June 18, 2008
National Kudos for the Northside
This week, Old North was bragged up on national environmental website Switchboard. Blogger Kaid Benfield (who is the director of the Smart Growth Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council) titled his entry "Of the community, by the community, and for the community: the rebirth of Old North Saint Louis." I don't know if you could find a better title than that. He's included lots of pics, and begins his entry thus:
"Every now and then I run across a story that is so good, that feels so right, that I thank my lucky stars for the freedom NRDC gave me to evolve my career into working for better, more sustainable communities. This is such a story, and it reveals an historic, diverse, inclusive neighborhood that is reclaiming its identity, restoring its infrastructure, empowering its residents, and securing its future. The community wins, and so does the environment, because the Old North neighborhood in Saint Louis is the very antithesis of sprawl." (Eddie Roth posted on this today, and used the same quote - but what can I say? It's so good!)
What made me especially happy is Mr. Benfield takes note of a very important fact: that the neighborhood is recovering without gentrifying. He also points out that the restoration has been resident-driven, rather than formed by one large developer (or even a handful of large developers). There's a huge difference between a neighborhood that is filled with quality affordable housing and a mix of hardware stores, groceries, coffee shops - businesses people actually use from day to day - versus pricey condos surrounded by dog bakeries and boutiques selling frothy frocks at astronomical price points. I am an unabashed fan of Jane Jacobs, of course, so of course I would say that, but there are already plenty of neighborhoods that appeal to that sensibility. What American cities, including St. Louis, are lacking, are neighborhoods like Old North - areas that flourish because everyone has a stake in the outcome. Where the collective creativity contributes to the neighborhood's cohesiveness, beauty, integrity and soulfulness. It's my firm belief that no single developer, no matter how visionary, can trump the genius of the collective.
For instance, in addition to all the brilliant rehabs, ONSL has a flourishing urban farm (New Roots), a strong community of Catholic Workers, tons of artists and writers, the very cool Urban Studio (which is transitioning into an activist coffee shop), a neighborhood support system to beat the band (the Restoration Group) and a greening committee. Soon, the 13th Street Mall project will be done, too, and it will be surrounded by lots of great housing (Crown Village). Mr. Benfield talks about how the Northside's walkability is the core of its sustainability, but this part of town is also filled with some of the most ecologically minded folks I've come across, from my landlady, who's recycling every jot and tittle of building material on her rehabs, to Julie Longyear's Irie Star to the Greenbee Center to the young guys on my block who are growing their own food in a three sisters garden. In addition to that, I'd add that this neighborhood mimics the wisdom of nature, in that it is diverse - and diverse ecosystems with lots of plants and animals, who find ways to be mutually beneficial to each other, are by far the healthiest.
Now, I need to admit my bias here: I live in the Fifth Ward, and I've been in love with the Northside long before I moved here. But even if I still lived in the Eighth Ward and had no affiliation with North City, I'd be inclined to agree with Switchboard on this one.