Dutchtown Main Streets is proud to work alongside Lutheran Development Group and many community partners to expand affordable housing options in our neighborhood, including deeply affordable units for neighbors earning as little as 30% of the area median income. We’re especially excited to share that building permits have now been issued for the Marquette Homes project, bringing us one big step closer to adding more high-quality, affordable housing right in the heart of Dutchtown!

Construction on the project is set to begin soon, with a hopeful completion by the end of 2026. You may have already noticed the scaffolding going up at 3305 Meramec in the heart of Downtown Dutchtown. The long-vacant 3600 South Grand, also known as the Melba Theater, will also undergo a full rehabilitation as part of Marquette Homes, along with several single- and multi-family buildings across Dutchtown and Gravois Park.

Committed to Affordable Housing in Dutchtown

Marquette Homes will provide much-needed options for families and individuals who want to stay and grow in Dutchtown. Across the Dutchtown Main Streets footprint, there are now 182 affordable housing units in the development pipeline, including:

  • 79 units within our mixed-use commercial district on Meramec, Virginia, and South Grand
  • 103 additional units across the broader Dutchtown Main Streets footprint and our primarily residential streets

These units comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes to meet the needs of families of all sizes. Many of these projects also include ground-floor commercial spaces, creating new opportunities for local businesses to open, grow, and serve the community right where people live.

This progress reflects the commitment of Dutchtown Main Streets and our partners to a walkable, mixed-use Dutchtown where affordability is at the center—not the margins—of development. 

From Vacancy to Vibrancy

When very affordable housing is involved, the funding process can be quite complex and the timeline long, but that’s what it takes to build real, lasting affordability. Organizations like Lutheran Development Group, St. Joseph Housing Initiative, Tower Grove CDC, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri work tirelessly alongside Dutchtown Main Streets and our neighbors to navigate the long and arduous path from vacancy to vibrancy, transforming empty eyesores and nuisance properties into quality affordable housing and commercial space.

Let’s keep building a Dutchtown where all of our neighbors and businesses can thrive together!