MCKINLEY HEIGHTS (23)

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LOCATION
McKinley Heights’ boundaries are defined as Gravois on the South, Jefferson on the West, and I-44 on the North.

HISTORY
McKinley Heights was originally platted beginning in the early 1850s, having previously been a portion of the Petit Prarie Common Field. By 1875, the area consisted mainly of small- to medium-sized single-family dwellings. These closely resemble those found in Soulard. Rowhouses are not nearly as common. Architectural styles used in the construction of these buildings include Second Empire Victorian townhouses, built between 1865 and 1885, and Italianate, built during the late 1880s. Homes built after 1890 generally are of Germanic influence.

The major transportation thoroughfare was Jefferson Avenue to the west, and present-day Broadway to the south of the neighborhood. In the early portion of McKinley Heights' existence, commercial development was slow to arrive. Street corner stores began to arrive around 1875. Eventually, commercial strips began to develop on the major transportation lines, including Jefferson and Gravois. The earliest form of transportation was provided by the Gravois Railway Company, which ran from downtown along Russell, Twelfth, Sidney, and Jefferson, to Gravois.

The Russian Church of St. Michael Orthodox Church was erected in 1927 at the corner of Ann and Gravois. St. Marcus U.C.C. was erected in 1914, at the intersection of Russell and McNair. Holy Trinity Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church is located at Geyer and McNair. Some of the most magnificent schools in the area were built around the turn of the century in McKinley Heights. The Charless School, which was the first school in the area, was built in 1895 by the architect A. H. Krishna but has since been demolished. Other older schools in the area are the McKinley Classical Junior Academy and the Sigel School.

The construction of I-55 and I-44 had a serious effect on the neighborhood. Essentially, the community became isolated and disconnected from its adjacent neighborhoods. The area experienced a decrease in population and an increase in economic problems. Many of the buildings slowly began to deteriorate. Today there are extensive efforts to redevelop and improve some of these historic buildings.

CHARACTERISTICS
McKinley Heights is one of St. Louis’ older neighborhoods, located on the City’s Near South Side. McKinley Heights received its name from McKinley High School. It is primarily residential, mixed with some commercial sites. Its residents are of mixed incomes, and represent several ethnic and racial backgrounds. The neighborhood developed around the turn of the century by individuals of Eastern European descent, and to this day retains much of its ethnic flavor. Recent trends show a significant influx of peoples of various ethnic backgrounds. Within the last decade, many young couples and families have purchased homes. One major attraction is the presence of several churches. Holy Trinity Church provides spiritual support for Orthodox Christians of Serbian descent. Many of the churches also provide social programs and youth activities. St. Marcus offers theatrical performances. Another religious organization that is actively involved with the community is Lost Children Ministries, which operates the Rise and Shine Bakery.

The area provides an abundance of rental property, consisting mainly of several large houses, two- and four-family flats, and apartment buildings. The McKinley Heights Community Housing Corporation has refurbished several old buildings over the past few decades, and currently has future plans for other buildings. There are several vacant buildings that can be found throughout the neighborhood, but they tend to be scattered, rather than concentrated in one particular area. The McKinley Heights Neighborhood Association is an active community organization that is concerned with the well-being of the area, and has recently created a new community garden. McKinley Heights is also a National Register Historic District. Furthermore, it has also been designated an Operation ConServ area by the City, which entitles the area and its residents to concentrated redevelopment support.

INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
One of McKinley Height’s most active organizations is the McKinley Heights Neighborhood Association, which is among the City’s oldest. The organization provides residents with information regarding issues affecting the neighborhood. Another active organization is the McKinley Heights Community Housing Corporation. Churches in the neighborhood include the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Michael Russian Orthodox Church, and St. Marcus United Church of Christ. Sigel Community School provides educational programs for the entire community. The St. Marcus Theatre Guild is an important and active organization that provides theatrical performances. Hand of Hope is a local organization that provides food and nourishment to the hungry. Sigel School, a community education center (CEC), provides several social programs to area residents. Step Up!, a St. Louis neighborhood improvement program, has offered grant money in recent years to provide community beautification projects, such as landscaping for the vacant Charless School Site, which was aided by Gateway Greening. Nearby Fox Park offers recreational facilities.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Through Neighborhood Stabilization Officers (NSOs), elected officials, local businesses, and McKinley Height’s neighborhood organizations, several long-term goals have been established. These include: promoting individual home ownership, reducing density by converting several multifamily units into single-family residences, expanding existing block units, and marketing the neighborhood’s affordable housing stock to attract purchasers. The McKinley Heights Community Housing Corporation has completed several housing projects within recent years, in the interest of increasing the proportion of owner-occupied residences. The McKinley Heights Neighborhood Association sponsors “Alley of the Month” and mobile patrol captains. There has been the addition of several new stores and small businesses within the past few years, including a new art gallery. Improvements continue to be made in this well-preserved historic neighborhood. The long-term goals created by the neighborhood’s residents, organizations, City agencies such as the Community Development Agency (CDA)), and other interested parties continue to make progress, as more homes are refurbished and converted into single-family dwellings. Today, the old Charless School site is now a garden area which is maintained by the McKinley Heights Neighborhood Association members.. More buildings are currently being considered for redevelopment and McKinley Heights’ residents appear to be as optimistic as ever.