Development Opportunity: Brecht Butcher Supply Company Bldgs

ecoabsence · PostJan 03, 2007#12007-01-03T16:16+00:00

Take a look at one of the hottest (pun intended) development opportunities on the near northside, the Brecht Butcher Supply Company warehouses:

http://www.eco-absence.org/stl/brecht/

Located at the northeast corner of Cass and Florissant just barely outside of downtown, the buildings were hit with a fire on October 6. However, the condition remains remarkably stable and total rehabilitation is still possible. While the fire damage may seem severe, and the city has condemned two of the three buildings to demolition, the condition is actually not fatal. As the rehabs of the M Lofts, Lister Building and WireWorks Lofts show, St. Louis developers have a proven ability to deal with daunting structural problems using care and imagination.

This could be an exciting and creative rehab project.

Oh, yes, the current owners? That would be the notorious Blairmont Associates LC. I'm sure that Blairmont would just as soon wash its hands of the buildings -- via demolition. Strong city development leadership would be looking at another way of making one developer's nuisance into another's project. Alas, this wonderful development prospect -- like so many others -- may disappear any day now.

debaliviere · PostJan 03, 2007#22007-01-03T18:23+00:00

Great work, Michael. Is this property on the fringe of ONSL?

ecoabsence · PostJan 03, 2007#32007-01-03T19:07+00:00

Yes, the buildings are within Old North at the very southern boundary (Cass Avenue). So any developer would have a very supportive neighborhood organization with historic redevelopment experience.

doug · PostJan 04, 2007#42007-01-04T01:45+00:00

Well I would be willing to volunteer a day per week for rehab. I have no skill but I would be willing to lug around material.

I would encourage everyone to write a letter demand an investigation into Blairmont. This negligence cannot be tolerated.

21 December 2006

Mayor Slay

City Hall, Room 200

1200 Market Street

St. Louis, MO 63103

Dear Mayor Slay:

I am writing you as I am greatly concerned about the land speculation occurring in North St. Louis by the group known as Blairmont. Since 2002, about 16 LLC's have managed to acquire around 300 parcels of land roughly located North of Delmar, East of Grand, West of 70, and south of Palm Avenue.

Many historical buildings are among their holdings and include the Brecht Butcher Supply Company Buildings at 1201-17 Cass Avenue, which were constructed around 1890-1900 and are now scheduled to be demolished due to a tragic fire.

brickandmortar · PostJan 04, 2007#52007-01-04T15:05+00:00

When I helped my friend rehab his house I found that no skill was really needed, just the ability to stay up late and drink Stag beer.

Seriously though I'm sick of these guys. When I lived in ONSL I sent complaints to CSB on several occasions because they hadn't boarded up a property. I'm sure it's burned since.

citywatcher · PostJan 19, 2007#62007-01-19T19:43+00:00

the telltale fences are up surrounding all 3 buildings, the utility disconnects have already been done.. These buildings are HISTORY

MattnSTL · PostJan 24, 2007#72007-01-24T22:09+00:00

There's a tele-handler on site today and workers are taking materials off the roof where it still exists. There was also utility work in the street. I'd love to think they are trying to stabalize the buildings, but I really doubt that. Get by now if you want to see the buildings before they are gone.