Someone told me they saw a news report that said the Archdiocese is planning to tear down the mid-rise apartment complex at the Northeast corner of Lindell and Taylor to build additional parking for the Cathedral.
^Exactly. There is absolutely no reason a parking lot should be put in it's place. Build Up. I understand there is probably a need for parking for the Cathedral, but a garage integrated into a building would be far better. Put a garage where the round building is. That site is definitely underused. It is already Archdiocesan property as well.
The St. Louis Cathedral needs to look at what the Washington National Cathedral did with their parking lot: they built an underground garage. From the street, it is almost impossible to tell there is a parking garage under the front lawn except for the glass elevator shaft that appears in the middle of the sidewalk. It is very well done and even has a bus loading/unloading dock underground to accomodate tour buses!
I gotta say, I'm dismayed by our moderators' apparent eagerness to tear down more of our buildings. And on one of our most impressive urban streets, no less!
I guess everyone has differant tastes, but I actually like the apartment building in question. And I love the round building! Once again, Mid-Century Architecture gets no respect. These buildings represent a specific era in architectural history. Remember, once they're gone, they're gone for good. IMO, a great city should display an assortment of architecture, from Victorian to Mid-Century to Cutting-edge Modern.
Anyway, there are already parking lots behind the Cathedral complex. Why can't they build a nice, tasteful garage back there and leave the Lindell streetscape alone?
Framer wrote:I gotta say, I'm dismayed by our moderators' apparent eagerness to tear down more of our buildings. And on one of our most impressive urban streets, no less!
I guess everyone has differant tastes, but I actually like the apartment building in question. And I love the round building! Once again, Mid-Century Architecture gets no respect. These buildings represent a specific era in architectural history. Remember, once they're gone, they're gone for good. IMO, a great city should display an assortment of architecture, from Victorian to Mid-Century to Cutting-edge Modern.
I've grown to love mid-century architecture over the years, but the building in question is really bad. It looks like a miserable place in which to live. I would rather have the building remain standing than have a parking lot there, but I'd also rather see the building replaced by a better structure.
I too like Mid-Century architecture quite a bit. The round building is nice in and of itself, but I do not like it's siting. The condo buildings are kind of cool in there own respect, but if there is a bigger building proposed I would not miss them.
OK, I just found some info on Channel 11's website.
The Archdiocese plans to tear-down the buildings this February. They have "no immediate plans for the property", but they do intend to maintain ownership.
Sounds to me like Lindell Boulevard will soon feature a massive new parking lot. Right in the middle of one of our greatest urban vistas!
Well if they intend to maintain ownership, we can guarantee that they won't be building a high rise. Too bad -- it'd be great to have a building there that rivaled the Lindell Terrace. But since that's going to remain "the Catholic block", I at least hope they'll build something that looks inspring in a religious way.
OH MY GOD, THIS IS TERRIBLE NEWS. I absolutely LOVE that building! There are no other examples of that kind of architecture in the city that I know of. I cannot believe they are allowed to just tear it down with no plan for the site. What a crock!
Unbelievable! Tearing down a building for with no plan in place? On Lindell? It might be time to invoke St. Jude, Saint of Lost Causes. This makes me sick.
The underground garage at DC's National Cathedral is a good example. Looks great.
The current building is hideous, especially those white column-things on the front. That being said, the loss of a big building, and the senior-citizen apartments that it houses, for a surface parking lot, is a crock of manure.
Expat wrote:Unbelievable! Tearing down a building for with no plan in place? On Lindell? It might be time to invoke St. Jude, Saint of Lost Causes. This makes me sick.
The underground garage at DC's National Cathedral is a good example. Looks great.
What about St. Lou? The patron saint of surface parking?
Has this building been vacated recently? Last time I was in STL, it was occupied. Has the Archdiocese mentioned what it intends to do with the residents of this building? Surely that kind, sweet, loving man, Raymond "don't screw with me or I'll have you excommunicated" Burke wouldn't turn out a bunch of old people into the streets.
When that building was first opened, it was originally the DeVille Motor Hotel. They had a full color brochure enclosed in the PD's Picture Magazine at their grand opening. There were two pools, one of which converted to a skating rink, the French Room restaurant and a lot of other amenities. It was quite the place when it first opened. Too bad it can't be restored to its former glory. It is an interesting building and I don't believe they skimped on the materials when they built it.
That they're tearing down the Chancery building is a real travesty. I've seen that building in more than one national architectural books over the years. Hopefully Landmarks STL will step in, but then again they'll run into Archbishop "my way or the highway" Burke.
BTW, before anyone flames me for taking jabs at his majesty, I am Catholic.
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