Working with a resident and business steering committee, we are drafting the Integrated Neighborhood Plan for Hamilton Heights and Wells Goodfellow as a comprehensive project aimed at addressing long-standing challenges and revitalizing these two historic northwest St. Louis neighborhoods.
Project Overview and Goals The core purpose of this integrated plan is to provide a collaborative framework to tackle shared issues of safety, housing, economic development, education, health, transit, arts, and environmental sustainability. Both Hamilton Heights and Wells Goodfellow have endured decades of significant population decline, economic shifts, and disinvestment. The overarching goal is to cultivate more equitable, resilient, and vibrant communities for the residents of both areas.
Key Participants and Partners The planning process involves a coalition of community stakeholders. Key participants and partners include:
- North Star Development Corporation, with Executive Director Toni Cousins
- The St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce, including founder Sandy Brooks and Development Director Jane Robinson
- Alderwoman Boyd of the 13th Ward
- A Resident Planning Committee
Summary of Existing Conditions The plan details the significant challenges facing the neighborhoods:
- Demographics: Both communities are predominantly African American and have experienced substantial population loss. In Hamilton Heights, 47% of households earn less than $25,000 annually, while in Wells Goodfellow, 38% of households are in that bracket.
- Housing: Vacancy is a critical issue. Wells Goodfellow has the highest proportion of vacant land and abandoned buildings in St. Louis City. Both neighborhoods have a majority of residents who rent their homes.
- Economy and Safety: The area suffers from a decline in commercial activity, with the once-thriving Wellston Loop now characterized by vacant storefronts. Both neighborhoods face high crime rates, with Wells Goodfellow ranking among the most dangerous in the city.
- Transportation: While served by MetroBus, the neighborhoods have limited transportation options, few bike lanes, and face longer commutes to downtown.
Planning Framework and Objectives The plan is built upon a historical analysis, including a review of the 2007 Wellston Loop report and the progress made since. The current approach establishes specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for each of the eight key focus areas.
Examples of these objectives include:
- Safety: Reduce reported violent crime incidents by 15% in Wells Goodfellow by the end of 2027.
- Housing: Reduce the number of vacant residential parcels in Wells Goodfellow by 15% by the end of 2029 and by 10% in Hamilton Heights during the same period.
- Employment: Facilitate the creation of 50 new full-time jobs in the Wells Goodfellow and Wellston Loop area by the end of 2029.
- Health: Ensure that at least 80% of Wells Goodfellow residents live within a short distance of fresh, affordable produce by the end of 2026, leveraging new resources like the LINK Market.
- Environment: Convert 20 acres of vacant land in Wells Goodfellow into maintained green spaces by the end of 2029.
Context and Implementation The plan is being developed amid recent positive momentum in the area, including the groundbreaking for “The Easton” mixed-use development, the proposed MetroLink Green Line along Natural Bridge Avenue, and city investments in traffic calming on major roads.
Successful implementation will depend on strong collaboration between neighborhood associations, city departments (like the Land Reutilization Authority), local non-profits, and business developers. The strategy involves seeking diverse funding from federal, state, and private sources and establishing a system to track progress toward the stated goals.
