St. Louis Residents Invited to Year-End Convening on Addressing Vacant Properties and Strengthening Neighborhoods

ST. LOUIS, MO — The STL Vacancy Collaborative (STLVC) and Community Development Administration (CDA)  will bring together community leaders, policymakers, and residents for the Vacancy Strategy Initiative (VSI) Quarterly Convening and Year-End Celebration on Wednesday, November 20. This event will provide an opportunity to review key achievements and plans to tackle St. Louis’ significant challenge of over 24,000 vacant and abandoned properties.

• What: Vacancy Strategy Initiative Quarterly Convening and Year-End Celebration 
• When: Wednesday, November 20 from 5-8 p.m.
• Where: St. Louis ArtWorks, 5959 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112
• Who: Everyone is invited to engage, learn, and network. 

Community members, media, and stakeholders are invited to have the opportunity to learn about resources and tools designed to empower residents and enhance neighborhood revitalization efforts. Panelists and VSI partners will be available for questions from the media.
Event Highlights:

• Live demonstration: Witness a new, innovative tool in action, designed for mapping and tracking demolitions across St. Louis—an essential step in managing and reimagining vacant spaces. The demolition tracker, a development of the VSI, will add to the STLVC’s existing public data, such as the Vacant Property Explorer map. The map empowers residents and stakeholders by identifying owners and city service calls to vacant buildings and lots in their neighborhoods.
• Panel Discussion: Join representatives from the CDA and Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) for an in-depth discussion on ongoing efforts to address vacant properties, promote land reuse, and support community development through strategic collaboration. 
  • Moderator: Peter J. Hoffman, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Neighborhood Advocacy Managing Attorney, STL Vacancy Collaborative Board President 
  • Panelist: Nahuel Fefer, City of St. Louis Community Development Administration Executive Director
  • Panelist: Jasmine Cannon, Land Reutilization Authority Real Estate Asset Manager 
• 2024 Insights: Representatives from the STLVC, CDA, and LRA will provide an overview of key developments, initiatives, and activities from 2024, setting the stage for 2025.

About the Vacancy Strategy Initiative (VSI): Established in 2023, the VSI tackles the persistent issue of vacant and abandoned properties in St. Louis by formalizing a partnership with City departments and agencies. Focused on the strategic use of resources, the VSI prioritizes the prevention, maintenance, stabilization, beautification, and reuse of vacant properties. Building on years of grassroots work and research by the STL Vacancy Collaborative, the VSI provides communities with the tools to address vacancy challenges more effectively and equitably. The www.STLvacancy.com website offers a wealth of resources for individuals, neighborhood groups, and organizations concerned about vacancy, including the incredible Vacancy Explorer map, which empowers users to take action in their communities.

The City of St. Louis faces a significant challenge with over 24,000 vacant and abandoned properties, including around 9,000 buildings and more than 15,000 lots. These properties pose serious threats to public health and safety, drain City resources for maintenance, contribute to declining property values, and exacerbate population loss. The Vacancy Strategy Initiative aims to create a comprehensive action plan to address these issues, turning vacant properties from neighborhood liabilities into key assets for revitalization.
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About the STL Vacancy Collaborative: The STL Vacancy Collaborative (STLVC) is a coalition of community members, private and non-profit stakeholders, and City agencies committed to reducing vacant property in St. Louis. The STLVC helps to coordinate existing vacancy efforts under one umbrella and empowers the public and private sectors to work together toward solutions. We convene committees and working groups to facilitate systemic change, advance new policies, share success stories, and support neighborhood-centric solutions. The Community Builders Network (CBN) of Metro St. Louis serves as the STL Vacancy Collaborative’s fiscal sponsor. Visit www.stlvacancy.com for more information.

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 www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/