New Affordable Housing Development Brings Fresh Start to East St. Louis (East St. Louis, IL) – A long-vacant stretch of land in East St. Louis has been transformed into Winstanley Park, a $13 million affordable housing development that community leaders say represents both new beginnings and long-term investment in the city’s future.
Federal, state, and local officials joined the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Mt. Sinai Development Corporation, and Rise Community Development in late August to celebrate the grand opening of the project, which delivers 38 modern apartments and townhomes alongside new community resources.
“Winstanley Park shows what is possible when state and local stakeholders, regional community organizations, and residents come together with a shared vision,” said Karen Davis, IHDA’s Deputy Executive Director. “This development doesn’t just provide quality housing. It restores hope, stability, and opportunity to families while transforming once-abandoned property into a cornerstone of community pride.”
Located at 1100 Martin Luther King Drive, the project offers one- to four-bedroom units for families earning at or below 60% of the area’s median income. The apartments and townhomes feature open floor plans, in-unit washers and dryers, and modern kitchens. A community center, scheduled to break ground later this year, will provide free after-school childcare and family services through the Sinai Family Life Center.
State Senator Chris Belt (D-East St. Louis) said the project is about more than new housing. “This is about giving our families a safe, affordable place to call home while laying the foundation for the neighborhood’s long-term growth,” Belt said. “Developments like Winstanley Park are key to restoring East St. Louis to the thriving community we know it can be again.”
The development combines adaptive reuse of 10 apartments with 12 garden units and 16 newly built townhomes. It is already fully leased, highlighting the strong demand for affordable housing in the region.
Dennis Jackson, Executive Director of the Mt. Sinai Development Corporation, said the project reflects years of collaboration and persistence. “This is more than housing,” Jackson said. “It’s a catalyst for opportunity and a stepping stone towards long-term neighborhood renewal.”
Winstanley Park is the third phase of a broader 17-year revitalization effort. Previous phases financed 60 single-family rental homes in the area, and the long-term plan envisions more than 220 homes, a repair fund for existing homeowners, new recreational spaces, and commercial development.
Funding for the project included Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and COVID-19 Affordable Housing Grant dollars from IHDA, along with local and private investment.
New Affordable Housing Development Brings Fresh Start to East St. Louis
