Bldg on corner of Forsyth and Hanley in Clayton

tb1000 · PostAug 12, 2005#12005-08-12T15:18+00:00

There is a good sized bldg on the corner of Forsyth and hanley that is being renovated/converted. It has been empty for over a year and looks like it was a gym at one time.

Anybody know anything about the history of this building and what it might become?

debaliviere · PostAug 12, 2005#22005-08-12T15:33+00:00

Are you talking about the old Library Ltd. building? I thought that was going to be torn down.

tb1000 · PostAug 12, 2005#32005-08-12T15:40+00:00

I have no idea what it used to be. It was empty when I moved to Clayton but there is work being done on the inside, and it didn't look like pre-demolition work either.

debaliviere · PostAug 12, 2005#42005-08-12T15:44+00:00

Oops, sorry about that, I forgot that you haven't been in STL very long - Library Ltd. was a huge local bookstore (like a B&N or Borders) that was bought out by Borders a few years ago. When the Brentwood Square store opened, the Hanley/Forsyth store closed.

I thought that there was an office building proposed for that site, but I could be wrong.

jmedwick · PostAug 12, 2005#52005-08-12T16:28+00:00

I belive DeBaliviere is right, the plan for that corner was orginaly to build a new office building, but the market has been so weak that those plans were scratched some time ago.

ucityman · PostAug 12, 2005#62005-08-12T21:38+00:00

actually, both are correct. Centene corp is renovating it for temporary use and plans have been recently proposed to build two towers on that block. The company is currently waiting to get some TIF approved. they currently have there headquarters on cardonelet ave just west of the library ltd parking structure. Nothings for sure, but it's in the works.

Maybe downtown can steel the project and give clayton a taste of their own medicine

(not trying to sound harsh)

stlgasm · PostAug 13, 2005#72005-08-13T20:27+00:00

*Tidbit*

Library Ltd. was the largest independent bookstore in the nation when it occupied that building.

courtland · PostAug 14, 2005#82005-08-14T01:52+00:00

before Library Ltd., the building was a merchandize store and before that a car dealership.

steveinphila · PostAug 15, 2005#92005-08-15T12:58+00:00

Am I the only old guy on this board? The building was originally the first suburban branch of the Scruggs, Vandervoort and Barney department store chain, following Famous (further east on Forsythe) and Stix, Baer & Fuller (at Westroads) to the suburbs. After the downtown store closed in 1966, it became the chain's flagship store and headquarters. It remained open until late 1970, even after the chain's other two branches at Crestwood Plaza and Northwest Plaza had been sold to Famous-Barr.

tb1000 · PostAug 20, 2005#102005-08-20T15:57+00:00

Centene now has their sign on the building...stainless steel letters.