Affordable Housing

The1990 neighborhood improvement plan called for affordable single-family homes designed for families with children. EPDC “blitz-built” four such homes over two summers with UIUC volunteers. EPDC persuaded the East St. Louis Housing Authority to construct new public housing units that resemble market-rate townhouses in architectural style and density.

EPDC’s major accomplishment is Parson’s Place. Begun in 2000, Phase One contains 174 attractive duplex and triplex residential units for mixed-income families. Phase Two, initiated later in 2001 includes 250 multifamily and 40 single-family units bringing the total number of new residential units at Parson’s Place to 464. The architectural character of Parson’s Place was established by residents, with help from UIUC students and faculty, to blend with existing housing stock in Emerson Park.