ST. LOUIS — Clinton-Peabody, one of St. Louis City’s original public housing developments, was granted approximately $6.5 million in funding for new construction.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) recently awarded the nonprofit, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), nearly $3.5 million in federal and state low-income housing tax credits and of the Missouri Affordable Housing Assistance Program tax credits.

The nonprofit additionally received $3 million in federal funding for construction, according to a press release from POAH Midwest.

“After 56 years living at Clinton-Peabody, it’s more than a home to me,” said Pamela Emrick, a long-time Clinton-Peabody resident and Clinton-Peabody Tenant Advisory Board president.

“To others it may just be public housing, but it’s more than that, because we all became a family.”

Clinton-Peabody was built in 1942 and has “significant” challenges with existing buildings, systems and public safety, according to the press release. 

“POAH is very excited to be working with such a dedicated group of partners and funders to create a development built on the vision of residents and local community members that honors the past legacy of this housing and that will allow everyone to flourish in the future and be proud to call home,” said Aaron Gornstein, POAH president and CEO

Phase one of the Clinton-Peabody Redevelopment is in partnership with the St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA), Clinton-Peabody residents and the Clinton-Peabody Tenant Advisory Board.

The first phase will include 89 multi-family housing apartments with a mix of one, two and three bedrooms, serving households with a range of incomes primarily at or below 60% of the area median income, according to the press release.

“SLHA is thrilled about the redevelopment, which will meet the modern needs of our families while honoring Clinton-Peabody’s legacy as a cornerstone of the community,” said Latasha Barnes, SLHA executive director.

"This historic neighborhood has been home to many of St. Louis’s most accomplished residents, and we look forward to a bright future as we work alongside our residents and partners to further strengthen this legacy."

Future phases will create an additional 259 mixed-income apartments in a variety of garden-style and townhome buildings, which will create a diverse array of housing options.

All apartments will be new construction with access to community amenities and designed with best practices in sustainability, trauma-informed care and universal design by Trivers, a St. Louis-based architectural firm.

Existing housing subsidies will be preserved.

The cost for phase one is approximately $32 million, according to the press release.

The development is close to employers, service providers and anchor institutions in the downtown and central corridor.

The project will eventually have 350 new mixed-income apartments and affordable for-sale homes around a reconfigured street grid, a renovated A1 Chappell Community Center and a new central park.

All current Clinton-Peabody residents will have the opportunity for new housing in the redeveloped community.

Temporary onsite transfers of current residents to “refreshed” on-site units began in 2023 to help make way for the proposed redevelopment, according to the press release.

In 2022, SLHA, a committee of residents and community stakeholders chose POAH to lead the resident-centered redevelopment.

POAH’s property management company, POAH Communities will manage the properties and provide service-enriched programs to residents with local partners, such as financial education, youth and senior programs, health, housing stability and homeownership readiness.