Contact: Ernie Blazar 202-224-7627 Shana Stribling 224-0309
Friday, November 16, 2001

ST. LOUIS - Senator Kit Bond joined the St. Louis Housing Authority today to celebrate the start of construction on Phase II of the Near Southside HOPE VI housing project. Together with other housing officials and housing leaders, Senator Bond broke ground at the Chouteau Ave. and 14th Street site.

“As with many Hope VI projects, the redevelopment of Darst-Webbe will mean not only the redevelopment of distressed and obsolete low income public housing, but will also be an anchor for the redevelopment of this community,” said Bond, who secured the $46 million in funds awarded by the Housing and Urban Development agency for the project.

The Hope VI Near Southside Redevelopment will revitalize the former Darst-Webbe public housing site into a vibrant, mixed income community of new rental apartments and for sale homes.

The 102 residential-living units for seniors will also include a Town Center which will house management, service provider and resident council offices, a computer lab, library, non-commercial kitchen, recreation and meeting space. Both social activities and supportive services will provided in the Town Center for the residents.

“This is not cookie-cutter housing, but is a one of a kind senior housing campus that has blended a mix of housing finance programs into a housing campus and community that will serve seniors in St. Louis for year to come,” Bond said.

As the lead Republican and ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee that funds the Housing and Urban Development Agency, Bond directed the funds to the Near Southside Redevelopment project.