Teamsters Council Tower Apartment - Midtown

ecoabsence · PostNov 22, 2005#262005-11-22T22:37+00:00

On Friday, the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted unanimously to forward the National Register nomination for Council Plaza to the Keeper of the National Register.

The city's Preservation Board (acting upon a motion made by member Richard Callow) requested that the Council defer consideration, but the owner filed a proper appeal and thus was entitled to an advisory opinion from the state level. When question Friday, a representative from the city government could not explain the Preservation Board's action, which everyone agreed was unusual given that the owner was seeking tax credits to make wall repairs.

framer · PostNov 23, 2005#272005-11-23T07:28+00:00

^Uh, what exactly does that mean?

southslider · PostNov 23, 2005#282005-11-23T15:41+00:00

It means the Mayor's Office is working against the current owners seeking listing. Perhaps, a land-grabbing Billiken has shared his plans with Room 200.

southcitygent · PostNov 23, 2005#292005-11-23T17:09+00:00

I am sick of hearing so many people complaining on this forum about SLU. If it wasn't for them many of the grand buildings along Lindell would have been torn down long ago. SLU has taken a jumble of great structures, old homes, clubs, and auditoriums and preserved them as usable space. They have cleaned up and stabilized an area that had seen better days. I would hate to see what midtown would look like if they and their students had fled to the county like many people wanted them to do.

soulardd · PostNov 23, 2005#302005-11-23T17:59+00:00

southcitygent wrote:I am sick of hearing so many people complaining on this forum about SLU. If it wasn't for them many of the grand buildings along Lindell would have been torn down long ago. SLU has taken a jumble of great structures, old homes, clubs, and auditoriums and preserved them as usable space. They have cleaned up and stabilized an area that had seen better days. I would hate to see what midtown would look like if they and their students had fled to the county like many people wanted them to do.

That doesn't mean they're not impeeding progress now. I went to SLU, and yes they have helped the area in its bad times, but things are looking up now. Maybe they're just being a bit greedy?

suburban lou · PostNov 23, 2005#312005-11-23T18:07+00:00

I for one am so sick of hearing how SLU and other business could have fled to the County all that does is encourage the status quo and the city to give them handouts. Where does it end?

urbanstlouis · PostDec 07, 2005#322005-12-07T16:22+00:00

<A HREF="http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.a ... 20">Artist Upset Over Falling Mural</A>

created: 12/6/2005 10:01:14 PM

updated: 12/7/2005 8:44:13 AM

By Mike Owens

Investigative Reporter

(KSDK) - A huge brick mural, installed in 1968 at the Teamsters Council Tower Apartment in mid-town St. Louis, is coming off its wall, and the man who helped create it is saddened by the state of his work.

Schultz's work is crumbling off the wall, apparently the victim of harsh weather. Schultz says he spent 15 months risking his life on a scaffold, and would like to see the work restored. In addition, he would like the work illuminated and the paint restored, to more clearly define the lines in the brick.

<A HREF="http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.a ... ryid=88920">>>> read more</A>

marmar · PostDec 08, 2005#332005-12-08T00:53+00:00

I was saddened when I first read of this mural's woes. I remember when this structure was built, and I remember admiring the mural, although until just a few minutes ago I didn't realize what it portrayed. After reading Mike Owen's comment, I was enlightened in it and it's artist's legacy. It is important that this mural be restored, to lose it would indeed be a tragic mistake.

That said, this area is in dire need of attention.

Expat · PostDec 08, 2005#342005-12-08T02:52+00:00

It would be a shame to lose this mural. However, my guess is that the building owners don't have the resources to save it. I hate seeing beautiful things crumble away.

marmar · PostDec 08, 2005#352005-12-08T13:31+00:00

I'm sure you're right about the owners, Expat. If you've been in Council Plaza, you would see how it hasn't changed since it was built and it is deteriorating all over. Wish someone would come to the rescue.

gerwitz · PostDec 08, 2005#362005-12-08T14:23+00:00

Someone is funding the extensive interior renovation underway in the same tower the brick is sliding off.

marmar · PostDec 08, 2005#372005-12-08T21:33+00:00

Glad to hear that! But the mural needs attention right away, more than the interior. Someone (maybe Landmarks?) should start some sort of campaign to save it. I mean, this is a pretty massive and impressive piece of public art.

suburban lou · PostFeb 09, 2006#382006-02-09T06:30+00:00

Developer has plan for Grand complex

By Tavia Evans

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

02/08/2006

A 1960s-era complex that once housed a union headquarters and a retirement center is slated for an update.

Local developer Rick Yackey plans to convert the Council Plaza administrative building at 300 South Grand Boulevard into a restaurant, retail space and business center.

The 100,000-square-foot, two-story building originally was constructed as a one-stop shop for a local textile and health-care worker union, and its members. The union's administrative offices were located in the building and a high-rise next door provided residential housing for senior union members.

The building is now mostly vacant.

Read More

marmar · PostFeb 09, 2006#392006-02-09T13:07+00:00

I hope he has the brick mural restored.

doug · PostFeb 09, 2006#402006-02-09T14:55+00:00

Pretty nice looking building, and I hope it is restored also.

SLU leaving to the county? How bad was midtown? My dad went to SLU in the late 70's to mid 80's for bachelors and masters; he told me it is a lot better now, but was it really bad enought that SLU was going to leave? I cannot imagine midtown being really bad, because it is so nice today.

debaliviere · PostFeb 09, 2006#412006-02-09T15:03+00:00

There were talks of moving the university back in the 60's/70's, but Fr. Reinert made the decision to keep SLU in Midtown. When I was at SLU, I remember hearing stories that SLU was offered the land that is now Queeny Park in the Ballwin area.

doug · PostFeb 09, 2006#422006-02-09T15:25+00:00

Wow, I am glad they did not move. One of the secondary reasons I am choosing SLU is because of its great location. I think SLU has the best campus location of any university in the metro area.

The only reason I did not choose SLU for undergrad was their price, and UMSL's larger transfer scholarship.

framer · PostFeb 10, 2006#432006-02-10T05:13+00:00

Marmar wrote:I hope he has the brick mural restored.

I think the developer mentioned in this article is just doing the low-rise portion of the complex. The two highrises are owned by other people.

jcity · PostFeb 13, 2006#442006-02-13T00:48+00:00

If the mural can't, or will not be saved, even though I think it should, maybe some type of advertising, or signage that could work in conjunction with the A-B sign. Perhaps, some type of multi-media screens? Think Times Square..

soulardd · PostFeb 13, 2006#452006-02-13T03:55+00:00

JCity wrote:If the mural can't, or will not be saved, even though I think it should, maybe some type of advertising, or signage that could work in conjunction with the A-B sign. Perhaps, some type of multi-media screens? Think Times Square..

I think a times square type setting should be created at Broadway and Wahington, or Tucker and Washington.

mill204 · PostFeb 13, 2006#462006-02-13T07:09+00:00

JCity wrote:If the mural can't, or will not be saved, even though I think it should, maybe some type of advertising, or signage that could work in conjunction with the A-B sign. Perhaps, some type of multi-media screens? Think Times Square..

Oh, great! Just what we need! A ready made excuse for commuters on Hwy40 when they accidently instigate 40+ car pileups because they were distracted by 480" television showing Bud Light commercials of bikini clad women mud wrestling!

That said, if they can't save/restore it, perhaps it can be replicated somewhere else in a different form. It could make for a great thin-plated metal structure somewhere in the new Chouteau greenway.

jcity · PostFeb 14, 2006#472006-02-14T03:30+00:00

Do people not drive through Times Square? BUT.. I would rather see something like that on Washington though, I agree.

st. louis texan · PostFeb 14, 2006#482006-02-14T03:58+00:00

after all of the years of driving to and from the city I have never seen this building. can someone tell me on a map where it would be, becuase im curious.

thewayofthearch · PostFeb 14, 2006#492006-02-14T07:20+00:00

JCity wrote:Do people not drive through Times Square? BUT.. I would rather see something like that on Washington though, I agree.

Times Square moves at a CRAWL, not 50+ mph. Times square is an intersection, and not a potential distractio for fast mving motorists. Remember they already altered the mural (by removing the steel inlay) because it bothered motorists...There is a better locale for that, but it would be cool to have one!

framer · PostFeb 15, 2006#502006-02-15T07:08+00:00

STL Texan: Its just East of Grand, on the North side of Highway 40 (Interstate 64). You can only see the mural when you drive on 40 West, leaving downtown. Its very prominent. I don't see how you could miss it.

Teamsters Council Tower Apartment - Midtown

Choose Display Mode