The Sheridans moved into their new home as a rental in July 2013, then, with the help of that lender, were able to purchase the building this past August. In the short time they have lived in the residence, the Sheridans have immersed themselves in the community. Travis sits on the board of the Old North Restoration Group and heads its marketing committee. Gina leads the neighborhood Girl Scout troop and, with her background as a librarian, created a tiny “Free Library” box on the street outside their home, filled with donated children’s books for the neighborhood kids to take, read and pass along.

Every inch of the Sheridans’ historic home is filled with art and furnishings that directly reflect their personalities, relationship and love for the city they now call home, including a large, colorful mural painted by the neighborhood children that hangs in their bedroom. Entering the living room, the first thing one sees is a hand-made art installation of a book with its pages “flying” across the wall as if a gust of wind from the front door blew them there. It represents Gina’s occupation, of course; but the book itself, “Who’s Your City?” by Richard Florida, holds special significance as well.

“It’s a guide to helping people find the city that is perfect for them,” says Travis. “When we moved here, we felt like it was OK to tear that book up. We no longer needed it because we had found our city.”

Travis and Gina Sheridan Ages • Travis is 40; Gina is 35 Occupations • Travis is executive director of the Venture Café in the Cortex Innovation Community; Gina is a librarian at the Mid-County Branch of the St. Louis County Library and author of “I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks” Home • Old North St. Louis

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