Local nonprofit Civic Saint made a name for itself with its ambitious plan to rethink affordable housing brick by brick — and with the support of the Gem Cultural and Education Center, those plans will be unveiled to the public at an iconic KC locale.
What is Civic Saint?
Originally a lifestyle brand, Civic Saint made waves by winning last year’s National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Biz Pitch competition. The sell? Sustainable, affordable homes made from compressed earthen blocks: a mix of dirt, soil, sand, and water that’s tougher than concrete.
Those bricks support the nonprofit’s ambitious vision “to prioritize the environment while eliminating the racial wealth gap through job creation, home ownership, and their ambient economic impacts.”
A home on castle grounds
Today, Civic Saint founder Geoffrey Riddle and Gem president Pat Jordan will reveal a new Home Facade Project, showing a compressed earthen block home exterior on the grounds of the Workhouse Castle on Vine Street.
The reveal accompanies a sold-out panel discussion, “Super Abundant Neighborhoods: Regeneration on Kansas City’s East Side,” as part of Kansas City Design Week.