The Downtown St. Louis Residents' Association (DSLRA) is an active and growing group of over 100 neighbors living (approximately) east of Jefferson Avenue, north of Hwy. 40/I-64 and south of Delmar Blvd. Oh – and west of the Mississippi River.
While some have lived downtown for decades, most of our members have been in their current homes for less than five years, "pioneering" downtown living in ...St. Louis - just like you. We are renters and owners, 20-somethings and empty nesters who have decided that downtown is the freshest, most interesting neighborhood in the St. Louis region. And everybody in between.
DSLRA is widely recognized by civic leaders as the residential voice of downtown St. Louis. Our Alderwomen, Phyllis Young and Kacie Starr-Triplett, are in active dialog with DSLRA, as is St. Louis' Police Chief Joe Mokwa and Mayor Francis Slay. These leaders regularly attend our quarterly, group-wide meetings, which draw 50-100 neighbors.
Like downtown, DSLRA is growing and changing to meet the needs of new residents. We currently sponsor both civic and social events. This year the organization has been instrumental in initiating neighborhood safety programs. And we are constantly looking for new ways to be of value to new neighbors – so bring your ideas to us.
You live downtown now. We're like you.
The Downtown Residents Association is widely recognized by civic leaders as the voice for over 13,000.00 residents in Downtown St. Louis.
Mission: Foster a better living environment and experience in Downtown St. Louis through education, safety, discussion, promotions, and special events.
DSLRA Guiding Principles:
The Downtown St. Louis Resident Association/Nonprofit - Certificate of Incorporation date:
March 25, 2002.
The Downtown St. Louis Residents Association is a resident-serving, community based organization dedicated to promoting a better residential living environment and experience in Downtown St. Louis, through education, safety, discussion, promotion and special events.
The major objectives of DSLRA include, but not limited to: organizing and conducting neighborhood meetings, promoting safety through the reduction of crime and improvement of physical facilities, improving and diversifying amenities and services, spreading positive information and creating vehicles to address the needs and desires of the downtown residents to heard and acted upon, by:
A. Foster the improvement of the Downtown St. Louis neighborhood through a comprehensive process of residents relations that seek to protect, enhance and promote downtown living and the appreciation architectural and community heritage of the neighborhood.
B. Promoting the residential and commercial growth and development of the Downtown St. Louis neighborhood.
C. Facilitating community problem solving and encourage informed input on issues affecting the functions of the Downtown St. Louis neighborhood.
D. Researching and communicating historic or architectural value buildings, sites, structure or other elements with Downtown St. Louis to residents or prospective residents.
E. Educating the public about social and special events hosted in the Downtown St. Louis neighborhood and the significance of the event in downtown.
F. Assisting residents and prospective residents in locating designated buildings, sites, districts, objects and structures within the Downtown St. Louis neighborhood that is of historic architectural value.
G. Holding meeting/forums and other activities for the instruction, education and the provision of information to the public.
H. Cooperating with and assisting individuals, groups, governmental bodies, officials and employees of government to carry out the purposes of the Corporation and to cooperate with other historical, educational, cultural, civic and philanthropic organizations or individuals who are interested in the history and architectural heritage of the Downtown neighborhood and its residents.
I. Soliciting and accepting endowments, grants, contributions, and donations of money, real property or other property for the above purposes.
J. Educating all residents, businesses and organization with the Corporation's boundaries in matters of zoning, infrastructure, and compliance with city, county and state ordinance that affects them.
Other Objectives
A. To support and enhance the mission and objectives of the Office the Mayor.
B. To preserve and renovate existing architectural structures and art, to foster the design, placement and awareness of local art structures.
C. Obtain financial services, which shall include the award of grants, loans-whether or not secured, obtaining financing from others, and acting as a guarantor on loans from others. The charges for such services shall be on a nonprofit basis.
D. To cooperate with federal, state and local agencies, private organizations and community group in developing programs designed to meet downtown residential needs, including those of low and moderate-income people.
E. To assist residents of downtown St. Louis and of St. Louis in general in the utilization of all available resources the DSLRA has to offer to meet their needs.
F. The Corporation is irrevocable dedicated to, and operated for, nonprofit charitable purposes with the meaning of Section 501 (c)
The Corporation's initial service area includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Wards defined as Downtown St. Louis as the following: the northern border Cass Street, the western border Jefferson Avenue., the southern border Chouteau Avenue, with the eastern border the Mississippi River. (The boundaries need to be updated since redistricting has taken place).
There are three classes of memberships, to include the following: general, affiliate, and businesses or corporate. There is no limited the number of members allowed. Membership shall be establish by completing a membership application and payment of the appropriate annual dues.
The borders will change slightly when the redisctricting plan is made official.
The types of services the DSLRA has been involved in but are not limited to the following:
Promoting Neighborhood Safety Watch
Developer Engagement Activities
Provide New Resident Information
Residential Membership Management Activities
Community Newsletter & Editorials
Residential Surveys
Breaking News
Calendar of Events
Promote Residents Activities
Provide Town Hall Meetings
Provide Diversity & Lecture Series
Provide Networking & Social Hours
Provide Community Arts, Culture & Entertainment Events
Community Outreach & Liason Services
DSLRA hold seats on Coordinating Boards, Committees, & Focus Groups
Listed below are forums, projects, and special events which DSLRA has sponsored or participated in as a function of sharing in our community commitment and dedication to matters of common interests to residents.
· Candidates for Office of the Mayor - City of St. Louis Mayor Forum – DSLRA joint venture with the Women League of Voters and Central Public Library
· Monthly DSLRA Board Meetings at the Old Post Office with guest speakers: Gateway Mall Project with President Patricia, Roland Hamilton and Daniel Henry Insurance, Panhandling with St. Patrick Center, and Christ Church Cathedral.
· Quarterly & Town Hall Meetings with downtown residents and guest speakers - Safety Issues - Gwen Spicer, Beautification Efforts - Ken Gabel, Laurel Project -Amos Harris, The Leather Loft Project - Desiree Knapp and Dominium Acquisitions LLC., Metropolis Neighborhood Walks - Leslie Proud, North Side Revitalization Project - 6th Ward Alderwoman April Ford Griffin and Paul McKee.
· Vision for Downtown St. Louis – Forum with Vector Communication, and Partnership for Downtown St. Louis
· Cares Outreach - Victory at the Triumph Grill & Motor Museum
· Who Lives Downtown: St. Louis Comparative Perspective – Metropolitan Research Exchange and the Federal Bank of St. Louis
· Downtown Residents Policy Council & Steering Committee – St. Patrick Center Project Hero Program at the Washington Avenue Apartments
· International Business – Confucius Institution Grand Opening at Webster University- Old Post Office
· Spring Jazz & Art Event – St. Louis Jazz Club & Crepes in the City
· Urban Roots
· Grape Arts Preview Event – KitchenK
· WeCar Anniversary Event
· Downtown Customer Appreciation Day – Papa John’s Pizza
· DSLRA Urban Street Sale – Residents Annual Garage Sale
· Saint Louis Fashion Week
· National Night Out
· Dining out for Life
· Macy’s Department Store - Residential Promotions, Family and Friends Day, and Fundraising Projects
· Ribbon Cuttings: Lindenwood College, El Barracho Canitina, Downtown Urgent Care, and Culinaria Market, other businesses and resturants.