Old Huckleberry Finn Youth Hostel @ 12th & Geyer

EssTeeEll · PostJun 30, 2020#12020-06-30T19:51+00:00

Hey, all.

I can't find any details online about it, but it appears most (if not all) of these buildings are currently being gutted and renovated. I'm not sure if they're all part of the now defunct hostel, or what the plan is for all of them. I think it's safe to assume they're all going to be residential, but a couple of the buildings are more store-front looking, so who knows? Maybe a rebirth of the hostel?

If anyone has any details on this, let 'er rip. I've only noticed because I walk my dog around there sometimes.

PostJul 01, 2020#22020-07-01T15:53+00:00

Here are some street level pictures of how it basically looks now, starting at the corner of the alley entrance and then wrapping around south down 12th. Most of the buildings aren't in horrendous shape from an exterior point of view, but one is boarded up and the rest could use a refresh. A big win would just be fixing the sidewalk along here...it's in pretty rough shape, and the fact this is by such a weird intersection/on ramp is probably already uninviting for a lot of people.

Note there are also two buildings in the back that may be getting some TLC that aren't pictured, but you can see in the overhead pic.

pattimagee · PostJul 01, 2020#32020-07-01T17:55+00:00

I didn't see any active permits on the city website...

STLrainbow · PostJul 01, 2020#42020-07-01T19:17+00:00

I believe there are three different developments going on by three different owners... 1904-06 S. 12th I believe part of the old hostel space has recent rehab permits with boarding room/multifam descriptions and two addresses further south/closer to Allen (1916 & 1918 S. 12th) are getting residential rehab by different investors... iirc the alderman said one or both of those were long vacant after a fire.

EssTeeEll · PostJul 02, 2020#52020-07-02T21:00+00:00

^ Sounds good to me. That will do a lot of good for this stretch. There's one building on the west side of 12th that looks to be part of Nadine's, but it's also boarded up. I haven't seen any activity on that one, though. The south side of the 12th & Allen intersection has a lot of potential. There's that one parking lot that for some reason is owned by McGurk's, and also what appears to be a corner storefront once upon a time that's now closed up with cement and vacant.

Thanks for the replies.