Union Club - 1700 S. Jefferson Avenue at Lafayette

doug · PostJan 13, 2006#512006-01-13T16:38+00:00

The next meeting is on Feb 15, Admins, make a stick post about the situation and the meeting date and time, check my link, so we can organize this event!

I don't think Ross Perot would work, this is a serious issue anyway, not a joking matter.....

Go with Nixon and say, "You are all Crooks".

suburban lou · PostJan 18, 2006#522006-01-18T02:52+00:00

Preservation board agenda

http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/pla ... ferson.pdf

PostJan 25, 2006#532006-01-25T14:37+00:00

Looks like the project is still on.

Preservation board OKs 4-story condo building on Jefferson Avenue

Jim Merkel

Of the Suburban Journals

South City Journal

01/25/2006

In spite of concerns about size, the city Preservation Board Monday approved plans for a four-story commercial and condominium building on the southeast corner of Lafayette and Jefferson avenues.

The board voted for member Richard Callow's motion that it give preliminary approval for a building about the same size and scale as in preliminary drawings

"As for the details, that's still to be worked out," Callow said.

In a report to the Preservation Board at Monday's hearing, Jan Cameron, preservation administrator of the Cultural Resources Office of the city Planning and Urban Design Agency, said there were concerns about the entrances onto Lafayette. The staff wants Doerner to work on the design to minimize the effect.

A report to the board by Jan Cameron said the building's overall mass and height above grade are considerable and not typical of 19th and 20th Century historic buildings in Lafayette Square.

However, the report said, the surroundings of the building are uneven. A school building opposite on Lafayette is of similar mass to the proposed structure, as is a church just to the east, the report said.

There may be many changes in the building's details, if Jane Blackwell, vice president for development of the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee, has her way.

Blackwell delivered a sharp critique of the building's size and design during Monday's hearing before the Preservation Board

Read More

markofucity · PostJan 25, 2006#542006-01-25T17:28+00:00

You know .. I'm not sold on the whole "things can't be taller than 3 stories in lafayette square" argument. We need DENSITY. If its a good lookign building that fits with the style of the neighborhood (which this one appears to) then I say build it. Who is this Blackwell guy anyway?

Of course I would rather have the building stop at three stories and then add anothe, seperate building - on one of the many other vacant lots.

Expat · PostJan 25, 2006#552006-01-25T18:02+00:00

I agree, especially on a corner like Jeff & Lafayette. A little taller wouldn't hurt. Especially since they are not talking about 10 or 20 floors.

trent · PostJan 25, 2006#562006-01-25T19:03+00:00

It sounded to me like her main problem was with the design. Isn't this what we want? People with higher standards?

I agree with her in some ways. The design of the project fails to really ispire me, so why not ask for changes? See if they can come up with something better.

southslider · PostJan 25, 2006#572006-01-25T19:28+00:00

For all practical purposes, Lafayette Square already has heighth in Mississippi Lofts, Eden Lofts, and even very close City Hospital. I could see MAYBE limiting height to three-stories about the park, but we're talking about the corner of Jefferson and Lafayette. Plus, in this case, the site is immediately adjacent a church and across Lafayette from that tall Dutch-styled building (sorry I'm forgetting landmark names), each of which already have substantial height as historic structures.

marmar · PostJan 25, 2006#582006-01-25T21:38+00:00

I would hope that a compromise could be reached. I thought when I first read about this development, the architects tried to copy as closley as possible the origanal design of the Union Club, adding one floor. I'd like to see a photo of the original structure to see if it was originally a mix of Romanesque and Queen Anne (although possible, I don't think mixing of styles then was done as a rule), or are they fudging on this one.

That said, I have no problem with height. I would hope the architecture styling of a new structure would blend in as seemlessly as possible in LS reguardless of height. However, dare we support projects that fly in the face of the premises established by those who saved and made this neighborhood the desirable place it is today?

debaliviere · PostJan 25, 2006#592006-01-25T21:53+00:00

Personally, I like the proposed version - like the article mentions, there are other buildings nearby (church, school) that are of similar size, so it's not like there is no precedent for buidling a structure that size there. I'm sure that an attractive compromise will be reached though.

Pics were posted of the origina Union Club a few weeks back, and it seemed to be Romanesque in design.

The pics:

laboubet wrote:this is the best I could find:

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/s ... onclub.jpg

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/s ... onclub.jpg

marmar · PostJan 25, 2006#602006-01-25T22:15+00:00

Thanks for the pics, DeBaliviere, but the building is almost completely destroyed!!! Not enough left to tell much. I'd like to see one BEFORE the cyclone did her thing. Sorry I missed the one Citylover posted...don't know how I managed that.

And I agree, DeBaliviere...I liked the rendering of the proposed structure too and saw nothing wrong or even odd about it...really didn't even notice the Queen Anne influence on the upper floors. But purists (and I'm sure LS has it's share) can be picky.

jambo · PostJan 26, 2006#612006-01-26T04:29+00:00

Situated next to an interstate eyesore, I think the added building height is a plus for this project!

debaliviere · PostJan 26, 2006#622006-01-26T15:04+00:00

I drove down Lafayette on my way home from the Billikens game last night, and the school located on the south side of the street, just east of this site is HUGE - very tall and very wide. I don't see how a four-story building at Lafayette and Jefferson wouldn't fit in.

loulou · PostJan 26, 2006#632006-01-26T17:50+00:00

The people quoted in the article made it sound as though they can reach some kind of an agreement pretty easily, so it seems as if there's not too much to worry about.

It's good to see people like Jan Cameron contributing to public debates about the architectural quality of new developments, even if we may not agree with all her views.

I reckon one of her reasons for being so vocal is to let other developers out there know that they need to take architecture and design seriously if they want to build in Lafayette Square.

marmar · PostJan 26, 2006#642006-01-26T21:17+00:00

That's the way I feel about the entire region!!

smsplanstu · PostJan 27, 2006#652006-01-27T02:31+00:00

Yes, it is a great design and well worth the extra story to keep a needed density. Architecture does matter but Jefferson is a major arterial and mid to high rises should be welcomed for such a dignified standing and location. I am excited to see what Second Empire, Mary "One" Johnson, Gilded Age, Millenium (spelling, sorry), Restoration, Red Brick, and all the others have up their sleeves.

debaliviere · PostMay 03, 2006#662006-05-03T15:13+00:00

Is this project still moving forward? They cleared the lot several months ago, and it looks like nothing has happened since then.

framer · PostMay 05, 2006#672006-05-05T04:32+00:00

^These things take time.

stlmizzoutiger · PostApr 09, 2007#682007-04-09T17:32+00:00

Framer wrote:^These things take time.

Apparently! Has this project become another Bottle District?

markofucity · PostApr 09, 2007#692007-04-09T19:10+00:00

well a sign is still posted - so it must still be on track.

marmar · PostApr 10, 2007#702007-04-10T00:56+00:00

I sure hope so. This project as presented will fill that piece of land very nicely. (Isn't this the one that Darlene Greene got worked up on the TIF over???)

tge-atw · PostApr 10, 2007#712007-04-10T16:46+00:00

I have two words...........Gilded Age.......................they are over extended. Their portion won't happen for a while.

watcher · PostApr 12, 2007#722007-04-12T22:18+00:00

Gilded Age - the slowest developers in St. Louis.

To them, the sign is the only important thing. See the net results of their other projects. Are any sold out?

Alex Ihnen · PostApr 13, 2007#732007-04-13T03:21+00:00

I propose a build-off between the Roberts Bros. and Gilded Age.

jcity · PostApr 13, 2007#742007-04-13T03:56+00:00

framer · PostApr 13, 2007#752007-04-13T04:23+00:00

Let's get Mary "One" into the fray too. Is her commercial building across the street still in the works?

I'll put my money on the Scientologists to get their rehab of the old German Society building finished before either of the others.

Union Club - 1700 S. Jefferson Avenue at Lafayette

Choose Display Mode