Anyone know what the deal is with this place? A lot of desparately needed attention has been given to this particular section of downtown, and it seems that this hulking mess is holding it back. It was proabably a handsome building originally, but it looks like much of its ornamentation has been stripped, and the base was cruelly "moderninzed."



"Alverne Association LLC" has owned the property since 2000. Anyone know who these people are, and what plans they might have for this building?

The Alvern was for many years a retirement community run by some Catholic group, I believe it closed in the early 90's. Not sure what it was originally, but I have always thought it would make a great location for low cost housing aimed at the younger crowd. Perhaps a dorm for Webster University.....

address? pics?

Address is in the title.



I don't have pics, but it's across from the Louderman building--where UMA is, if that helps.

We talked about that one in this thread a while back - weird building: link

Sorry, thanks for the link and the pics. Do you know how long it's been on the market?



EDIT: found some more info here: http://www.builtstlouis.net/opos/alverne.html

If we had a nickel jar for every disrespecful and off-topic post (including this one), Urban St. Louis LLC could buy this building!



Bring back the double arches (looks like they bricked these in) and balcony and uncover the street-level detail! This would be sweet from street level.

No worries. I think it's been on the market for a few years now.

I wouldn't lose any sleep either. It's been just too mistreated. I get the feeling that this baby will sit as it is for some time. What a shame.



But, this might be a good time to raise this question: what the hell happens to the ornamentation on these buildings? Do they just rip it out and throw it away? Because that, too, would be a shame.

Alright - you can have your Days Inn reduced to rubble - if this can be saved. There would be a lot to bring back: the limestone corner the entire height of the building/balconies/etc., but this is a handsome building and with the open lot it's very visible. Unfortunately the original window opennings probably aren't big enough for lofties.

I'd be interested to see what the views are like from the inside - perhaps the windows are deceptively large. They look to be quite a bit smaller than the Louderman Building next door, but maybe they're grouped in such a way so as to provide a decent amount of natural light.



Like Ihnen said, if a developer were to make an effort to restore the building to its original condition, especially the first 2-3 floors, it could look a lot more impressive.

steve wrote:Address is in the title.



I don't have pics, but it's across from the Louderman building--where UMA is, if that helps.

ahhh the old hide the address in the title trick

just give this one a good scrubb'n and you won't want to see it torn down... what happened to the decorative cornice on the top...(it has a different name but i can't think of it..)

I don't know about this particular one, but Larry Giles has many of the decorative ornamentations from local buildings in his vast collection. Hopefully, they'll all see the light of day again, either back on their original buildings, or in his much-hoped-for architectural museum.

How did he get them? Does he approach people who are demolishing their buildings?

What I'd really like to see (if it's at all possible) is the historic remnants incorporated into newly-constructed buildings.



Didn't Giles (or Steve Trampe) preserve the entire facade of the little tudor building that was torn down to make room for the Continental Building's parking garage? Wouldn't it be great to see it appear elsewhere in Grand Center (or even downtown or the CWE) as part of a new building?

^Yes. Somebody has it, not sure who.



That was a neat little building.

Giles is raising money along with trampe to open the St. louis architectural museum on 6 acres on the east river front..Typical Stl spreading everything out...Get that thing DT, tourists wanna come to a destination place, where things are close by...ARG!

here is the link about the museum



http://www.riverfronttimes.com/issues/2 ... news2.html

bpe235 wrote:Giles is raising money along with trampe to open the St. louis architectural museum on 6 acres on the east river front..Typical Stl spreading everything out...Get that thing DT, tourists wanna come to a destination place, where things are close by...ARG!

here is the link about the museum



http://www.riverfronttimes.com/issues/2 ... news2.html

I totally agree with you. While I'm all in favor of helping ESTL, something like that needs to be downtown. In fact, I thought some other group was talking about establishing an architectural museum downtown.

As someone who is in favor of a Days Inn demolition, I do not want this one torn down. It's still a very functional building, just in need of some tlc. Perhaps so more afordable apartments could go in there.

Why does everyone want to tear down the Days Inn? I think it is an AWESOME example of a bygone era of retrofabulous architecture. Every city needs 50s-60s-70s style buidlings. It's a cool building that fits on that key corner very well. Its windows are uniquely angled, it's got great depth and height. I think once that b*tch is rehabbed it will be a choice address downtown.



And I was there when it was actually open as a hotel-- that place was a story book of St. Louis characters. It was originally known as the St. Louisan Hotel. SAVE IT!



The Alverne is one of the last reminaining missing links downtown. I absolutely love the building, not just for its historic facade, but also because of its location and density. The windows are small, but I think it would be PERFECT for affordable, smaller apartments with streetfront retail.

I've been inside this building. The top floor is a wall to wall ballroom with incredible terrazzo floors and corinthian columns supporting a 18 foot ceiling. The views from the 15th floor are outstanding with 60's era floor to ceiling windows. Another ballroom on the second-third floors (you can see the tall windows foreground) with a huge stage/prescenium, would make a great 2,000 cap. entertainment space. Overall, the windows are not huge, but just fine for finished apartments (not a loft conversion). From what I understand, the big problem with the building is asbestos contamination...which is everywhere. I never understood why a nightclub was in operation on the first floor. Seperate ventilation, I suppose...but still seems like a health risk. I hear that asbestos abatement makes residential conversion of the building an impossibility due to cost. If this is the case, the building may not be workable. My question is wouldn't the asbestos have to be taken care of before demolition? If so, this baby might sit for a long time.

marc buxton wrote:I've been inside this building. The top floor is a wall to wall ballroom with incredible terrazzo floors and corinthian columns supporting a 18 foot ceiling. The views from the 15th floor are outstanding with 60's era floor to ceiling windows. Another ballroom on the second-third floors (you can see the tall windows foreground) with a huge stage/prescenium, would make a great 2,000 cap. entertainment space. Overall, the windows are not huge, but just fine for finished apartments (not a loft conversion). From what I understand, the big problem with the building is asbestos contamination...which is everywhere. I never understood why a nightclub was in operation on the first floor. Seperate ventilation, I suppose...but still seems like a health risk. I hear that asbestos abatement makes residential conversion of the building an impossibility due to cost. If this is the case, the building may not be workable. My question is wouldn't the asbestos have to be taken care of before demolition? If so, this baby might sit for a long time.

I don't think the asbestos would be a large issue for the developer if it qualified for brownsfields tax credits... correct me if i'm wrong, but that is one of the most common uses for brownsfields...