Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference to be Held in St. Louis
STL Partnership to host mobile workshop at West Florissant Avenue
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 8, 2024) – The Reclaiming Vacant Properties (RVP) Conference, one of the only national conference dedicated to strengthening neighborhoods, will be held in St. Louis from October 9 through 11 at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch. The conference, hosted by the Center for Community Progress, helps address vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties, and RVP provides innovative solutions that disrupt the cycle of vacancy. The event features breakout sessions at the hotel as well as small-group tours that take attendees beyond just the conference center and into the community.
“The Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference is a platform for sharing bold ideas and proven solutions that address the challenges facing our neighborhoods,” Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar, president and CEO of Center for Community Progress. “By coming together in St. Louis, we are not only showcasing innovative strategies but also learning from the resilience and determination of the people in communities like Ferguson and Dellwood. It is a reminder that transformation is possible when we put people and their needs at the center of our work.”
Among the highlighted events of the conference is a mobile workshop hosted by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership). During the workshop on Thursday, Oct. 10, entitled Community Recovery and Rebuilding: West Florissant Avenue 10 Years After Ferguson, local partners will share how community vision and needs shaped the recovery and redevelopment of key spots along this corridor. Participants will visit Refuge and Restoration (R&R) Marketplace, a long-vacant strip mall now becoming a hub for economic development, and the Ferguson Empowerment Center, developed by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis on the site of the QuikTrip that was burned during the civil unrest after the death of Michael Brown. The workshop will be led by Maude Trost, senior project manager of community investment at STL Partnership.
“Revitalization is about more than just improving local economies, it is also about helping communities heal,” Trost said. “We want to show the attendees of the conference how civil unrest prompted local conversations about civil reform and how to reimagine this community space.”
“What a privilege to be included on the tour for an organization that understands the complexity of what disinvestment does to a community,” said Beverly Jenkins, founder and CEO of Refuge and Restoration. “We too believe in the disruption of unjust systems that create disproportionately vacant properties and have been compelled to be a part of the progress toward making changes that make a difference.”
“As a host location for the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is proud to contribute to the ongoing efforts of transforming vacant spaces into vibrant places,” said Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “Since 2007, this conference has been at the forefront of revitalizing communities across the nation. By sharing bold ideas and innovative solutions, we have the power to disrupt the cycle of vacancy and create sustainable change in our neighborhoods. We look forward to showcasing how local collaborations can inspire national transformation.”
Other mobile workshops during the three-day event include visits to East St. Louis, the Delmar Divide and other locations through the St. Louis metro area.
About St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) provides economic development services for the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. The Partnership works in collaboration with the St. Louis Development Corporation, Greater St. Louis, Inc., the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Partnership and other economic development partners to attract, retain and grow companies coming to or expanding in the St. Louis region. Learn more at stlpartnership.com.