urbanSTL

Matt Drops The H wrote:Yes, but problem tenants are not demolished along with the buildings.

True, the idiots will just find somewhere else to live.



The bright side is that the management company responsible for leasing those apartments now has fewer units to fill with idiots.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this. Like I say, I'm glad to see St. Mary's staying in the City and expanding. I just can't shake the feeling that we're watching the same old failed response to troubled properties that we've witnessed for the last several decades - that is, tear 'em down and forget about 'em.



I know, this is differant, in that a long-time neighbor purchased the property and will put it to good use. I just hate to see yet more of the City's built environment destroyed and replaced with what is essentially a private park.



BTW, anyone know exactly how many apartment units we're talking about?

I can't remember if the unit count is 168 or 116, but either way, actual occupancy levels were pretty low. The complex was losing money for the St. Louis equity Fund, the most recent owner (an arm of RHCDA). I'm not sure how they ended up with ownership. While I would typically say that demo is not the answer to our problems, in this case I do not have a problem. The field will apparently be available for other organizations to reserve (and I would assume pay) for use.

No matter what you think of the demolition, the buildings are now all down.

Drove by today. Looks like a crew is placing an inground sprinkler system.



I'm very curious to know what will become of the now boarded up apartment buildings on all three corners of Spring and Itaska. Does anyone know the status of these buildings?



I apologize if this does not technically fit under the St. Mary's thread. It's right across the street and I didn't think another thread was warranted.

The apartments to the west were to be renovated, but the owner ran out of money. St. Mary's is attempting to buy them. The apartments to the northwest have been empty and boarded since I was in high school at St. Mary's, so probably around 7 years. St. Mary's would like to get those as well. The apartments to the north are partially occupied. The apartments and shopping center along Delor are also wanted by St. Mary's.

Sounds like St. Mary's wants to destroy what's left of the neighborhood, and replace it with a typical suburban campus.



Or do they have something else in mind, like perhaps bringing in developers to rehab and rebuild?

Framer wrote:Sounds like St. Mary's wants to destroy what's left of the neighborhood, and replace it with a typical suburban campus.



Or do they have something else in mind, like perhaps bringing in developers to rehab and rebuild?

I'm certainly not in favor of a campus type development but the apts to the west were in really bad shape. I hope it's a redevelopment akin to what BJC has done in FPSE albeit on an exponentially smaller scale.

lukethedrifter wrote:

Framer wrote:Sounds like St. Mary's wants to destroy what's left of the neighborhood, and replace it with a typical suburban campus.



Or do they have something else in mind, like perhaps bringing in developers to rehab and rebuild?

I'm certainly not in favor of a campus type development but the apts to the west were in really bad shape. I hope it's a redevelopment akin to what BJC has done in FPSE albeit on an exponentially smaller scale.

It seems like all of the apartments in this area were in the "put it up and hope it doesn't fall down while people are inside" style.

I lived in one of the buildings Northeast of Spring and Itaska for a few years back in the 80's. It was a nice little neighborhood, with a grocery store, laundry, etc. just a short walk away. I had some friends in nearby buildings, and the Grand bus line was a couple of blocks away.



It's a shame the buildings were allowed to deteriorate so quickly. Tenent screening and better mainentance could have kept it a viable neighborhood for years to come. Now, instead of renovating the buildings and keeping a couple hundred residents in the City, it's all going to be bulldozed. The quick, easy way out. Haven't we learned that this is the wrong approach to turning around troubled areas?

^

I see your point, but at the same time, if the additional resources make an institution like St. Mary's more attractive to a larger number of students (who have LOTS of choices when it comes to Catholic high schools), hence ensuring its long-term viability, I'll take that over some ramshackle, architecturally insignificant apartment buildings.

Remember, a few decades ago everyone was all gung-ho to tear down all the turn-of-the-century buildings because they were "old fashioned" and "out of date", and because they housed "undesirables". I fear we're repeating those same old mistakes.



Besides, I hate to see the City continue to lose density.



Seriously, why can't a competent management firm come in, renovate these apartment buildings, and return them to productive use? There's no reason the entire neighborhood has to be leveled. St. Mary's has their expanded campus, isn't that enough?



I realise that I may be jumping the gun here. Maybe St. Mary's does plan to rehab the remaining buildings. Does anyone know what their plans are?

I've lived in the area since 2003. The apartments that were demolished and the ones around them of similar age have always been a bit unfortunate.

I don't know what St. Marys plans are, but I would doubt they want to spend a lot of money to renovate small, outdated apartments. The area has more than enough older rental units that would appeal to a young urban tenant before these. I would think that only if all the older rental units were filled, that it would make sense to keep these.

The sad reality is that they would get renovated and either be vacant or possibly draw the same bad tenants that were there before. I don't like to see buildings demolished, but these aren't a good example of anything but cheap apartments.

Nice to hear that the bulldozers have stopped, and the rehabs are starting. No reason those buildings can't become respectable apartments again. A little TLC and some tenant screening can do wonders.