The Partnership Powering Equitable Growth Along the Brickline Greenway
A Q&A with T. Christopher Peoples—Great Rivers Greenway Director of Equity + Economic Impact and Brickline North Community Development Corporation Executive Director—and Curtis Griggs—St. Louis Development Corporation Neighborhood Transformation Manager
YouTube video: SLDC and Great Rivers Greenway Honor Historic Preservation in North St. Louis
St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) has teamed up with Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) and Brickline North Community Development Corporation (BNCDC) to ensure equitable economic development along the Brickline Greenway. Currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in 2030, the ambitious greenway project will connect 14 St. Louis City neighborhoods, uniting Forest Park, Gateway Arch National Park, Fairground Park, Tower Grove Park and hundreds of destinations in between.
Learn more in our conversation with T. Christopher Peoples—GRG Director of Equity + Economic Impact and BNCDC Executive Director—and Curtis Griggs—SLDC Neighborhood Transformation Manager, BNCDC board member, and Jeff-Vander-Lou resident— as they share what makes this public-private-community partnership unique. They highlight how joint efforts between SLDC, GRG and BNCDC are connecting neighborhoods, sparking equitable reinvestment and building civic pride across the city.
Describe the partnership between GRG, BNCDC and SLDC.
Chris: GRG is a public entity that's building an infrastructure project that will connect the city and the region. As part of that project, we're looking at economic development and equitable outcomes for the neighborhoods that we’ll serve. Partnering with SLDC allows us to have the resources, programming and opportunity to work with the city and city agencies to help move those initiatives forward. BNCDC is an important part of that process, too. It is the tool and the vehicle we use to help advance everything.
What is BNCDC?
Chris: It’s a community development corporation that was created by the residents and the stakeholders of three neighborhoods: Covenant Blu-Grand Center, Jeff-Vander-Lou (JVL) and St. Louis Place. BNCDC is there to serve those communities and make sure they are able to benefit from the impact of the Brickline Greenway coming through their neighborhoods.
Describe your roles with SLDC and BNCDC. How are they connected?
Curtis: I’m a neighborhood transformation manager with SLDC. We work directly with businesses in community capacity building, and I also lead the neighborhood planning initiative called “Our Plan.” I also serve on the Board of BNCDC as a community member of the JVL neighborhood, which is where I grew up.
The roles overlap because the organizations have a dedicated passion and intent to help build and bring investment to St. Louis City. Some are infrastructure projects and some are business engagement and development, but overall, the goal is to bring positive change to North City.
What led to the partnership between SLDC, GRG and BNCDC?
Chris: GRG realized that economic impact would be a critical pillar of our work. We knew the city was working on neighborhood plans and regional economic development initiatives. We were doing the work, and they were doing the work, and if we could collaborate, we could move things forward together.
The BNCDC was community driven. It was something that the community wanted to see out of their neighborhood planning processes. It all came together organically to allow us to work together on one mission.
What makes this partnership unique?
Chris: You have an infrastructure project working with a public agency working with a community-led organization to help move things forward. It’s unique to see that type of partnership with the same mission, the same objectives and the same goals.
How is your work with SLDC and BNCDC improving St. Louis?
Curtis: We know that it is going to bring more attraction to businesses and homeowners who live in walkable spaces. It's going to make it more attractive for businesses that are around the area as well.
Right now, it's also giving us an opportunity to work together with the businesses to identify some of the gaps we don’t necessarily see in these developments. They do sometimes have impacts on businesses that are not ideal, like traffic and parking because we're taking up a lot of the street. We can get firsthand insight into what our opportunities are as we look to do more developments in the city to enhance neighborhoods.
What progress is already underway?
Chris: First, we were able to start the BNCDC. We were also able to begin implementing neighborhood plans. Through the implementation of those neighborhood plans, we were able to identify a business corridor study that we completed.
And importantly, we were able to secure funding to help move our programs and initiatives forward. The things we’ll be able to do with that additional funding include starting to implement the neighborhood plans, activating the vacant lots, and catalyzing the business corridors along that segment.
Why is resident involvement so important?
Chris: I believe that by working with the residents and community, they can take pride in the work. They know that their voices are being heard, and they feel empowered to take ownership in the project.
Curtis: Residents can work alongside the city by showing up in neighborhood association meetings, showing up at Housing and Urban Development meetings, Board of Aldermen meetings and other public meetings where community voice is needed. Also, work with your community partners—like your community development corporations—to voice what you want to see and make sure that it is on the radar of the organizations in charge of developments in your community.
What feedback have you heard from residents?
Chris: The feedback is mostly positive. They're excited to see that we're working together. They're excited to see that their voices are being heard and that it's being implemented not only in the design, but in the programming and activities around Brickline Greenway. And most importantly, they know that the plans will continue to move forward and that our organizations are committed to seeing it through.
Hear more from Chris and Curtis on SLDC’s YouTube page here.