I'm not much of a photographer, but I need to take pictures around some neighborhoods for a presentation I'm doing on urban design. In my section on density, I want to do something similar to Lincoln Institute's Visualizing Density Quiz. I'm trying to get shots of the streetscape to give people a feel of each area. I went out on Tuesday to the first neighborhood, Benton Park and some of Benton Park West. On my way down, the sky was clear and it was a sunny day. By the time I got to Benton Park, it was quite cloudy. Maybe if I get a chance, I'll go back on a sunny day and take more. Other neighborhoods I plan on including are: Soulard, CWE, Skinker-Debaliviere, Academy, Tower Grove South, and SouthHampton.

Great photos. Great city.

Great pics, thanks for posting, Jax. The architecture shines enough to make up for the cloudy day...! Love all of them, especially the ones of O'Malley's and the Lemp brewery. Looking forward to more posts!!

These pictures remind me that this city truly becomes part of you if you give it a chance.



In other words, how can you not fall in love with a place that looks this great? Jax, those pictures are fantastic, and I thank you for sharing them with us. I'm looking forward to the photos you have planned for other city neighborhoods as well.

If only people knew! Literally every visiter we've had to the city has be stunned to see neighborhoods like this.



Jax - don't forget to photograph FPSE!

Beautiful, well done!



Random questions/observations:

- Has anyone been to O'Malley's?

- Benton Park/BP West needs more street trees

- It should be illegal to have chain-link fencing in your front yard.

^ The City provides street trees (between sidewalk and street) to anyone requesting one. Which reminds me - I need to call.

Grover wrote:^ The City provides street trees (between sidewalk and street) to anyone requesting one. Which reminds me - I need to call.

Yeah, I just wish that more people would request them. There are so many desolate-looking blocks east of Grand that would look so much better with just a few simple trees.

^ I just wish the city would put them in without people requesting them. There should be a "Tree City USA" plan in place. St. Louis is listed as a "Tree City" on the National Arbor Day Foundation website, but do we have these criteria in place?

A Tree Board or Department



A Tree Care Ordinance



A Community Forestry Program With an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita



An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation

If some of you haven't been inside the Lemp Brewery - visit 'Junque' - the architectural salvage shop on the weekend some time. There's a yellow (I think) door which is the entrance off Broadway - lots of cool stuff AND you get to see inside Lemp. Lemp should be the anchor for this neighborhood - I hope it find the right developer.

I agree completely. How much better would this block look with trees:

The builing on the left is Killeen Architects. They did an amazing job on the renovation. It's exactly what you think an architects office should look like.





The building for sale in the forground also received an amazing renovation. I wish I had "before" pictures. It was a complete mess with nothing left inside due to fire and water damage. The entire insides were rebuilt with new joists and maple floors and new layouts. It's on Texas right behind Cherokee. It was surprising to see that level of renovation on that street. It shows that you never can know what a block is like.



Here are a few pictures of the interior that I took during an open house. I was too busy sucking down Schlafly's to take any of the first floor.

ThreeOneFour wrote:These pictures remind me that this city truly becomes part of you if you give it a chance.

I was thinking this as I was walking through the neighborhood (and as I walk through other City neighborhoods). Once school is out and I have time in the summer, I'll be able to walk, explore, and feel the City (and take pictures) much more. I'm going to San Francisco State next year so every time I'm in the City I realize more how much I'll miss it and how unique it truly is. But, it won't be long until I can come back and be a part of my favorite City. So much is happening here, making me feel like I'll miss out if I'm gone for four years.

Seriously, these pics are like porn to me.

Jax wrote:

ThreeOneFour wrote:These pictures remind me that this city truly becomes part of you if you give it a chance.

I was thinking this as I was walking through the neighborhood (and as I walk through other City neighborhoods). Once school is out and I have time in the summer, I'll be able to walk, explore, and feel the City (and take pictures) much more. I'm going to San Francisco State next year so every time I'm in the City I realize more how much I'll miss it and how unique it truly is. But, it won't be long until I can come back and be a part of my favorite City. So much is happening here, making me feel like I'll miss out if I'm gone for four years.

Thanks for posting; I love Benton Park. It's had so much improvement just in the last 5 years.



Enjoy school; we'll still be here fighting about Schnucks, Starbucks and taxes when you come back. Just remember those lovely 2nd empire homes in San Francisco are financially out of reach in SF but you can buy one of your own in St. Louis after college.

New infill by Millennium in Benton Park. I love this house/bench combo in Benton Park.



This picture feels like an old find when in fact I took it on Monday in BPW.



Before and after pictures of the Cherokee Auto Parts building in BPW.

More great pics...thanks!!

Are you sure that first pic is infill, or is it a rehab?? It looks too convincingly original, therefore I wonder if it's a rehab. I know Millenium does great work...but if that's infill, all I can say is...GO Millenium!!! Give us MORE!

Marmar wrote:More great pics...thanks!!

Are you sure that first pic is infill, or is it a rehab?? It looks too convincingly original, therefore I wonder if it's a rehab. I know Millenium does great work...but if that's infill, all I can say is...GO Millenium!!! Give us MORE!

Brand new from the ground up.

http://www.mrdcorp.com/1927lynch.html

Thanks for the link, Stellar. The floor plans are even based on the old style yet address contemporary tastes. I like the den in the back and the way its entry is arranged. I am VERY impressed. This is the kind of infill ALL developers should strive for and the city should insist on.

Who could have imagined, even 5 years ago, that someone would build a brand-new $600,000 house in Benton Park? Amazing!



My only nit-pick with the house is that it could use a mansard roof above the cornice. It looks kind of truncated.

O'Malley's is great. VERY authentic. The owner is some x-boxer. Don't mess with him.. very good guy, but could definitely drop anyone. Southie style...

Framer wrote:Who could have imagined, even 5 years ago, that someone would build a brand-new $600,000 house in Benton Park? Amazing!



My only nit-pick with the house is that it could use a mansard roof above the cornice. It looks kind of truncated.

I have to admit I didn't believe the house was new until I looked it up on MLS to see its age. Impressive.



As for the roof, it matches all those mansard-less 2nd empires that lost their roofs in the tornado of 1896.