Greater Ville

Cote Brilliante was one of a few Black churches in north St. Louis that were heavily damaged by the May tornado. It has since been demolished, and church members say it feels as if their childhood home was destroyed.

We walked and drove the storm’s path from Clayton to the Mississippi and found despair in some neighborhoods and others nearly fully recovered.

FEMA arrived in St. Louis on Wednesday to review damage caused by last week’s tornado, which killed five people and damaged approximately 4,400 buildings.

The Missouri Historical Society is gathering materials that would help preserve St. Louis' African American history. The society’s African American History Initiative plans exhibits on the Greater Ville and Mill Creek neighborhoods in the next few years. Historians are asking St. Louisans for artifacts and historical pieces to showcase.

Doorways opened a 50-apartment complex in Jeff-Vander-Lou, and St. Patrick Place is making 24 apartments available for homeless people in the Greater Ville. But advocates say more help is needed.

Melinda Jones stands next to her great-grandparents’ former house and shields her eyes against the already-hot morning sun.The modest two-story brick…