Redevelopment on the Horizon for Clinton-Peabody: How Preservation of Affordable Housing is Preserving a Community-Focused Revitalization

By Sophia Black, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2025 St. Louis Fellow

Clinton-Peabody, St. Louis' oldest public housing community, is on the brink of a historic transformation. Originally built in 1942, the public housing development has long awaited a neighborhood transformation—this new revitalization will inspire a new horizon for Clinton-Peabody.

This revitalization comprises many things, including a complete demolition and rebuilding of affordable housing units, creating green spaces and walkways, a sports field, and more—creating a new vision for the historic Clinton-Peabody complex.

This vision is being made possible through a partnership between the St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA), the Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc (POAH), and the Community Development Administration (CDA), showing how collaboration amongst different organizations are working to foster community and growth across the St. Louis area.

POAH is a national organization that focuses on real-estate development with a mission to “preserve, create and sustain affordable, healthy homes that support economic security and access to opportunity for all.” 

Redevelopment will have a total of five phases, with phase one demolition soon underway. This phase includes 89 multi-family style apartments that will have a mix of one to three bedrooms, particularly targeted at residents with household incomes at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI). In total, the entire redevelopment will be 348 units of mixed-income apartments, creating a diverse resident experience.

“The Clinton-Peabody redevelopment will be a long process but it is a totally resident- and trauma-informed process,” Stephanie Co, POAH project manager for Clinton-Peabody said. “It will take a lot of time, funding, and patience for this project to come to fruition but it is important for residents to be seen and heard throughout the process.”

This development is truly a co-creation between partner organizations and the residents of Clinton-Peabody, as there are also regular meetings with developers and the Clinton-Peabody Tenant Advisory Board, developed to be an act of transparency for the residents. This is a standard set by the development team to preserve the neighborhood's character and community-based mission, as they follow their principles of transparency, inclusion, and consistency. 

Along with monthly community meetings, the Clinton-Peabody Tenant Advisory Board also hosts events, including back-to-school events, as well as community engagement events for both adults and children within Clinton-Peabody. These events are intended to foster community and continuously engage residents in the process of redevelopment.

Clinton-Peabody residents in line for community dinner following their monthly resident meeting.

“It’s exciting to be involved with the change happening in our community,” Pamela Emrick, President of the Clinton-Peabody Tenant Advisory Board said. “My job is to make sure that residents get what they have been promised and to speak up for our neighborhood. I want this neighborhood to be healthy and safe for my family that lives here as well.”

Miss Pam has lived in the Clinton-Peabody neighborhood for almost 60 years, and this is the first time the neighborhood has seen significant redevelopment plans. Her involvement in the community is not only indicative of her vested interest in the neighborhood, but also of POAH’s commitment to community-based redevelopment. 

The journey has been a long time coming, and will continue to be an ongoing process, but it is an important step in envisioning community engagement and developments. Overall, the process of redevelopment will take time, monetary investment, and belief in a new horizon for the Clinton-Peabody public housing development.

“We at CDA are excited to support POAH’s mission on this historic redevelopment,” Nahuel Fefer, Executive Director of CDA, said. “Preserving Clinton-Peabody’s character while also providing affordable, yet modern housing is exactly what we intended when initially funding this project.”

CDA staff present a ceremonial check to the Clinton Peabody residents council on February 20, 2025. The Neighborhoods Transformation Grant will renovate the Al Chappelle Community Center.

CDA staff participate in a planning session at the Clinton Peabody residents council on February 20, 2025

Stephanie Co, Senior Project Manager for Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc., speaks at the Clinton Peabody residents council on February 202, 2025.

Nahuel Fefer, CDA Executive Director, speaks at the Clinton Peabody residents council on February 202, 2025.