Swedish National Society Building, Kingshwy S.

onecity · PostJul 09, 2012#12012-07-09T16:41+00:00

I drive past this building often, and I was wondering if anyone knew when it stopped being used to promote Scandinavian culture. All I can tell is that it is currently owned by Brian F. and Marcia L. Salisbury of 3950 Coburg Round #22, Eugene OR ph:(541) 654-0395. Any idea who they are? Web search shows that he is some sort of poet based on the Northwest. Is anyone on the boards affiliated with the Swedish Council of St. Louis, Danish Club of St. Louis, or Norwegian Society of St. Louis? Could be a great local outpost for Sons of Norway too. As those organizations appear to lack a physical presence, and this is a very high visibility location, would this building not make a TON of sense as a sort of HQ and exhibition/meeting space for them? This could be a MAJOR visual and cultural anchor for the stretch of K-Hwy between the highways.

http://www.norway-stl.org/
http://www.swedishcouncilstlouis.org/
http://danishclubofstlouis.org/

Aesir · PostJul 09, 2012#22012-07-09T19:57+00:00

Thanks for posting this. I too drive by this every day. I'd love to see this beautiful thing put to better use.

onecity · PostJul 09, 2012#32012-07-09T21:31+00:00

A vision for the space...

roger wyoming II · PostJul 09, 2012#42012-07-09T21:33+00:00

At last, the perfect site for an IKEA!

(btw, does anyone know what the dealio is with the torn down BP just down the street @ Kswhy & Manchester?)

Mark Groth · PostJul 10, 2012#52012-07-10T00:16+00:00

New BP is what I heard.

Alex Ihnen · PostJul 10, 2012#62012-07-10T03:05+00:00

^ Yep, new BP. Anyway, doesn't everyone know that the Swedes and Norwegians hate one another?

onecity · PostJul 10, 2012#72012-07-10T03:46+00:00

But it's a friendly, progressive, unarticulated hate.

Alex Ihnen · PostJul 10, 2012#82012-07-10T06:13+00:00

^ And they both love topiary.

urban_dilettante · PostJul 10, 2012#92012-07-10T06:29+00:00

^^^ BP as in gas station? that lot's too small so i assume they're going to knock down multiple buildings. god... i ***** hate saint louis. another ***** gas station.

dredger · PostJul 10, 2012#102012-07-10T06:31+00:00

Onecity, been a while since I heard anyway bring up Sons of Norway. My grandfather was the last one in our family to be a member (My grandma on my other side of family was the last person standing who still had some fluency left with Norwegian langauge). While it sounds like a great idea, I wonder how much support their would be among the various Scandanavian groups

Alex Ihnen · PostJul 10, 2012#112012-07-10T06:40+00:00

urban_dilettante wrote:^^^ BP as in gas station? that lot's too small so i assume they're going to knock down multiple buildings. god... i f***ing hate saint louis. another f***ing gas station.

The corner lot has been a BP gas station for a long time. They tore down their old structure and are building a new one on the same footprint.

stlgasm · PostJul 10, 2012#122012-07-10T12:51+00:00

Every time I pass this building, I can't help but think that's it's living on borrowed time. It seems like only a matter of time before it's torn down for some boring redevelopment. I certainly hope I'm wrong.

urban_dilettante · PostJul 10, 2012#132012-07-10T16:26+00:00

Alex Ihnen wrote:The corner lot has been a BP gas station for a long time. They tore down their old structure and are building a new one on the same footprint.

so nothing is being torn down for the BP, and all the buildings in the photos above are still extant? also, i don't hate saint louis. i was just being dramatic.

mattonarsenal · PostJul 10, 2012#142012-07-10T17:18+00:00

There is actually a screen printing company in that building that does some pretty nice work...

http://www.handprints-screenprinting.com/

Alex Ihnen · PostJul 10, 2012#152012-07-10T17:47+00:00

urban_dilettante wrote:
Alex Ihnen wrote:The corner lot has been a BP gas station for a long time. They tore down their old structure and are building a new one on the same footprint.
so nothing is being torn down for the BP, and all the buildings in the photos above are still extant? also, i don't hate saint louis. i was just being dramatic.

Here's a brief story from the 17th Ward site: http://www.17thwardstl.com/wordpress.com/?p=2292

onecity · PostJul 10, 2012#162012-07-10T20:00+00:00

There is actually a screen printing company in that building that does some pretty nice work...

That's pretty shocking. The building as is communicates nothing less than a total indifference to aesthetics and a complete disregard for the built environment.

Alex Ihnen · PostJul 10, 2012#172012-07-10T20:41+00:00

A large majority of the seemingly vacant buildings remaining on Manchester in The Grove are functioning businesses. I agree that the aesthetic isn't great, but by using and maintaining the building, owners are showing love for the built environment.

onecity · PostJul 10, 2012#182012-07-10T22:15+00:00

but by using

I will agree, someone is using the building. But I would disagree that they are showing love for the built environment. Showing love for the built environment means that, as a resident or property owner or tenant, you do more than just occupy a building. It means you put in the extra effort to make sure that you are making your neighborhood more inviting, beautiful, and cared for. How hard would it be for someone to trim the weeds growing in the sidewalk? The brickwork looks pretty rough and uncared for. The signage shows that as little effort as possible was put into making these businesses, ostensibly centered on beauty, beautiful or even marginally attractive places to visit. Maybe I have high standards, but I expect more, especially in locations with such high visibility. At minimum I expect places to look like the people in them actually give a damn.

imran · PostJul 28, 2013#192013-07-28T19:40+00:00

The second floor windows have been removed. I don't see any wrecking equipment on site. Wonder if the Preservation Board approved the relocation/reuse of the facade....

erina · PostAug 01, 2013#202013-08-01T19:38+00:00

Does anyone know what was on the first floor? Where a sign was you can see a faded name and it looks like something Lounge.

I really wish that former KFC next to it would get demo'd.

GHSTL · PostAug 01, 2013#212013-08-01T19:49+00:00

^
The Preservation Board approved the demolition of 1157-59 S. Kingshighway with the condition that a building permit for the new structure be issued first (see meeting minutes here). The plan would be to build a replica of sorts a few feet to the north, which would also necessitate the demolition of that old KFC.

Alex's blog post has more details.

jem79c · PostAug 01, 2013#222013-08-01T20:04+00:00

So L's Beauty Shop and the random "imports" shop are going down with it?!?! Screw that, I'm moving to Chicago.

erina · PostAug 02, 2013#232013-08-02T15:50+00:00

A Subway? FFS.

symphonyplayer · PostAug 07, 2013#242013-08-07T23:57+00:00

Drove by today and all the 2nd floor windows had been removed. Looks like they are working on the inside...

PostNov 18, 2013#252013-11-18T06:22+00:00

The entire building is gone, along with the old fast food joint building next to it. Giant hole where the foundation had been. Been this way for about a month now...