Out five minutes in one direction, the air carries a distinct medley of Thai and Mexican cuisine — compliments of Fork & Stix and Amigo Sole — two restaurants located in the buzzing Delmar Loop. Out five minutes in the other direction, a casual neighborhood stroll quickly turns into traversing the ins and outs of Forest Park.
Skinker DeBaliviere is a historic, residential neighborhood located in the west-end of St. Louis and was primarily developed around the time of the 1904 World’s Fair in Forest Park. It’s also home for English teacher Jon Frank, who moved here eight years ago.
“[Skinker DeBaliviere] is one of the most diverse and integrated residential neighborhoods in the St. Louis area,” Frank said. “When neighborhoods began to desegregate in the 1950s, Skinker DeBaliviere was one of the neighborhoods where that integration of different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups really mixed.”
For Frank, the effects of such progressive measures can be seen in the very culture of Skinker DeBaliviere, upholding its reputation as a local melting pot.
“Our next-door neighbors are English,” Frank said. “We have white families; we have Black families. We are by WashU so we actually have a lot of students living in the neighborhood. You’ve got a mix of different age groups and socioeconomic groups.”
The diversity extends architecturally, evidenced by the neighborhood’s abundance of charming brick flats and homes.
Despite many of those buildings being over a century old, the district remains devoted to maintaining its characteristic features.
“There are a lot of regulations and rules about preserving the integrity of the architecture,” Frank said. “For example, we just added on to our house, [and] we had to have the plans for the addition to our house approved before we could proceed with our project.”
Frank’s partner, Courtney Barrret, lives alongside him in their Skinker DeBaliviere home. Though not a Missouri native —she was born in Kansas and lived in Italy, Illinois and Michigan — this area stands out just the same.
“I love being in a historic district and being a part of a loving and supportive community of different types of people,” Barret said.
As a way to uphold these values, the Skinker DeBaliviere district hosts Community Council meetings every month to continuously improve the community.
“I occasionally go to the Community Council meetings, and they’re always talking about ways to help people stay in the neighborhood as they age and not get priced out,” Frank said.
Overall, Frank is proud to call this neighborhood home.
“It’s the first home that I’ve owned,” Frank said. “I think that my [favorite] memory is of time with my family, building a home with my family and setting down roots in that neighborhood.”
![Luis Fontes De Castro (10) go-karts, skis, swims, wakeboards and more in places ranging from Portugal to Brazil. Fontes De Castro picked up many of these activities from the various countries he’s lived in, which helped him grow comfortable with the new environments he was faced with. When Fontes De Castro had to move again, these activities he’d learned helped him say goodbye. “I spent a few days with all my friends [before my move], and we did everything that we like doing together, like boating [and] soccer,” Fontes De Castro said. (Photos courtesy of Luis Fontes De Castro)](https://laduepublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bf3a2ace-09db-480e-9edb-208f7b489643-1-1200x675.jpeg)
