Sanctuary in the Ordinary (SITO) Baden Hoffen Project - Community Rehabilitation with a Lasting Impact

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

In North St. Louis’ historic Baden neighborhood, a cluster of single family homes, apartments, and commercial buildings are transforming into catalysts for community renewal. Led by Sanctuary in the Ordinary (SITO), the Baden-Hoffen project is a model for what reinvestment in overlooked neighborhoods can look like. Driven by the immense shortage of low to moderate income (LMI) housing for individuals and families in St. Louis, SITO focuses on selective rehab, creating new spaces from old ones. 

Big check presentation with SITO and CDA staff.

With funding from the City of St. Louis’ ARPA allocation through the Community Development Administration (CDA), the Baden Hoffen project includes the rehabilitation of six buildings, offering thirteen affordable housing units, along with three updated commercial spaces slated to be completed by the end of this year. The properties were acquired in the fall of 2023. 

Back of the three single family homes connected to a community courtyard.

Back of the three single family homes connected to a community courtyard.

“SITO’s work in Baden is exactly the kind of impact we envisioned when allocating ARPA funds – thoughtful, community-driven investment that preserves housing, builds equity, and strengthens neighborhoods from within.” said Naheul Fefer, Executive Director of the Community Development Administration. 

At the core of SITO’s work is a four-point strategy. The organization aims to retain and repair existing homes rather than build new, believing there is a lasting value in preserving the homes that have shaped St. Louis’ neighborhoods. 

As SITO Executive Director Jeff Buck put it, “ We’re not here to start from scratch - we’re here to build on what’s already standing. These homes, these neighborhoods, they already have stories worth preserving.”

Selective rehab is key to their model – weighing the financial costs and benefits of working to save historic homes. The lending model banks typically use provides non-profits with only up to 75% of a building’s post-rehab value, often leaving a significant gap when trying to provide affordable housing in LMI communities. SITO set out to bridge this gap with a novel financial approach: combining donations with 10-year, interest-free loans. After a decade, the equity gained in the property makes it possible to refinance and repay those loans. SITO actively shares this approach with other housing non-profits in the city, believing that if more organizations adopt this model, it could be a powerful agent of citywide change. 

Phase one of the Baden Hoffen project began with the apartment building along North Broadway. Roof work and tuckpointing came first, but because some of the units were already occupied, SITO had to carefully coordinate temporary relocations. Once renovations are complete, residents will return to their original homes, with updates that respect and preserve historic features like stained glass windows and decorative fireplaces. 

Back of the apartment building along North Broadway

Construction on the three standalone homes began the next fall. Pre-development work revealed more work than expected, resulting in SITO’s decision to fully reconfigure the homes while maintaining their original footprint. Now nearing completion, the houses are awaiting their final touches before residents move in. 

These homes have already found their future residents. One will go to a contractor who has worked closely on the project, with the others being reserved for veterans who have been referred to SITO through the Salvation Army and other social service organizations. These homes will remain affordable, with rents being around $800 per month. All of the residential buildings are clustered around a shared courtyard, designed to serve as a space for cookouts, gatherings, and organic community building. 

Beyond housing, SITO has also invested in commercial revitalization within the community, with the rehabilitation of three retail spaces. One, located on the front of the building on North Broadway, is slated to become a cafe, operated by a local husband and wife team, complementing SITO’s broader mission of creating lasting communities. 

The Baden Hoffen project has been met with high levels of enthusiasm from the community. Residents and neighbors have expressed excitement at the progress, noting a significant shift in neighborhood look and feel.  

Looking towards the future, SITO remains committed to its principle of saving houses and homes before they are lost to neglect or gentrification.

About the Community Development Administration (CDA): The CDA serves as the City of St. Louis' hub for federal, state, and local funds, implementing the Mayor's economic justice agenda. By funding public and nonprofit entities, the CDA supports a wide range of initiatives, including public services, affordable housing development, blight eradication, and other community development activities.