Looking for a cozy space to call your own? Find your just-right sized space at the just-right price in Dutchtown! Our neighborhood offers the most bang for your buck with solidly built historic housing, convenient location, friendly neighbors, and an exciting future.
Below are just a few of the currently active listings on Zillow for modestly priced and modestly sized homes. But there’s something for everyone in Dutchtown! Whether you’re looking for something small or large, make sure to browse the listings in our neighborhood and learn what makes Dutchtown great.
4240 Virginia
This classic brick home offers a lot in a seemingly small package. You’ll get three bedrooms and two full baths, with more space than meets the eye thanks to open floor plans and a nicely finished basement. Plus you’re just a few steps away from the shops and restaurants in Downtown Dutchtown along Meramec.
Architecturally stunning, this small but stately two bedroom/one bathroom home features tons of original millwork, pocket doors, high ceilings, and a great deck off the back.
Find a combination historic and modern in this two bedroom/two bathroom bungalow just west of Grand. Hardwood floors, stained glass windows, and a decorative fireplace bring the old world charm, while a sleek new kitchen offers convenience and functionality. This home features a partially finished basement and an oversized one-car garage.
Check out this bright and cheery two bed/two bath home featuring a decorative fireplace, pocket door, original woodwork, and more. There’s also a great deck out back leading to a fenced backyard.
This three bedroom/one bathroom home features a beautiful decorative fireplace and built-in cabinets separating the living room and formal dining room, plus a sleek modern kitchen with butcher block countertops and a jet tub in the bathroom.
Listing prices are accurate as of the time of publication. Descriptions are based on facts and figures provided by listing agents via Zillow. The above listings are provided for informational purposes only. We at DutchtownSTL.org are not real estate professionals—make sure to contact an agent for the full details of these listings.
On the morning of Saturday, October 23rd, neighborhood volunteers and soccer fans from all over the region will be tackling trash in Dutchtown. Afterward, fans will be treated to friendly pick-up games on the soccer field and futsal court at Marquette Park.
The Cleanup
Volunteers will assemble near the futsal court at Gasconade and Virginia at 9am. Water, snacks, and tools will be provided. The team will take to the park, as well as the nearby blocks and alleys, to hunt for litter. With two trucks and an oversized dumpster from the city, we’ll be able to haul away any bulky items that might be found along the way.
Nearby neighbors are encouraged to get in on the action by cleaning up their own slice of the neighborhood. Pick up litter out front, clean up your alley out back, or do some yard work to help your block shine.
Paid Opportunities for Participating Youth
Neighbors ages 16 to 24 can earn $10 an hour for up to eight hours by coming out and helping with the cleanup efforts. Email kicstlouis@gmail.com or call (314) 265-6186 to register. Pre-registration is required to receive payment.
The Soccer
After the cleanup, players will take to the fields at noon. There will be opportunities for pick-up games, so feel free to come by for your chance to jump in. The athletic programming will be led by Umoja St. Louis Soccer and the St. Louligans.
Umoja Soccer organizes adult teams and works with youth as well, predominantly immigrants from Africa. The St. Louligans are a group of soccer fans and supporters and promoters of the sport throughout the region. Soccer has a long history at Marquette Park. With the new futsal court at Marquette Park, built in conjunction with St. Louis CITY SC and other partners, we hope to further establish Dutchtown on the map as a destination for soccer players and fans.
St. Louis CITY SC Youth Soccer Clinic
In addition to the afternoon’s soccer programming, St. Louis’ MLS team will also be putting on a clinic in the morning for youths age 5–12. The clinic is free, but advance registration is required. The program runs from 9:30am to 11am.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded CARES Act funds to St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) to make loans to businesses that have been negatively affected by COVID-19 or that are providing goods or services addressing problems caused by the pandemic.
Eligibility and Loan Terms
The EDA loans are for for-profit businesses located in the City of St. Louis. Businesses must be current on all taxes and business license requirements. For every $35,000 borrowed, the business must have created or retained one job. Loans are subject to credit approval. There is a $100 non-refundable application fee, a 1% origination fee, and potential closing costs.
Loan amounts range from $10,000 to $300,000 with interest rates starting at just 2%. The length of the loan ranges from three to seven years depending on what the funds are used for. Loans can be used as working capital or for inventory, equipment, or real estate. The funds cannot be used for refinancing existing debt or construction and rehab costs.
How to Apply for the St. Louis EDA Loan Program
To apply, download the application here. Submit your completed application and $100 application fee (payable to St. Louis Local Development Company) at:
St. Louis Development Corporation Attention: Mr. Chris Maguire 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000 St. Louis, MO 63103
Upon submitting your application, you will work with a loan officer on the credit approval process and documentation review. If your loan is approved, funds will be disbursed as quickly as possible. There is no deadline to apply, but there is limited funding and applicants will be awarded funds on a first-come first-served basis, so make sure to apply as soon as possible.
More Business Resources
Dutchtown Main Streets aims to provide resources and information to our neighborhood business owners to help maintain a strong, thriving business community in Dutchtown. You can find more business resources at dutchtownstl.org/business.
An idea formed two years ago is finally being made real in Marquette Park. Soon the Dutchtown neighborhood will have the first outdoor futsal court in the City of St. Louis. Back in July of 2019, local soccer enthusiast Daniel Flynn, Dutchtown neighbor and UMOJA Soccer Club founder Fred Maboneza, and members of the Allies of Marquette Park group met at the Marquette Park Recreation Center.
Flynn had experienced widely available futsal courts in Europe after spending time there. “A few years ago, I started working with the UMOJA Soccer Club,” said Flynn. “We would constantly struggle to find places to play futsal. We felt strongly that soccer should be free and accessible to all, and that could be a model in St. Louis.”
The group met up with Bill Bixon, a former Parks and Recreation programmer for the City of St. Louis, and discussed what would be needed to create a futsal court at Marquette Park. The answer was neighborhood partners, a lot of energy, and time.
“Marquette Park has long been home to soccer on the South Side,” said Dutchtown Main Streets President Nate Lindsey. “We were excited to begin working with neighborhood partners to bring a unique addition to the full length soccer field that could continue that tradition and provide a fun area for our youth to enjoy the game.”
A City-Wide Partnership
The St. Louis City Parks Department was the first partner to jump on board. Parks gave the go-ahead to begin planning the project and committed to partnering with the Streets Division to pour a new asphalt pitch over the existing and long defunct volleyball courts next to the Marquette Park Field House.
“The work at Marquette Park is largely community driven, including the work with the MLS club,” said 20th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer. “This year we will be overhauling the changing facilities at Marquette Park Pool and working with the community to identify and prioritize next year’s investments. The best way to invest in a community is to be led by where they want their tax dollars invested.”
A One-of-a-Kind Design
The end product will be a wholly unique futsal court open to the public in the heart of South St. Louis. The entirety of the court is covered by a mural designed by St. Louis artist Jayvn Solomon. The mural brings together elements of the artist’s own style, the soccer club, and the Dutchtown neighborhood to create a dynamic and colorful experience for not only players on the court, but the whole neighborhood surrounding the park.
Before the final design was chosen, members of the community working with Allies of Marquette Park and Dutchtown South Community Corporation were able to weigh in on the elements of the mural.
The goals, custom fabricated by MADE STL, feature the logos of both St. Louis CITY SC and the Dutchtown neighborhood. The goals have nets made of resilient metal to resist wear and tear from weather and usage.
Part of the Marquette Park Plan
The futsal court will be the first major project since the completion of a holistic plan for Marquette Park. The plan was assembled in partnership with former PGAV Planners intern and Washington University student Tiffany Dockins. Dockins is now working with Dutchtown South Community Corporation to implement both the park plan and the Green Schoolyards initiative at Froebel Elementary School.
“Through the eyes of a young designer, Marquette Park has tons of potential for equitable elevation but simply needs the investment to do so,” said Dockins. “Judging from residents and community partners, I have high hopes that Marquette Park will continue to evolve and obtain the attention it truly deserves.”
So… What Is Futsal?
Futsal is similar to a scaled-down version of soccer that originated in Uruguay, gained popularity across South America, and is rapidly expanding throughout the world. Often played indoors as well, the game is played on a smaller pitch with a hard surface and uses a smaller, firmer ball with less bounce. Futsal matches are played with five players to a team, and the games consist of two 20 minute halves.
Due to the smaller confines of the field, futsal emphasizes creative strategies, technique, ball control and quick reflexes. Many world famous soccer stars, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, got their start on the futsal field. Fast paced and high scoring, futsal provides opportunities to develop valuable technical skills to new players before moving to the big pitch, as well as honing the craft for experienced soccer players.
Marquette Park Futsal Court Grand Opening
The new futsal court will be ready for play in early September. St. Louis CITY SC plans to host a kick-off event in collaboration with partners on Saturday, September 25th to celebrate the accomplishment within the neighborhood. Visit the Dutchtown Calendar or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information about this event and upcoming Marquette Park news.
Driving down South Grand through Dutchtown, you may have noticed the long-dormant pay phone stand in front of the hulking house at 4018 South Grand, just south of Merb’s Candies. With pay phones having gone nearly extinct, it certainly catches the eye of anyone who still remembers what a pay phone was.
Dutchtown resident Ben Cohen saw an opportunity to repurpose the nostalgic nook into something that preserves the relic while also providing value to the community. Cohen set out to turn the old pay phone enclosure into a free little library. Benjamin Thomas and a handful of other neighborhood volunteers teamed up with Cohen on a recent Friday evening to rehabilitate the phone stand and give it a new lease on life.
Thomas salvaged wood and acquired a clear plastic colander and old telephone handset from Goodwill to create a windowed door for the enclosure. The team assembled the door and added a fresh coat of paint.
An anonymous landscaper arrived later to clear the weeds and other overgrowth around the phone and the front of the house, which has been vacant since at least 2015. City records indicate that building and electrical permits have been recently issued at 4018 South Grand, so hopefully more than just the pay phone will see a makeover at this address.
For now, the little library is stocked with books free for the taking. Cohen also hopes to stock the box with non-perishable snacks and other items for neighbors in need and attach a weather-proof resource guide to help people find services. There is even talk of installing a table, chairs, and a wi-fi hot spot to provide connectivity for those with limited access.
More Free Little Libraries
This isn’t the first free little library in Dutchtown. Thomas, a Dutchtown resident of about four years, has also worked on three other libraries in the neighborhood: one at the south end of Laclede Park, one at the intersection of Chippewa, Broadway and Jefferson near South Broadway Art Project, and one near the southbound bus stop at Grand and Bates Street. “I’m just trying to make the neighborhood a little better,” says Thomas, who regularly restocks the libraries with books for kids and adults, as well as coloring books, crayons, and other art supplies.
Additionally, there are libraries at Minnie Wood Memorial Square at Broadway and Meramec, and also at the VAL Garden on Virginia Avenue. The VAL Garden also features a “free little pantry” where neighbors can share food and other items free for the taking.
Thomas wants to see more of the pantries pop up, and he’s hoping to help build one next to the pay phone library. With some additional interest and regular donations, he would like to see the pantry regularly stocked with personal care items for those who need them.
Cohen and Thomas are hoping to expand the utility of the little libraries by growing a network of volunteers to keep them stocked and maintained. “Several people who maintain libraries have indicated that they have difficult time keeping them stocked,” says Cohen, “and I think that fostering a volunteer network in this way could help ease that burden and augment existing mutual aid supports.” If you’re interested in donating time or resources, contact us so we can connect you with Cohen, Thomas, and other volunteers.
Part of a Broader Mission: FreeSource
Cohen’s has plenty of other experience providing accessible resources for his neighbors. He is the founder of FreeSource, a non-profit with a mission to empower people with low or no incomes to connect with vocational and community resource opportunities. FreeSource also offers a variety of programs to increase access to technology for those in need.
Tech Support Café
FreeSource brings Tech Support Café to Thomas Dunn Learning Center on a regular basis. Tech Support Café holds open hours in which people can get help troubleshooting technical problems, learn more about how to use their devices, and gain knowledge about inclusive and responsible technology use. The program is intended to provide peer-to-peer support, but you’ll also likely find Cohen there sharing his vast technical support expertise.
Project Applecart
Project Applecart is another FreeSource venture that aims to provide internet access and other mobile services to unhoused neighbors. As part of FreeSource’s mission to meet people where they are at—physically, technologically, and circumstantially—Project Applecart will repurpose carts to include a wi-fi hot spot, charging station, and other supplies and resources that can be brought to where people in need congregate.
Cohen hopes to bring the carts to free little library locations such as the pay phone stand on South Grand. “Passersby could sit and charge their phones and just read a book,” suggests Cohen, “and people from disparate walks of life could have an opportunity to get to know one another.” If you’re interested in participating from either a technical or outreach standpoint, join the Project Applecart Facebook group.
Support FreeSource
If you’d like to support the work of Cohen and FreeSource, you can make a donation here, whether it be monetary or in the form of new or used technology. With more projects in the works, your time, money, and supplies can help further FreeSource’s mission of bringing technology and resources to our neighbors with limited access.
