h landlords who are willing to work with them.
Tower Grove Community Development Corporation: Strengthening Neighborhoods from Within
By Michelle Kim, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2025 St. Louis Fellow
Creating stable, affordable, and thriving neighborhoods takes more than just housing development. That’s the belief that drives Tower Grove Community Development Corporation (TGCDC), a community organization that showcases the power of residents working together to strengthen their community from within. Founded in 2013, TGCDC is the result of a consolidation of three organizations – Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation, Southwest Garden Housing Corporation, and Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation – that have served the Tower Grove South, Southwest Garden, and Shaw neighborhoods for over 30 years. Today, TGCDC continues their legacy with a clear mission: to strengthen neighborhoods by helping residents stay housed, bringing vacant properties back to life, and growing local leadership for the future.
Partnership with the City of St. Louis
TGCDC works closely with the City of St. Louis – Community Development Administration (CDA) to tackle community challenges on multiple fronts. According to staff, what sets TGCDC apart is their deep connection to the Tower Grove neighborhoods. The team is made up of residents, renters, landlords, and advocates who understand firsthand the importance of being responsible stewards of their community. Instead of relying on outside investors with short-term plans, TGCDC focuses on building capacity from within. They offer programs that train and support local developers and landlords on how to invest wisely for the long haul, ultimately benefiting both current and future residents.
“Our tenants are our neighbors. Our work is a personal investment in our community,” said Dana Gray, TGCDC Community Development Outreach Coordinator. Gray emphasized that TGCDC’s approach is centered on steady, thoughtful efforts that prioritize helping residents stay in their homes, maintain their properties, and ensure that growth benefits everyone in the neighborhood.
Addressing Essential Needs for Neighborhood Stability
TGCDC’s work focuses on three interlocking needs that are essential for long-term neighborhood stability: housing stability, vacant property revitalization, and local capacity growth. With funding from CDA, TGCDC has been able to turn their ideas into reality and launch programs that address both immediate and long-term needs of residents.
Supporting Housing Stability
Keeping families housed is at the core of TGCDC’s neighborhood stability focus. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the CDA provided crucial startup funding for ARCH by HomeScreen: At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing. This program enabled TGCDC to quickly respond to the community’s needs.
ARCH by HomeScreen fills a gap in the traditional housing market by giving at-risk renters a fair chance at finding housing. Through partnerships with social service agencies, the program helps these renters secure housing by connecting them with landlords who are willing to work with them.
