St. Louis Alderman Rasheen Aldridge: Balancing Development and Compassion at 10th & Cass
The homeless tent encampment at 10th and Cass in St. Louis sits at a crossroads. Its future remains uncertain. This site occupies prime real estate near the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and downtown. It attracts attention from city officials, developers, and residents. Alderman Rasheen Aldridge represents the 14th Ward. He advocates for the homeless. Recently, he shared his views on the challenges facing this encampment.
Why the 10th and Cass Encampment is Under Scrutiny
The 10th and Cass encampment represents a critical issue for the 14th Ward. This ward already hosts most of St. Louis’ homeless facilities. Developer Prop Man Johnson recently requested the demolition of a warming center at the site. This request sparked fresh debate about the encampment’s future. Alderman Aldridge sees the area’s potential for redevelopment. Yet, he stresses the need for balance.
“We love development, especially in this part of the neighborhood in North St. Louis, Carr Square. It hasn’t been developed. We’ve been overlooked when it comes to development in the Black community, so we want development,” Aldridge stated. He also hears the concerns of residents. They feel the encampment causes problems in the area.
What Happens to the Residents of the Encampment?
People naturally ask what will happen to those living at 10th and Cass. Aldridge emphasizes that we must address the root causes of homelessness. We need sustainable solutions. “We have to have those hard conversations and figure out why people don’t want to go into housing and, for the ones that do want to go into housing, how do we get them housing,” he explained…