The Fox Park Neighborhood

Fox Park is a south St. Louis neighborhood bound by I-44 to the north, Gravois to the south, Nebraska to the west and Jefferson to the east:

Fox Park had a rough decade from 1990 to 2000 losing 13% of its residents. As of 2000, 3,165 residents were counted, 64% black, 31% white, 6% Hispanic/Latino and 1% Asian. 1,549 housing units were counted, 71% occupied, 37%/63% owner/renter. Another 17% decline was observed in the 2000-2010 timespan with slight racial shifts: 61% black, 32% white, 5% Hispanic and 1% Asian. 2022 Census data showed a total population of 2,545, a 3% loss in a decade. The bleeding has stopped. Racial shift occurred where Blacks now makeup 49% of the population, whites at 49% and Hispanic/Latino and Asians unchanged. We had an uptick in occupancy to the tune of 5% and a 24% drop in vacancy. There are 30 less total housing units in Fox Park in 2020.

That's not to say the future doesn't look bright...very bright. In fact, I would say that Fox Park is the heart of the up and coming south side neighborhoods with the most potential. With McKinley Heights to the east, Fox Park in the middle, Compton Heights and Tower Grove East to the west and Benton Park West to the south, this stretch of the city has enormous upside potential in the coming decade. Recent years have already seen a lot of investment and organization; I firmly believe this will continue. I will show my hand and say this is one of the neighborhoods we are pining to move to. There is a community garden established within the hood, you are 1 mile from Lafayette Park, 1.5 miles from the Soulard Farmers Market, 3.75 miles from the Riverfront Trail, the location is dynamite.

There is an impressive master plan in place for the park that gives the neighborhood its name. Here are a couple sites at the park:

The picture above is the entrance to the home plate side of a baseball field constructed by Cardinals Care in memory of pitcher Daryl Kile (remember his amazing curve ball?). Even with this field, the park is still underwhelming and underused. The master plan could put the neighborhood on the map by providing the centerpiece that many city parks bring to their respective neighborhoods.

As I've mentioned before, Russell is one of my favorite east-west streets in the city. Here are some Fox Park sites along the classic St. Louis street:

Shenandoah is another impressive east-west city street, and Fox Park looks great along Shenandoah.

Fox Park was obviously disconnected from its neighbors to the north (The Gate District) by I-44. Geyer is the most northern street adjacent to the interstate; there are some rehab opportunities as well as some nice homes on this stretch:

Oregon Street has some new homes that seem to fit in well with their surroundings. Alone they might look out of place:

But when you flank them with a couple Fox Park originals, they flow (new one to the left):

There are many corner businesses that are active, or rehab ready or just waiting for a creative new use:

The former Tanner B's restaurant at Nebraska and Shenandoah:

This place, Kim Van, is supposed to offer the elusive St. Paul sandwich, didn't have time to check it out though; whenever I'm in this part of town, it's Fritanga Nicaraguan cuisine that I must enjoy across the street in McKinley Heights.

Sites along Jefferson in Fox Park include Kakao chocolate and confections, The Way Out Club, and arguably the coolest looking tattoo parlor in the city: Trader Bob's Tattoos (although there are places in the Patch and Carondelet that may rival them), and some other businesses:

Some cool signs sprinkled around Fox Park:

The Koken Art Factory on Ohio:

My favorite building is on Accomac, check this baby out:

There are beautiful churches. The Catholics made another striking cathedral and parish complex: St. Francis De Sales on Ohio Street which is visible from many points within the hood.

I like the sign on the Lutheran church along Jefferson, it reads "Experience Rebirth in Fox Park", I realize this is a religious thing, but it seems to me like Fox Park is amidst a rebirth of its own.

There are signs of active rehab and building permits all over the place. This is what makes me feel so bullish on this part of town:

This recent rehab at Nebraska and Sydney is a real improvement for Fox Park:

Don't let me mislead you though, there are pockets of Fox Park that need some TLC. There are some trashy properties and there are some vacant homes. They could use some more intra-neighborhood retail/business (tell me a neighborhood that doesn't), and there was some intentional cul-de-sacs put in place that disconnects the streets from one another. But...the upside will certainly out weigh the negatives of today. There is a great mix of small, medium, large homes and some handsome rental apartments. My mental picture of Fox Park in 10-15 years is that of an urban oasis. The housing stock diversity will keep an economic mix and the neighborhood should continue to get more walkable and welcoming to all walks of life.

Oh yeah, and the homes within the neighborhood are among the best looking in town:

Check out this mini-mansion, I haven't seen one of these yet:

I hope to one day call Fox Park home.

I apologize for the depressing tone of the photos, the weather has been rainy and gloomy. When the sun breaks through, I may have to revisit my top 5 favorite neighborhoods for some more quality shots. Fox Park is firmly cemented in my top 5.

***In July, 2023 I revisited the neighborhood and the following includes updated commentary and photos.***

Misses On Original Tour

Back in 2010 I wrote: ‘‘I hope to one day call Fox Park home.” Well, that hope turned out to be true. We bought a home here, met some great people, got involved in the park, raised our family here and plan to stay here for awhile.

I know this neighborhood like the back of my hand. So, when it comes to misses, you can see the copious posts I’ve linked below. I feel like I did the place justice back in 2010, and I’m not going to spend too much time nit picking on what I missed.

I’m not sure I’ve seen any professional photography doing justice to the St. Francis de Sales Oratory, est. 1867, but it is an architectural gem. Too bad they closed the school and whittled the parish down, but the building itself is still a fixture of our neighborhood even if it flanked by used car lots.

The photos were horrible in the original post overall, and I hope to rectify that a bit here.

The neighborhood is a charming mix of small and larger homes, rental and owner occupied. It’s not as continuous in style like a McKinley Heights or Shaw, but it is way more “big city” with the former factories and warehouses on the southeast side. I’m going to dump a ton of new photos in this update to show you how the place has changed. It really is a gorgeous place, there are more people here maintaining their properties vs. letting them wither. All good in my opinion.

Noticeable Changes

Where to start? The park is a positive space. It has improved immensely. The park used to be surrounded by a chain link fence and had a “keep out” presence. That has changed, the park is used by lots of neighbors for varied uses.

A dog park, a youth sports league, a functional shelter, a spray pad, trees and landscaping, some signs and a basketball court have all been added. The stories on how these came about and who helped are all well documented in the Additional Reading section.

This place has been completely transformed and with way fewer misogyny beatdowns and crack/booze related shootings.

Notice the sidewalks and ADA ramp upgrades. There are functional bathrooms now (not sure if the city opens them). The new basketball court had a fence around it that was destroyed and cut with wire cutters within a year is now being replaced. Kudos to those involved for not giving up and throwing in the towel.

Rung for Women is making a huge impart on our neighborhood. They continue to expand their campus. Their mission is bullet proof and I’ve heard nothing put positivity from neighbors on this project.

There are restaurants and a coffee shop now. I never thought that would happen when we moved here. Some spaces are high end/exclusive, others are decidedly of the neighborhood/soulful, all are welcoming of whoever walks through the doors.

Speed humps on California Avenue have radically changes the no-dignity behavior of wreckless drivers. It has made crossing the street civilized and much safer for the thousands of pedestrians walking to Lona’s Lil Eats.

Investment is taking place. New people have moved in. It is younger and by my subjective estimation, wealthier. Rehabs are still underway or completed since the last post.

And some infill has occurred, sparingly. There are still many abandoned properties.

The renovation of the former factories/warehouses is arguably the biggest change over the last decade. Some are nearing completion, others are in the works.

It is safer. Less street dealers, gun shots and domestic violence spilling into the public domain. They still happen and I’m not discounting that, but trust me, it is an entirely different place than it was a decade ago. People install air conditioners without cages these days. That was not something a smart property owner would have done previously. The vibe is totally post-crack and very little Fetty/meth vibes. The cell phone and drug delivery model has changed the drive-thru come here and get it mentality of the street. You can feel the difference, and it is welcomed.

Gentrification? I buy that. But, I doubt anyone would Fox Park is less safe or welcoming today versus the last few decades. It is still a mixed income, mixed race neighborhood, just like St. Louis as a whole (largely due to our Community Development Corporation). Let me tell you, you won’t be grossed out by the modern landscape. Intolerance and NIMBYs seem rare in my humble opinion.

What Are The Future Needs?

Sidewalks, street trees and abandoned properties being rehabbed. Infill is needed on Geyer and the corner lots that have been land banked for decades.

I’d love to see the abandoned storefronts, restaurant/tavern properties and decades long boarded up homes find uses for residents and visitors.

There is one particular property that is begging for a use. A normal tavern, standard-priced American menu would kill here. I’m flummoxed by this long vacant, rapidly declining building.

There is another property that recently went up for sale that could prove a benefit to the entire neighborhood with the right future. A former auto repair shop turned customized auto place could be a better use, one where we all can enjoy and walk to. Who knows.

The section of Gravois in Fox Park needs some serious rethinking. There is momentum with the shuttering of one of the worst businesses in the neighborhood, the 7-11 at Jefferson and Gravois. The possibilities are endless. The predatory lenders are thick as well.

Gravois can be civilized and a place, just needs another push.

Same can be said for the stretch of Jefferson in Fox Park. We could benefit from higher uses than a former gas station, an antiquated car wash and several crumbling buildings.

But know, Jefferson has seen much improvement over the last decade even if we lost a church or two and few homes to arson/fire.

Also, we desperately need a lane reduction or other traffic calming, it is the idiot interstate of no dignity drivers. Super dangerous and off putting.

The QT is a mixed blessing, I use it and hate it simultaneously. But, the trashy triangle just north of this place is a straight up embarrassment. Who mailed that in? We deserve better.

I leave the future needs section with a major opportunity on Gravois and Jefferson where we have a string a predatory lenders and one the most ridiculous/low-dignity junk food shops that recently shuttered on an important corner. Level these suburban eyesores for contemporary housing. Simple.