News
‘We Are Listening’ Community Art Installation to Go Up at Rock Road MetroLink Station
Patti Beck
Director of Communications
314-982-1440
ST. LOUIS– Beyond Housing in partnership with Rebuild Foundation, the Des Lee Collaborative Vision, the City of Pagedale, and the Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) will install an art project at 3 p.m. on Monday, November 11, 2013 aimed at capturing community input for future development around the Rock Road MetroLink Station, the Healthy Corridor along Ferguson Avenue and the Page Avenue Great Streets projects.
Residents of Pagedale and Wellston, as well as others served by the Rock Road MetroLink Station will have the opportunity to share their ideas about what kinds of housing, businesses, retail and services they would like to see in the future to improve livability in the area.
The artwork will be installed near the entrance of the Metro Park-Ride lot at the Rock Road MetroLink Station at 7019 St. Charles Rock Road in Pagedale. The public art titled “We Are Listening” consists of multiple large wooden panels of various sizes. The panels are decorated with messages that have been burned into the wood which encourage residents and Metro customers to participate by offering their input. They can write their comments directly onto the installation itself or submit their ideas on paper right at the site. Every two weeks or so over the next two months, the artist, Cyndi Redmond-Jenkins, will burn those public comments into the wooden panels so residents will know their ideas are being seen. Redmond-Jenkins is a resident of Pagedale whose beautiful wood burning designs are well-known and respected throughout the St. Louis area.
This interactive art installation is one of only a few throughout the country and speaks to the creative methods that Beyond Housing is utilizing to engage the public in community development efforts.
“Beyond Housing is helping to make entire communities become better places to live, and stakeholder input is vital for sustainable transformation. Our process of Ask•Align•Act ensures that we are always listening to the people we serve and working collaboratively to make great things happen.” said Chris Krehmeyer, President/CEO of Beyond Housing. “This is an exciting and challenging time in the Vision 24:1 communities.”
“The Bi-State Development Agency is committed to improving the quality of life for area residents by providing excellent transportation and promoting economic development,” said John Nations, Bi-State Development Agency President and CEO. “This region is beginning to realize the value of locating businesses and homes near MetroLink stations and other transit centers. Transit oriented development stabilizes and revitalizes neighborhoods, creates new jobs and new tax revenue, increases property values, and lowers commuting costs for families and individuals.”
Event information
Date: November 11, 2013
What: Community art ribbon cutting ceremony
When: 3 p.m.
Where: St. Charles Rock Road MetroLink Station
Metro Park-Ride lot (event will be east of the entrance near the street)
7019 St. Charles Rock Road
Pagedale, MO 63133
Speakers: Mary Carter, Pagedale Mayor
Chris Krehmeyer, President/CEO of Beyond Housing
Nicholas McDowell, Rebuild Foundation
John Langa, VP Economic Development, Bi-State Development Agency
For more information about the event, please contact Marcelle Perry-Rhone at Beyond Housing at 314-533-0600 ext. 48 (office) or 314-497-7739 (cell).
About Beyond Housing
Beyond Housing is a local community development organization on the cutting edge of holistic and comprehensive community revitalization whose efforts are focused within a geographic area to achieve the greatest possible impact. It has received national recognition for the collective impact gained through its ‘place-based’ approach. In more than 35 years of serving the St. Louis region, Beyond Housing has received many national and international accolades including recognition by the White House Office of Neighborhood Revitalization. The organization’s portfolio has over 340 units of affordable rental housing provides a place to call home for lower income families with services that enable them to save and build for the future. The Beyond Housing Homeownership Center is the preferred source for homebuyer education by the State of Missouri to satisfy requirements for down payment and closing cost assistance and includes a Foreclosure Intervention program that has been very successful in helping homeowners in distress avoid foreclosure. Beyond Housing’s Community Building program, the 24:1 Initiative is an innovative, place-based community development partnership convened and facilitated by Beyond Housing to address the serious challenges facing residents and communities of the 24 municipalities that comprise the Normandy School District. The partnership includes elected officials, residents, community-based organizations, area businesses and the school district.
About Bi-State Development Agency (Metro)
The Bi-State Development Agency/Metro (BSDA/Metro) is the operator of the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; 378 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 75 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call‑A‑Ride, a paratransit fleet of 121 vans.
BSDA/Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and its surrounding industrial business park, and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center, the Gateway Arch Transportation System, and the Gateway Arch Parking Facility.