The Dutchtown Community Improvement District has released their annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2019, their second full year in operation. After focusing on planning in their first year, the CID took that momentum and started making things happen.

In spite of a limited budget (about $82,000 for the year) and an all volunteer staff, the Dutchtown CID was able to make great strides in 2019. Download the report here, or read on for some highlights.

Safety and Security

In October 2018, after discussions with multiple firms, the Dutchtown CID contracted with Campbell Security and Service Group to provide secondary patrols through the CID footprint. Two uniformed officers patrol the footprint during weekly shifts to provide enhanced police coverage and visibility.

The CID hosted a Safety Meet and Greet at Crusoe’s in January with Campbell Security and Neighborhood Liaison Officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Maintenance and Beautification

In the spring of 2019, the CID worked with Ald. Shane Cohn and the City of St. Louis to install or replace trash cans through the district. The CID has contracted with Metro Sweeping to ensure the cans are maintained and emptied regularly.

The CID has also contracted with St. Patrick’s Center to provide additional maintenance services. Workers from St. Patrick’s clean up trash and assist with plantings in the district.

Marketing and Development

The CID’s Marketing Committee developed informational door hangers for residents of the CID. The CID also participated in or supported events throughout the neighborhood, such as the Go Dutch! real estate mixer and the First District Police Luncheon.

In conjunction with both the Beautification and Marketing committees, the CID organized a very successful neighborhood cleanup, Clean Dutch, on Earth Day weekend in April. Dozens of neighbors tackled trash on their blocks, and volunteers filled an entire construction dumpster with bulk trash picked up from alleys.

Finally, the CID formed an agreement with DutchtownSTL.org to provide ongoing promotional services via this website and social media.

Looking Forward

The Dutchtown CID continues to progress into the current fiscal year. The CID recently issued a request for proposals for capital improvements in the district. Campbell Security is still patrolling the district, and maintenance contracts have been effective.

The CID has operated transparently and in a community-oriented fashion, with a board made up of business and property owners in the district along side residents volunteering their time and efforts. Board meetings are held monthly and are open to the public, and committee meetings are held quarterly with anyone being able to join a committee.

This month, the Dutchtown CID Board of Directors will meet on Monday, December 23rd, 5:30pm at the Neighborhood Innovation Center. All neighbors are welcome. Also in December, the CID’s committees will meet:

• Maintenance and Beautification: Thursday, December 5th, 5:30pm at 4527 Virginia
• Marketing and Development: Thursday, December 12th, 6pm at Patrick McKeane’s Pub at the Original Crusoe’s
• Safety and Security: Thursday, December 19th, 5:30pm at Original Crusoe’s

Join us at the board meeting to keep up with what’s going on, or join a committee to get involved! With your help, the district will continue to improve and make Dutchtown a better place to live and work.

Download the complete report here, including a map of the district, 2019 income and expenses, and the budget adopted for 2020.

The Dutchtown Community Improvement District is interested in hearing your great ideas for bettering the district! With the issuance of this Request for Proposals, the Dutchtown CID is offering residents, business owners, and anyone with interest in improving quality of life in Dutchtown an opportunity to help prioritize capital improvement in the years ahead.

What’s a capital improvement?

Any investment in the physical infrastructure of the district would qualify as a capital improvement. The major investment made to-date by the Dutchtown CID has been the installation of new trash bins. Other area CIDs have invested in public right-of-way items like wayfinding or placemaking signage, benches, new street lighting, sidewalk or median planters, public art, street light banners, and specialty crosswalk striping.

Submit Your Proposal

Submit photos or draft drawings of your proposed improvement, along with a project budget (including estimated maintenance costs), letters of support, and prospective sources of supplemental funding. Find additional information here.

All responses will be discussed at the January meeting of the Dutchtown CID Board of Directors, to be held on January 23rd, 5:30pm at the Neighborhood Innovation Center.

Email your response to rfp@dtcid.org by December 31, 2019.

There’s a chill in the air, but things are heating up in Dutchtown with so much to do in November! Stay in the know by checking the DutchtownSTL calendar and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more Dutchtown news.

Neighborhood Meetings

The Gravois Park Neighborhood Association meets on Tuesday, November 12th. Their meetings are at 6pm in the Rita Ford Community Center, 3353 California just north of Cherokee.

Dutchtown West meets on Wednesday, November 13th. The meeting is at 7pm in the banquet hall at Grbic Restaurant.

The St. Cecilia Historic District Neighborhood Association meets on Tuesday, November 19th, 6:30pm at St. Cecilia School. Enter the school from Alaska between the church and school buildings.

Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association hosts their annual holiday party on Wednesday, November 20th, 7pm at the Gretchen Inn. Join them for food and fun including bingo and raffles.

The Dutchtown Community Improvement District‘s monthly board meeting is Thursday, November 21st. This meeting will be at 5:30pm at the new Neighborhood Innovation Center at Meramec and Compton.

The Cherokee Street Community Improvement District holds their monthly public meeting on Thursday, November 21st. They meet at 5:30pm at Artist Art.

Gravois Jefferson Leadership Academy

Dutchtown South Community Corporation is hosting a series of workshops on planning and zoning issues to help residents grow skills to implement the Gravois Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan. In the six workshops, planners and community development professionals will share knowledge and expertise on planning topics with residents in the neighborhoods in the Gravois Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan area.

DSCC seeks to cultivate a new crop of leaders and help strengthen current leaders, who can then be better equipped to serve on development review committees or citizen plan monitoring committees.

Residents of northeast Dutchtown, Gravois Park, and Benton Park West are all encouraged to attend. RSVP on the Facebook event page. Light refreshments will be provided and childcare is available.

Intersect Arts Center

Free Teen Studio Workshops continue at Intersect Arts Center. Starting in November is a six-week course in ceramics with artist Emma Vidal. Students will gain a strong foundation in practical skills, technical knowledge, and contemporary ceramic practices. No experience is required and the workshops, every Friday from 4:30pm to 6pm, are free. Register at Intersect’s website.

Weihnachtspyramide, Intersect’s fall arts festival, is Saturday, November 16th from 11am to 3pm. The festival features a petting zoo, craft projects, live music, and free food and drink in addition to a variety of art for sale from multiple vendors. Visit the Facebook event page for a list of vendors.

The gallery at Intersect is seeking submissions for their January exhibits Digraph // Reservoir through November 10th. Visit the gallery page for more information.

Thomas Dunn Learning Center

Thomas Dunn Learning Center‘s Art Lab is open Monday through Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. Work on your own piece or participate in the focus of the day. Art supplies are available along with tons of items to reuse and repurpose.

The South Side Youth Council meets every Monday at 4pm at Thomas Dunn. The South Side Youth Council aims to contribute to the South Side community by creating and organizing youth led programs and events.

Join the Young Professionals Board of Thomas Dunn Learning Center at the next Sip ‘n Sketch is Wednesday, November 13th at 6pm. Adults of all skill levels are invited to participate in this life drawing class exploring a variety of materials and techniques. Bring a snack and a beverage.

FreeSource‘s Tech Support Cafe returns to Thomas Dunn on Thursday, November 21st from 6pm to 8pm. Participants can receive free technical assistance and peer mentorship from volunteer IT professionals in a welcoming, friendly, accessible workshop atmosphere.

Thomas Dunn hosts their annual Winter Artist’s Market on Saturday, November 30th from noon to 4pm. Find beautifully hand crafted gifts while enjoying complimentary cookies and cocoa. Interested vendors can register here.

More Dutchtown Events

Join Tenth Life Cat Rescue for an open-level yoga class with cats on Wednesday, November 6th at 6pm. You only need a mat and a love of cats to participate in this friendly, non-judgmental environment. Tickets for this fundraiser are available for $15 at Eventbrite. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.

Earthbound Beer and Green Earth Art Company team up for a Maker’s Market on Sunday, November 10th from noon to 4pm. Grab a beer and peruse the wares of over a dozen local artists and makers. Visit the Facebook event page for a list of vendors and more info.

Dutchtown South’s Community Empowerment Committee meets on Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm at Thomas Dunn Learning Center. The CEC implements the programs of DSCC and addresses issues in the neighborhood through their own program ideas. Dinner and childcare are provided.

Neighbors are invited to the new Neighborhood Innovation Center on Friday, November 22nd at 1:30pm for a presentation to Missouri Main Street Connection. DT2 has been chosen as a finalist for Main Street’s new UrbanMain initiative. This is a unique opportunity to bring in professional resources to help Dutchtown plan for a vibrant commercial future and further DT2’s mission to promote a thriving community and shared prosperity by facilitating economic development and fostering opportunity in the Dutchtown neighborhood. Read more here.

Celebrate five years of Earthbound Beer on Friday, November 22nd beginning at 4pm. Enjoy lots of special beers plus food from Gooseberries and Byrd & Barrel, music, and more. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.

Head to Cherokee Street on Black Friday (November 29th) for the Black Owned Black Friday pop-up market. Eight locations will host over twenty makers, artists, and creatives. Visit the Facebook event page for a list of locations and vendors.

The Dutchtown calendar has lots more for you to do in November. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even more Dutchtown news, and sign up for our mailing list for occasional updates.

We took a walk through the neighborhood to enjoy the vibrant changing colors of the fall leaves against Dutchtown and Gravois Park’s beautiful brick architecture. Have a look! For more Dutchtown photography, make sure to follow DutchtownSTL on Instagram.

There’s fun and treats to be had for both kids and adults this Halloween season in Dutchtown! Here’s a rundown of activities in the neighborhood. If you’ve got any leads on events, please let us know and we’ll update our list.

The Forgotten

Leverage Dance Theater returns to Intersect Arts Center with a second run of their immersive dance performance The Forgotten. Ten performances are scheduled beginning Thursday, October 24th. A kid-friendly version will be staged on Saturday, November 2nd; otherwise prepare for a scare! Visit the Facebook event page for performance times and to purchase tickets.

The Haunted Pool

Encore Theater Group‘s performance of the new musical The Haunted Pool continues at Thomas Dunn Learning Center with performances on October 25th, 26th, and 27th and November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Prior to the November 1st performance, come by for an art reception featuring works inspired by The Haunted Pool.

DiverseCity Church Trunk-or-Treat

DiverseCity Church at Itaska and Compton hosts a trunk-or-treat on Saturday, October 26th from 2pm to 4pm. Bring the kids for a fun, safe time with lots of candy, a costume contest, a bounce house, and more.

Spookapalooza

Spookapalooza is back this year on Saturday, October 26th from 3pm to 1am. Your ticket gets you into multiple venues along Cherokee to see dozens of performers. Get dressed up and enter the costume contest for your chance to win prizes. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for VIP including food, beverages, and a karaoke party. Get tickets here.

Howl-O-Ween

The Cherokee Dog Park invites all dogs and their people to the annual Howl-O-Ween party on Saturday, October 26th from 2pm to 4pm. Please familiarize yourself with the dog park rules before attending.

Benton Park West Trunk-or-Treat

The Benton Park West Neighborhood Association hosts their annual Trunk-or-Treat on Sunday, October 27th in the Salvation Army parking lot at 2720 Arsenal. The festivities start at 4pm and continue until the candy runs out.

Trick-or-Treat on Cherokee Street

The 7th annual Trick-or-Treat on Cherokee Street starts at 5pm on Halloween night at Love Bank Park. Grab a candy bag at the park and stroll from shop to shop along Cherokee. Plus there will be a bonfire, photo booth, and DJ at Love Bank Park.

Trunk-or-Treat at St. Anthony’s

St. Anthony of Padua hosts their annual Trunk-or-Treat on Halloween night from 6pm to 7:30pm. Last year over 800 kids attended! Children 13 and under (accompanied by an adult) get a hot dog, drink, and tons of candy.

Yaqui Horror Picture Show

Yaqui’s on Cherokee hosts an outdoor showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween night. Come in costume and come to party! The party starts at 5pm and the movie plays at 10pm.

Tricks and Treats Party at Crusoe’s

The Original Crusoe’s hosts a Tricks and Treats Party on Saturday, November 2nd from 3pm to 6pm. Activities for kids include face painting, witch hat toss, and eight-legged crafts. Plus kids eat free!

Know of another Halloween event in the neighborhood? Contact us so we can update our post.

Top photo by Tom Lampe.