DeSales Community Development: Leading the Way in Neighborhood Revitalization for 50 Years
By Sophia Black, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2025 St. Louis Fellow
For almost half a century, DeSales Community Development has been a driving force in the revitalization of the Saint Louis City area. Founded in 1976 with a mission to promote investment and revitalization in the Fox Park and Tower Grove East neighborhoods, DeSales has gained a reputation for leadership and innovation in community development.
Residents in these neighborhoods were concerned about the decline of their community and banded together to take control of their neighborhood’s destiny. DeSales was one of the first community-based organizations in St. Louis to focus on neighborhood revitalization.
Recognizing that housing development was crucial to their mission, DeSales began acquiring vacant buildings in the historic Compton Hill District with funding from the Community Development Administration (CDA). They then rehabbed and sold a mix of market-rate and low-income tax credit residential apartments and homes for the community.
However, DeSales soon realized that housing development alone was not enough to ensure long-term affordability. In 2004, they established Fox Grove Management (FGM) to provide high-quality property management services. With a large portfolio of multi-family housing, DeSales and their neighborhood partners recognized the need for a professional, mission-aligned management approach to support the stability and growth of their properties.
Today, DeSales has expanded beyond the historic neighborhoods of Fox Park and Tower Grove East to become a model for neighborhood revitalization across the city. Over the years, they have completed 600 tax credit funded units, 250 historic revitalization units, and acquired an additional 300 units with partner organizations to continue their efforts in creating healthy neighborhoods throughout the city.
“We are fortunate to be in neighborhoods with such active community members,” said Becky Reinhart, Executive Director of DeSales Community Development. “At DeSales, we strive to preserve the character of our neighborhoods, and community involvement is a crucial part of that character.”
Renovated Building Across from DeSales Headquarters in Fox Park
Current Projects
DeSales Preservation II
Currently, DeSales is working on their DeSales Preservation II initiative, which aims to modernize 71 existing units across 28 historic buildings in the Tower Grove East, Fox Park, and Benton West neighborhoods. This project not only supports these neighborhoods but also provides affordable housing options for residents.
