Capacity Building, 1995-1998

 

 

The period between 1995 and 1998 was a time of tremendous growth for the Emerson Park Development Corporation and the neighborhood. As word spread about EPDC’s mission, the core membership grew from 50 to 180. EPDC gained federal 501c3 tax-exempt status in addition to state recognition as a non-profit organization. These newly acquired powers, along with a new executive director and strong community involvement, created the necessary framework to complete large-scale projects, such as the MetroLink station, new community housing and the renovation of Cannady Park. These developments propelled EPDC and the Emerson Park neighborhood into the position they are in today.

 

Formalizing the Organization and Hiring Staff

 

Beginning in 1994, Ms. Forby began working for the University of Illinois Extension, which “provides practical, research-based information and programs to help individuals, families, farms, businesses and communities in Illinois.” Through the university extension, Ms. Forby participated in outreach work in East St. Louis, prompting many to notice her commitment to the area. In 1994, in fact, she proved integral to the mobilization of the community in its efforts to relocate the site of the MetroLink light rail station to Emerson Park, a goal that ultimately was accomplished and which she considers one of EPDC’s greatest successes. After two years with university extension, Ms. Forby accepted the job as executive director of EPDC.

 

Two crucial factors in EPDC’s increased influence were the acquisition in October 1995 of 501c3 tax-exempt status and recognition as a non-profit tax-exempt organization. This allowed EPDC to independently seek grants, donations, and funds tax free. Before this period, they had relied on other fiscal agents, such as Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, the University of Illinois and the city. With the new 501c3 status, the EPDC gained financial flexibility and final decision-making power. This redistribution of power to EPDC from other outside organizations created a more balanced power structure within Emerson Park. As Ms. Forby explains, “Nothing is healthier for a community than competition.”

 

Being recognized as a non-profit tax-exempt organization by the state of Illinois gave EPDC access to additional governmental programs and funding, for example EPDC could compete for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Ford Foundation grants. Emerson Park’s ability to purchase land cheaply allowed them to maintain more control over local neighborhood development. The Urban Resources Partnership Program awarded EPDC their first federal grant in 1995 for the amount of $35,000 to clear fifty lots and create a Christmas tree farm and pumpkin patch. EPDC planted 350 four-inch saplings in 1996; today the Christmas trees stand over four feet tall.

 

EPDC’s success with these projects demonstrated that the EPDC was able to manage federal funds in a responsible and accountable fashion. EPDC’s proven for financial dependability led to larger grants from the government, including a $50,000 grant in 1996 and another two for $100,000 in 1997 and 1998, all from Urban Resources. Urban Resources continues to be EPDC’s most consistent source of funding. In 1997, EPDC received a one-time operating grant from the East St. Louis Community Fund of $40,000.[1] This grant allowed for further growth and provisions for the organization, such as additional staff and additional office expenses, including the purchase of a computer. Ms. Forby and Cathy Klump, another UIUC student, were hired using this operating grant.

 

MetroLink

 

In all of Emerson Park Development Corporation’s attempts at revitalizing the neighborhood, one of the most significant events was the securing of the MetroLink extension at 15^th Street and Baugh Avenue. Now for the first time, people had an alternative means of convenient public transportation both into and out of the Emerson Park neighborhood.

 

It all started when, in 1994, the EPDC Board--Ceola Davis; Richard M. Suttle, Sr., Cathy Tucker and Peggy Hume--and Ms. Forby learned of the MetroLink extension project. EPDC mobilized the neighborhood residents to call for the relocation of the proposed MetroLink light rail station in Emerson Park. This would provide the neighborhood a means to achieve what residents wanted: a return of neighborhood services and businesses such as a gas station, dry cleaners and neighborhood markets.

 

EPDC lobbied for a “park-and-ride” facility on the north side of Interstate 64 in the Emerson Park neighborhood rather than the proposed elevated line and “walk-and-ride” station on the south side of Interstate 64. Residents wanted greater economic development opportunities that came with the park-and-ride facility along with expected increases in the area’s population, disposable income and car counts. The MetroLink was viewed as a key to future development.

 

Emerson Park worked with East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, UIUC and other local officials to win East St. Louis’ city council’s support of the proposed changes. In 1995, Mayor Gordon Bush and the council agreed to the realignment of the MetroLink station and the park-and-ride concept. The final project design included increased parking and a retail pad at the station, thanks to the proposals developed by UIUC architecture students in 1996.

 

The parking lot accommodates over 850 vehicles, giving the Emerson Park MetroLink station the second largest parking lot on the entire line. Today, the parking lot fills up each morning with residents from both East St. Louis and the surrounding suburbs looking to shorten their commute to work. According to the Bi-State Development Agency, the average weekday ridership for MetroLink in FY 2001 was 42,381 (St. Louis Regional Transit 2002).

 

The completion of this project came about through the relationships and partnerships among three different types of groups: neighborhood and advocacy organizations (including ESLARP at the University of Illinois and the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House), transportation and county departments (including the Bi-State Development Agency, East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, Madison County and St. Clair County), and local city council members in East St. Louis. Although there was much disagreement along the way as to where the new station would be located, the various groups eventually agreed that it would be in the Emerson Park neighborhood.

 

A great deal of media and academic attention has been given to this major accomplishment. The Emerson Park MetroLink extension is just one example of a situation proving that hard work really does pay off. After waiting eight long years, the first MetroLink train entered the new station on May 4, 2001.

 

Housing Rehabilitation and New Construction

 

For decades Emerson Park, along with other neighborhoods in East St. Louis, did not see any new residential development. Many existing homes were falling into disrepair as owners were unsuccessful in their attempts to get home improvement loans because of long-standing red lining practices.

 

EPDC joined a coalition of neighborhood service providers to improve the declining housing stock in Emerson Park. Emerson Park Development Corporation, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, The Catholic Urban Program, East Side Heart and Home Corporation, ESLARP and others joined together to form the Neighborhood-based Family Housing Program. They set the goal of building twenty-five new homes for low-income families that were currently living in substandard housing in their first five years of operation. All homes in this program were built through volunteer work and then sold to the families for no profit. First Illinois Bank provided the funding for construction. To keep the mortgage costs within reach of low-income families, each home receives $15-20,000 from HOME funds to bring the loan amount down. Through this program, EPDC has helped develop four new homes in the neighborhood on the 1300 block of Winstanley.

 

With their 501c3 tax-exempt status in hand, EPDC was able to receive a HUD grant for home rehabilitation. In 1997, CDBG Operations Corporation awarded EPDC with a $150,000 HOME grant for the rehabilitation of six owner-occupied homes in the neighborhood. The EPDC board required that the applicants be low-income residents living in Emerson Park. Then at one of the board meetings, a local youth picked five names out of a hat. Each home received approximately $25,000 for home improvements. While EPDC was excited about the rehabilitation projects, they also recognized that every home in the neighborhood needed between $10,000 and $40,000 worth of rehabilitation work.

 

In addition, in 1998 EPDC started to individually assist families in qualifying for home improvement loans though the city’s CDBG competition for home improvement grants and loans. The staff at EPDC helped families in need fill out the application. Of the 600 that applied the first year, only fifty “got in the door,” of which only fourteen of EPDC-assisted families were selected. EPDC continues to help families apply for home improvement assistance.

 

Cannady Park Renovation

 

The renovation of Cannady Park was one of the major physical development accomplishments of 1998 in the Emerson Park neighborhood. Located on 15^th Street, directly across from the Cannady Elementary School, this three-acre park was owned by the City of East St. Louis and had only one small playground, built in 1980. The park was neglected and had not been properly maintained for a long time. When the park was finally brought to the attention of EPDC in 1998, it was a completely overgrown weedy field. As a result of the efforts to revitalize the park, EPDC received an Urban Resource Partnership grant of $100,000. Ms. Forby and other local residents aspired to turn the park into a place that residents could use daily. Ms. Forby explains that part of the motivation to restore the park came from Ms. Davis: “Cannady Park was a dream of Ceola’s… when we received that grant she was really excited because we were going to be able to do something directly affecting the children.”

 

They adopted the city’s first effort to use recycled materials and spent $100,000 to build the basketball courts, add more playground equipment and to restore the park. Emerson Park residents as well as EPDC, ESLARP, Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center (NTAC)[2] and other UIUC organizations including members of the APO fraternity, contributed to the fieldwork that took place mostly in May of 1998. After renovation the park had one newer playground and one basketball court.

 

Local officials were reluctant to install the basketball court because they feared that the park would eventually attract local drug dealers and gangs. But the EPDC Board “decided that we could risk it. We could at least get them off the street. They wouldn’t be blocking traffic. And if they were going to sell drugs then we were doing this around a bunch of houses that we could get enough neighbors to run that kind of activity off, and that’s exactly what we did.” EPDC also had local youth help build and paint the courts. The youth took “ownership” over the park and since its creation few problem have been reported. The basketball courts continue to be one of the nicest landmarks for local youth and residents.