HOLLY HILLS (3)
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LOCATION
The neighborhood is defined by Bates and Walsh on the Northeast, Holly Hills on the Southwest, Leona and the Missouri Pacific Railroad on the Northwest and Grand on the Southeast. It is surrounded by Carondelet Park and the Boulevard Heights, Bevo Mill, Dutchtown, and Carondelet neighborhoods.

HISTORY
In the early 1920s, developer William A Federer, with partners Gus Arendes and Don Linvingston Sr., purchased land from the Missouri Pacific Railroad and developed that land as the Holly Hills neighborhood. The name "Holly Hills" derived from Hollywood and was intended to reflect a similar level of grace and elegance. The first building permit in the community was issued in 1926. An important element of Federer's plan was to construct homes of many different styles, sizes, and characters, from grand German-style castles to quaint country cottages to the more typical St. Louis City Arts-and-Crafts bungalows. The home in which Federer resided has remained in the family and is now lovingly maintained by his daughter and her family. [Source: History of Carondelet, by NiNi Harris ((c) 1991, Southern Commercial Bank).]

CHARACTERISTICS
Holly Hills is a well-maintained neighborhood with a good housing stock to suit its widely divergent economic classes. The numerous housing options have been key to helping Holly Hills remain strong and vibrant, with a diverse and harmonious mixture of homeowners and renters. The neighborhood's businesses concentrate near Grand and Bates. Recreation opportunities are offered by the YMCA, the Bevo-Long Community Education Center, and Carondelet Park, while the Carondelet Branch Library also serves the community.

INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
One of the City's oldest neighborhood associations, the Holly Hills Improvement Association (HHIA) was established in 1927 and has a strongly family-oriented focus. Other anchors to the neighborhood include one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in the City, Carondelet Park; St. Stephen's Parish; the Carondelet Historical Society; and the Bellerive Neighborhood Association.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
In Fall 1996, HHIA conducted a focus group of approximately 125 neighborhood residents, seeking their opinions on ways they would like to help HHIA to improve the neighborhood. The issues most important to the residents seem to be (1) assistance with "problem" properties, both bad landlords and irresponsible tenants; (2) policing based on personalized interaction promoted by pedestrian and bicycle transport; (3) continued funding for maintenance of public services for keeping alleys clean and safe, maintaining Carondelet Park and street repair; (4) events and constructive activities, such as beautification efforts, which encourage neighborly socializing ; and (5) making significant improvements to the City-wide educational and healthcare systems.