urbanSTL

I've always wanted to see this building redeveloped- it'll inject some needed life into this portion of the SLU campus and surrounding neighborhood. And I've always been fascinated with the history of our homegrown department stores, especially since the name of our last one (Famous-Barr) will fade into history very soon. And TMK, the former warehouse is the only building left with Stix, Baer, and Fuller still on its facade.

This project is looking like it will be a real asset along that stretch of Laclede and Forest Park. Funny thing is, I walk by this building all the time (as a SLU student) and never knew how great it looked underneath all of the grime and graffiti it's had for so long. It's great to see that the old Stix Baer & Fuller engravings were preserved, too. That's a name in St. Louis retailing/ fashion that deserves more recognition than it receives.

I drove by the site last Friday afternoon. It looks like renovation work is proceeding, so that's good news.



Since I mentioned the SB&F signage, I thought I'd note that on the Forest Park Avenue side, the SB&F has been removed, exposing a sign reading "Champion" underneath. I was wondering why it was removed, unless the developers (1) want to restore it, (2) want to expose the original sign, or (3) want to make new signage of their own, at least on the Forest Park Avenue side.



Oh, and on the Laclede Avenue side, I noticed a Grand Leader engraving similar to the aforementioned SBF engravings. I'm old enough to vaguely remember SBF, but I thought I had heard that the store was also referred to as the Grand Leader many years ago.



I'd like to see them preserve as much signage as possible. Perhaps it had to be done, but I was disappointed when the Welsh Baby Carriages smokestack was painted over when the old factory was made over into the Soulard Market Apartments. Silly me- I thought the old smokestack gave the building some character, and I like some hints of a building's original identity left behind...

There was a pretty cool book published several years ago by William Stage called Ghost Signs. It features photos of many old, faded signs around town.

Framer wrote:There was a pretty cool book published several years ago by William Stage called Ghost Signs. It features photos of many old, faded signs around town.

^ Thanks for that suggestion!



It sounds like my cup of tea, so I'm going to check it out!

Hello all-

New here obviously. I just wanted to share some info I found on this development. Its pretty interesting. I have to agree with the masses that this is going to appeal primarily to students. Anyway, Paric is doing the renovation and their site has a proposed picture and plans.



Side note, I went to SLU in the second half of the 90's and always thought that the retail section on Vandeventer and Laclede was an excellent spot with almost limitless potential. You have to imagine that that's somewhere on the radar.



http://www.paric.com/ParicHome/Projects ... tments.htm

I just ran by there today and I have to say, this could be a really cool development. I didn't realize that it is literally right next to SLU. I'm sure it will appeal mainly to students, hopefully that won't mean that it will get run down quickly.



On a side note, I moved to the CWE a year and a half ago to start medical school, and I've always had this image of, going east, the nice CWE, this wasteland, then SLU, which I'd never been to, but seemed very nice when I drove by it on Lindell. I have to say, after running down West Pine and Laclede, I was sorely mistaken. The sketchy area that breaks up the two parts of town is ONE BLOCK, between Sara and Vandeventer. Hopefully redevelopment will come to that area and really link pedestrian-friendly Midtown and the CWE.[/u]

DrDrew wrote:I've always had this image of, going east, the nice CWE, this wasteland, then SLU, which I'd never been to, but seemed very nice when I drove by it on Lindell. I have to say, after running down West Pine and Laclede, I was sorely mistaken. The sketchy area that breaks up the two parts of town is ONE BLOCK, between Sara and Vandeventer. Hopefully redevelopment will come to that area and really link pedestrian-friendly Midtown and the CWE.[/u]

Drew,

It really is true that the only stretch that needs help anymore is the Sarah / Lindell / Vandeventer / Forest Park quadrant. I think part of it looks worse than it is because it is (was) primarily industrial, bordering SLU on the east and residential on the west. The section of Sarah St. from Forest Park to Lindell has really improved over the past two years -- hopefully some of that redevelopment will creep eastwards and meet up with the historic buildings along Vandeventer.

Laclede in the area you mention is starting to clean up, thanks to the addition of 6 North. West Pine still needs some work - there are several run-down apartment buildings on that block that I wish SLU would acquire for student housing.



There was a plan for this area developed a few years back, but as is the case with so many of the plans that are developed by various entities, it has been virtually ignored. Check out page 22 of this document: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/pla ... -03-03.pdf

DeBaliviere wrote:Laclede in the area you mention is starting to clean up, thanks to the addition of 6 North. West Pine still needs some work - there are several run-down apartment buildings on that block that I wish SLU would acquire for student housing.



There was a plan for this area developed a few years back, but as is the case with so many of the plans that are developed by various entities, it has been virtually ignored. Check out page 22 of this document: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/pla ... -03-03.pdf

DeBalivere, I forgot about those apartments on West Pine near Vandeventer. Had to park in front of them a couple of times before getting my SLU garage pass -- scary!



Thanks for posting the link to that redevelopment plan, it's interesting!

When will the renovation near humphreys be completed? does anyone know who to contact and get some information?

^^in reference to the link that Atlas provided, does anyone know where they are planning on putting the three story precast garage with connecting bridge? Haven't seen any site oriented plans or renderings, so I am just curious.

I would think on the Lindell side where a building was recently demolished. I'll be at SLU tommorrow, so I will see if there is anything going up there.