted neighborhood plans by turning resident-driven visions into tangible improvements that strengthen public spaces, local businesses, and neighborhood pride.

The Neighborhood Plan Implementation NOFA, issued in March 2025, provided up to $1.5 million in competitive funding for projects implementing plans adopted by the St. Louis Planning Commission within the past six years or pending adoption by July 2025. Selected projects were chosen through a competitive, scored review process based on alignment with adopted plans, feasibility, and community impact.

For more information on adopted neighborhood plans, visit: www.stlouis-mo.gov/planning/adopted-plans

 

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.