Building under the Anheuser Busch sign

WebDevDan · PostJun 25, 2013#12013-06-25T16:02+00:00

Hey guys,

On the way to work this morning along EB64, I noticed some activity around the building below the flying eagle sign. There were some guys walking behind the building, not facing the sign, possibly taking pictures (couldn't really tell, but one did have something camera-esque in his hands), and someone on a cherry-picker that didn't seem like he was near the big sign itself (so not sure what he was doing).

Anyone know if there are any plans for that building?

Username · PostJun 25, 2013#22013-06-25T16:28+00:00

Whatever it is, it will never look like this again.

Mark Groth · PostJun 25, 2013#32013-06-25T16:34+00:00

Not sure what's going on with the larger building below the sign, but not too long ago the smaller 1 or 2 story brick building just east of it was demo'd.

dweebe · PostJun 25, 2013#42013-06-25T16:41+00:00

Anyone know who owns it?

All I know is that if you take the Market or Grand exits: the buildings sure look like complete cr*p.

KerrytheKonstructor · PostJun 25, 2013#52013-06-25T17:19+00:00

Username wrote:Whatever it is, it will never look like this again.

cool old picture!
courtesy of google street view:

same Grand overpass...

So the elevated section here was built to add 2 additional lanes to 40 without disturbing some industrial neighbors. That's the best I can deduce. Did 40 have sidewalks back then? I see stairs down the side of the overpass to the highway.

Alex Ihnen · PostJun 25, 2013#62013-06-25T17:24+00:00

^ Stairs likely for a bus stop. It's still a highway, but so much more humane.

dweebe · PostJun 25, 2013#72013-06-25T17:32+00:00

What's the date on the picture? Guessing by the cars I'd say mid 1950's.

Alex Ihnen wrote:It's still a highway, but so much more humane.

Probably just two lanes in each direction with plenty of shoulder space.

dredger · PostJun 25, 2013#82013-06-25T17:43+00:00

I wonder if the uppder deck could and should come down with a new Grand Ave interchange built now that the Federal Mogul site sits empty, to the left of the photos I believe. I think by any standards the current Grand Ave interchange is considered functional obsolete and the off ramp from I64/Hwy 40 eastbound is pretty brutal.

In addition, you can redo the Grand Ave and Forest Park Ave into an at grade intersection at the same time.

jakektu · PostJun 25, 2013#92013-06-25T17:50+00:00

^Not in this town/state. MODOT builds and overbuilds infrastructure and never reduces infrastructure.

Any examples of reduced infrastructure in the
metro?!

All I can think of is overbuilds. Page Extension, 141, 55 near Arnold, more 270 lanes, 44 past Six Flags, etc

dweebe · PostJun 25, 2013#102013-06-25T18:00+00:00

dredger wrote:I wonder if the uppder deck could and should come down with a new Grand Ave interchange built now that the Federal Mogul site sits empty, to the left of the photos I believe. I think by any standards the current Grand Ave interchange is considered functional obsolete and the off ramp from I64/Hwy 40 eastbound is pretty brutal.

In addition, you can redo the Grand Ave and Forest Park Ave into an at grade intersection at the same time.

I often wondered the same thing. It is interesting they haven't done the seismic retrofits in this area yet. Yes, I know this elevated stretch is younger than the part through downtown. But it's one of those things that makes you think.

Presbyterian · PostJun 25, 2013#112013-06-25T22:38+00:00

Did 40 have sidewalks back then?

In the older photo, you can see a sidewalk along the southern edge (right side) of the roadway, both in the foreground and in the distance. Not as clear with the other side of the road.

PostJun 25, 2013#122013-06-25T22:49+00:00

City lists the owner as Sterling Laquer Manufacturing Co, which is headquartered on Brannon. They make marine and aeronautical coatings. Demo permit issued in January. Both buildings comprise one city parcel, though, so it's unclear whether the permit is for one or both...

STERLING LACQUER MFG CO
Demolition application: 12/20/2012
Issued: 01/17/2013
Cost: $4,500.00
Description: WRECK COMMERCIAL BLOCK BLDG

shadrach · PostJun 25, 2013#132013-06-25T23:16+00:00

I like the double-deck highway. I wish they did something like this near Cupples/6th street exit

roger wyoming II · PostJun 26, 2013#142013-06-26T00:01+00:00

dweebe wrote: All I know is that if you take the Market or Grand exits: the buildings sure look like complete cr*p.

absolutely. I'd love to see those buildings fixed up or otherwise demoed and the sign relocated to a cool new home.

Username · PostJun 26, 2013#152013-06-26T01:38+00:00

Presbyterian wrote:
Did 40 have sidewalks back then?
In the older photo, you can see a sidewalk along the southern edge (right side) of the roadway, both in the foreground and in the distance. Not as clear with the other side of the road.

More...

Look at that old Grand viaduct!

And, yes, it was a bus stop.

All images dated between 1955 and 1957, courtesy of the Vintage St. Louis Facebook page (an incredible resource).

Alex Ihnen · PostJun 26, 2013#162013-06-26T02:09+00:00

It's all so sexy in retrospect.

framer · PostJun 26, 2013#172013-06-26T02:49+00:00

Awesome photos!

pjeckelkamp · PostJun 26, 2013#182013-06-26T03:10+00:00

I drive by this building everyday while getting off at the 40/Grand exit.

I always think about possible reuses of this building. Such a difficult location that now seems almost impossible to have any productive use (other than hosting the giant AB sign).

Also, awesome pictures.

KerrytheKonstructor · PostJun 26, 2013#192013-06-26T05:30+00:00

Check out the electric bread loaves.

"ahh, the good 'ole days--walking out into the middle of the street to board one of those beauts"

I think the new Grand viaduct is (finally) a worthy successor to the marvelous one pictured.

WebDevDan · PostJun 26, 2013#202013-06-26T13:18+00:00

I absolutely LOVE the Mad Dog (Mogen David Wine) sign in the old photo! Yesterday afternoon there was a small crane or possibly drill on the West side of the Grand overpass (Southwest corner, I could see it heading East) and today there seems to be some construction or survey related stuff on the same. I wonder if they're doing water table surveying in the general area? Do they do that up here?

dweebe · PostJul 12, 2013#212013-07-12T17:05+00:00

I just noticed work going on this week in the area. On the north side of I-64 (in the Federal Mogul site) and on the south side of I-64 (about 100 yards to the east of the above mentioned building) crews are installing what look like to be bases for new billboards.

Could new billboard posts be going in in preparation for the A-B sign to be moved before the building in demolished?