After years of planning and plenty of neighborhood speculation, shovels are finally coming out at the Clinton-Peabody public housing complex in the Near Southside this month. Phase I of a multi-stage overhaul will knock out several aging buildings, replace them with new apartments, carve out shared green space and give the Al Chappelle community center a long-awaited upgrade. City officials and developers are pitching the work as a long-game strategy to keep families stable on site and stitch the property back into downtown-adjacent corridors.
According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the first construction phase carries a roughly $35 million price tag, with the outlet reporting that crews are set to break ground this month. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for July 17, and organizers plan to follow the speeches with a community celebration, per an event listing from the Community Builders Network.
The St. Louis Housing Authority, in its own project update, pegs Phase I’s total development cost at about $32 million and says the first buildout will deliver 89 new apartments. Materials from the St. Louis Housing Authority and nonprofit developer POAH show the deal is stitched together with federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, National Housing Trust Fund dollars and a mix of other grants to get construction off the ground.
What Phase One Will Build
Phase I is designed to bring a mix of one- to three-bedroom apartments wrapped around new outdoor amenities. Plans call for a central green and upgraded public space that can host community events and programs. The Lamar Johnson Collaborative’s master plan outlines a roughly 1.5-acre central park with a multi-use field and splash pad, while architect Trivers describes garden-style buildings and townhomes that are meant to knit the block back together. LJC and Trivers are listed as design partners on the redevelopment.
Timeline and Contractors
Project information on Clinton-Peabody in St. Louis lists “Summer 2026” as the start of Phase I construction and estimates move-ins in late 2027 through winter 2027–28. The same materials identify Roanoke Construction as the general contractor, and note that demolition and site-prep work have already taken place. Roanoke says it plans to prioritize local subcontractors for the build.
Residents And Outreach
Developers say residents have been at the table throughout planning and that temporary on-site transfers in 2023 and 2024 were used to clear the Phase I footprint without permanently displacing households. “After 56 years living at Clinton-Peabody, it’s more than a home to me,” longtime resident Pamela Emrick told the St. Louis American. POAH says the redevelopment includes a resident-centered relocation plan, continued engagement and services intended to support households that return to the new units.
Funding And The Bigger Picture
Phase I’s financing stack combines federal and state tax credits, National Housing Trust Fund dollars and local grants, according to the St. Louis Housing Authority. The broader Clinton-Peabody program has been described as roughly a $100 million redevelopment on the developer’s site, while some reporting put the larger effort closer to $150 million when demolition kicked off last year. The St. Louis Business Journal and housing authority documents supply the financing and scope details.
What To Watch Next
Backers plan to officially kick off construction with the July 17 groundbreaking and a family-friendly celebration, and neighbors can expect visible site work to ramp up after the big photo op. For event details and schedule updates, check the calendar from the Community Builders Network, and watch for resident notices and project news on Clinton-Peabody in St. Louis.
