urbanSTL

That photo looks like something straight out of a Damon Runyon story.

I swear, MLP properties better not do some type of BIG BOX/ "new urbanism" garbage like they did in Kirkwood. The Hill has too much character to have some BS like that.

JCity wrote:I swear, MLP properties better not do some type of BIG BOX/ "new urbanism" garbage like they did in Kirkwood. The Hill has too much character to have some BS like that.

I have always found part of the Hill's charm is the extensive cheesy new construction and additions put on old buildings over the years. The neo-colonial next to the shotgun, subdivisions build with substandard streets etc etc.



I would say the Hill might be a good place to try something not constrained by some faux historic code.



Justing thinking out loud...................

^ Nice observation. The irony would be if the developer put in some ultra urban, modern development (like Metro Lofts, but more adventurous). The Hill is very cheesy and cheap. If you want it to fit in you would need vinyl siding, a few concrete Madonna's in the front yard and chainlink fencing!

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&i ... 08261&z=17



Anyone know what the large industrial complex on the hill is? It is bordered by kingshighway to the east, Bischoff to the south, and Daggett to the north.... It seems abandoned, but is an enormous complex, so maybe it just seems that way

You are talking about the complex across from Rigazzi's? There are two complexes, which may have all been part of one at some point. The smaller one to the east is owned by Alfa Pet. I don't think the larger complex is currently being used for anything other than perhaps storage. I'm not sure what these housed originally.



McGowan-Walsh had a contract on the larger complex of buildings at one point, and they wanted to renovate some of them for residential, but that apparently fell through.



It's currently owned by some entity named Berry Grant Co., which is a real estate company owned by one of the (former?) directors of Southwest Bank, Bob Flynn.

Yeah those are the ones... I have been meaning to wander down there as there are some good photo opportunities particularily on the south end where there is a train dock with an old boxcar... I live nearby and have never seen anyone go in or out so I just assumed they were abandoned. I guess I won't be looking for a point of entry....

^Yeah, I wouldn't be poking around any buildings on The Hill if I were you. They tend to take that sort of thing more seriously around there, and there are a lot more eyes. Besides, you never know what, or who, you might encounter.

jlblues wrote:^Yeah, I wouldn't be poking around any buildings on The Hill if I were you. They tend to take that sort of thing more seriously around there, and there are a lot more eyes. Besides, you never know what, or who, you might encounter.

....Mafia hitman perhaps?..... Guido's chop shop? You are right, I don't wanna end up on the bottom of the Mississippi sleepin with the fishes....

^^ And all African-Americans are not black. Case in point - Dave Matthews.

^ And there are "African Americans" that aren't African at all.

Doug wrote:Yeah all Italians are mobsters just like all African Americans are on welfare and all Irish wear green, eat potatoes, and drink Guinness for breakfast. Get real.

My word, it was a joke. I thought it was pretty obvious. I live on the hill.... And although I'm not Italian, I have a lot of friends that are that would just laugh at my joke instead of trying to find a way to make it racist....

I live directly across from that warehouse. The larger portion was used to make liquid soap detergent bottles for P&G. Operations ceased just over two years ago.



Hill 2000 had mentioned that a developer had approached the current owner to purchase the property and wanted to demolish it and build a mixed residential commercial development. Last month, my neighbor from across the street was approached by a surveyor who had said the developer may attempt to make an offer and buyout the homes on the eastern side of Hereford that share an alley with this building.



Reference: http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tory3.html



I'm sure the downturn in the housing market has shelved this potential buyout. However, it's only a matter of time until someone buys this prime piece of land and develops it.

ttricamo wrote:I live directly across from that warehouse. The larger portion was used to make liquid soap detergent bottles for P&G. Operations ceased just over two years ago.



Hill 2000 had mentioned that a developer had approached the current owner to purchase the property and wanted to demolish it and build a mixed residential commercial development. Last month, my neighbor from across the street was approached by a surveyor who had said the developer may attempt to make an offer and buyout the homes on the eastern side of Hereford that share an alley with this building.



Reference: http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tory3.html



I'm sure the downturn in the housing market has shelved this potential buyout. However, it's only a matter of time until someone buys this prime piece of land and develops it.

Thank you ttricamo for getting us back onto the topic. I am not quite sure how it morphed into a discussion about the the term "African American" My buddy and I wandered down there last night at about 2 am and found an old boxcar parked in a curved dock. Looks like it hasn't been used in a while. I got a lot of great pictures which i will post in the next few days. I would hate to see this building demolished. It's actually quite interesting architecturally. Some of the long narrow alleys remind me a lot of the Lemp complex. This could be something really cool.

Can't wait to see the photos.



Apparently, the developers are hesitant to use the existing structure because of Hazmat issues.



Personally, I would like to see a developer extend the Hill street grid further east and create a development in scale with the rest of the neighborhood. I would also like to see the Alfa Pet building remain because it, along with the existing warehouse, serve as a super-great buffer between our 'hood and Kingshighway. Extending the street grid could be more expensive than just putting one or two large buildings, but building in scale is more important.



I don't think anyone will build anything without the greenlight from Vollmer, Stremlau, and the rest of Hill 2000.



See: Vitale's Bakery Expansion.

Grover wrote:The Hill is very cheesy and cheap. If you want it to fit in you would need vinyl siding, a few concrete Madonna's in the front yard and chainlink fencing!

Wow. That's not all offensive or right in line with derogatory comments made about the city that so many people on this forum hate.



I guess if I were to say, "The grove is sooooo ghetto. I wouldn't move there unless I wanted to live next a) bars that have murders and b) a whole bunch boarded up crack houses." you wouldn't find that to be a bit of a broad brush stroke?



Check yourself, son.



The Hill has the most intact urban fabric in all of the St. Louis City; all of which has been maintained by it's own residents. And, the Hill is so insulated that new construction and home sales keep on keepin on.



See: New home on Bischoff, New Home on Sublette, Two new Homes on Daggett,



So, Grover, what I'm saying is good luck with a glut of undeveloped Restoration St. Louis properties and a soon to close R-bar. I'll stick it out over with the Madonnas and chain link.

I think you are taking that comment much too seriously.



Merged the topics as well. For those that weren't following along, don't be confused that this thread seems to restart from scratch.

Doug wrote:Not all of the hill is cheesy and cheap. My favorite home probably in the entire City is on Dalton and Columbia.

.

funny that I stumbled upon this quote from several months ago. My g/f and I drove by that house on Sat. and she remarked it's her favorite house in the city. There is a great view from the second floor I imagine.



and the Hill rocks! even the parts that some deem cheesy are cool.