This is a great opportunity to show off a great neighborhood and change peoples perceptions of this wonderful part of St. Louis. there is a lot going on north of downtown that people don’t know about and going on this tour and seeing the rehabs could possibly open people’s minds. I know backflash is coming about going in the city, especially N. City, but I urge people to show up and have an open mind instead of relying on aging sterotypes.

Chris, I appreciate you enthusiasm and your hope but knowing someone who works just two blocks north of the area and having listened to their stories of the thnigs that go happen on a daily basis, I think I’ll pass. This area is drug infested, murder capital of the city (check crime maps)and guns are shot off as a form of entertainment and human life is just a notch above a cockroaches and the meaningful scale.

ONSL is a great neighborhood that has made remarkable strides, and the Crown Square development is really impressive. This tour is definitely worth checking out.

Dear thanks but no thanks,

Come see why Focus St. Louis declared Old North St. Louis “What’s Right with the Region” and why St. Louis Magazine says Old North St. Louis is “one of St. Louis’ most exciting up-and-coming neighborhoods”, and why Alive Magazine listed Old North St. Louis as one of “St. Louis’ Most Influential People, Places and Ideas of 2008″, and why Kaid Benfield of the National Resources Defense Council has written about Old North St. Louis three times and refers to Old North as “one of the country’s best revitalizaton stories.”

And BTW, Old North St. Louis is one of 79 distinct neighborhoods within the city of St. Louis. Our neighborhood runs to I-70 on the east, Cass on the south, W. Florissant on the west, and Branch on the north.

Come see for yourself the vibrant urban village on the edge of downtown.

TBNT… Your comment is exactly what Chris is writing. It’s almost worse than a stereotype because you are getting your stories from a person who got a story from a person who was told about something she probably read in the news that wasn’t even in this neighborhood. This is an up and coming part of town with a lot of money being invested in it (see Soulard/Tower Grove 15 years ago). Thanks for your support anonymous blogger… just never offer to pick up your friend from work on the north side of HWY70, you may never make it back home!

Thanksbutnothanks: I live near the border of ONSL and Hyde Park, have been there one year as of May 2. Before we moved, we ran the crime stats on our current southside address vs. our pending northside one on the SafeCity website. The crime stats were SUBSTANTIALLY lower. Mind-bendingly lower. The year I have spent as a resident in the neighborhood has totally backed that up. People say it’s like living in the city and the country at the same time - that has been my experience, too.

Dear thanks but no thanks,

Old North is a great place to live. I bought a house 6 years ago in Old North, and I have seen progress evolve at a rocket’s pace. Neighbors have incredible energy and are extremely invested in the community, homeowners and renters alike. It has a small town feel within this big metropolitan area.

In regards to safety and crime, I have always felt safe here, as has my wife. Neighbors have banded together many years before us moving in to fight crime and it clearly shows today. However, you can be the judge of this as well by looking at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s own statistics. Old North lags behind in crime statistics when compared to many other neighborhoods:
this year so far: http://www.slmpd.org/crimestats/CRM0005-C_20090301.pdf
and for all of 2008: http://www.slmpd.org/crimestats/AAR04MM_20040601.pdf

Please do not go off what you “hear” about, but come out and see what makes Old North different!

Hey guys, love the pride and enthusiasm for the neighborhood. I too live in the city, in south city and love my city neighborhood as well.
I must be refering to a different place. The person who I am speaking of works every single day in the area of Murphy Blair, JVL housing. The stories are HORRIFYING and I hear the tragic and scary weekly. And Posted I live with this person so it is not second hand information. I don’t know why he goes back each day except he is paid well. I was there once to drop him off when his car was in the shop and I must say I couldn’t get out of that particular neighborhood fast enough. Not only was it scary it was flat depressing.

Been there, done that. Years ago, they made 14th street a pedestrian walkway. That was a complete fizzle. It looks like a disaster area now. So once again we will sweep up the debris and try to impress the visitors. Just be out of the area at sundown before THEY reclaim the streets. In todays news a cyclist was shot by 2 thugs a few blocks from 14th street. So much for trying to convince people its safe there. Looks like we will throw more money down a rathole. Check back in 4 years.

I don’t want to attack “thanks but no thanks” but their attitude is part of the reason why certain areas in St. Louis are “flat depressing”. It takes people with vision, courage, determination, and support to fight against the depressing elements to keep neighborhoods viable or make them better. Its true what the neighbors say about Old North not being as dangerous as you many think it is but if it were, why criticize the efforts of anyone trying to improve their environment unless you want it fail?