St. Louis is planning to convert Chuck Berry‘s one-time home into a museum and to create a cultural district around it honoring the rock ‘n’ roll legend and other prominent African Americans who have lived in that part of the city.
The city on Monday solicited bids for the project, which will be centered around the home at 3137 Whittier St. in north St. Louis where Berry lived for eight years in the 1950s. During that time, he wrote many of his biggest hits, including “Maybelline,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Johnny B. Goode.”
The museum would anchor a “Chuck Berry Cultural District,” to honor Berry, who died in March at age 90, and the area’s African-American heritage.
Berry, a lifelong resident of St. Louis, moved from the one-story red brick home in 1958, but he continued to perform regularly at a club not far from his 1950s home until shortly before his death.
“Many of my favorite songs came about while in that house,” Berry said in 2008, when the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Developers have until July 10 to submit ideas. The city said tax credits and other incentives may be available.