This Midtown Highrise - apartment buildning - I cannot recall the nakme of it *help - has the facade coming off on the east side of it. Just noticed today - does anyone know what they are doing to it?
That's Union Plaza. They've been slowly performing a pretty extensive renovation of the interior, so I wouldn't be surprised if the exterior will be fixed up, as well.
Holy cow, they're not removing that inlaid mosaic thing, are they? That's a landmark! The building does need renovation, though. I've got a friend who lives there, and the inside is a mess. Apparently, they don't screen their tenents very well, and its gotten really bad in there.
It's actually called Council Tower. The entire complex is straight up '60s-'70s urban renewal. Reminds me of Queens, NY. I highly recommend walking around the plaza and checking out the shops- it's right out of a textbook.
I've always kind of like that design on the side. VERY 60's. At the same time, it could be cool if they had some sort of light display, advertising, media,etc.
Based on my last few trips by there, it appears that the bricks fell inadvertantly. There is considerable damage to a concrete loading dock roof underneath. A few days after I noticed it, I saw the orage fencing and other construction equipment.
That brick mosaic used to have steel sculpture in it, but caught the light of the sun and blinded drivers on the highway. It is cool though, and I was wondering what the heck was going on, also...
The sculpture on the Council Plaza buildings has always been one of my favorites. It was designed and executed by sculptor Saunders Schultz (I don't have the date handy). You can imagine that I was horrified (certainly not shocked) when I saw a crew removing it. Now, I understand they insist that it fell off and they were just removing loose pieces. Apparently there was a similar sculpture on the other side but it has been gone so long I do not recall it.
The site is being nominated to the National Register so they can utilize tax credits in its redevelopment. The preservation board put that on hold until the issue with the brick sculpture is resolved. You can see the board agenda here: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/pla ... lazaNR.pdf
Since they are using tax credits, luckily, they will be obligated to at least keep the nice modern desing and not goo it all up with faux-historic Dryvit detailing and a god-foresaken pointy green roof. I am sure someone would like to, but thankfully the park service recognizes the significance of modern architecture and will not allow it to be bastardized if they use tax credits.
I do believe buildings should serve their users and I have no idea how well this complex does that. It is certainly not the most urban design but I will admit that I love looking at those perpendiluar towers. They will be stunning once cleaned up and restored.
STLgasm wrote:I think those buildings look VERY urban! I love the dated look. There's room for all eras of architecture in the big city!
I was referring to their relationship to the area at large and particularly the street which is not stellar due to the somewhat isolated nature of the site. Not the greatest place to walk to.
I, of course, think modern buildings can be urban. Many people confuse the planning principles of the time (i.e. "urban renewal" which is decidedly anti-urban) with the movement of modernism as an architectural expression.
I have always enjoyed viewing those buildings, especially with the sculpture. They certainly have a big city look, you wouldn't expect them in a small town or remote suburb. Looking back, I don't remember the apt. buildings or the shopping plaza ever thriving. They are cut off from everything else and have always felt like a twilight zone. But maybe that is because I never knew anyone that lived there, never went inside, so they seemed kind of mysterious to me. Somehow, the name, Council Plaza, seems appropropriate. And if they are to be reworked, I sincerely hope they remain pure. They would be hideous if tarted up.
Expat wrote:I have always enjoyed viewing those buildings, especially with the sculpture. They certainly have a big city look, you wouldn't expect them in a small town or remote suburb. Looking back, I don't remember the apt. buildings or the shopping plaza ever thriving. They are cut off from everything else and have always felt like a twilight zone. But maybe that is because I never knew anyone that lived there, never went inside, so they seemed kind of mysterious to me. Somehow, the name, Council Plaza, seems appropropriate. And if they are to be reworked, I sincerely hope they remain pure. They would be hideous if tarted up.
"Council Plaza" is an aptly sterile name for a remarkably sterile-looking building. Strangely, I like it too. Typical of its era.
Don't know why, but I was always under the impression that those towers were a retierment faclity for the plumbers and pipe fitters union. The real problem is that tower faces north south in a city where people want east west views. WHy doesn't SLU get ahold of those things. They look aptly prison like for college dorms.
I always wondered how a tower was built there. Midtown itself kind of makes me think St. Louis was destined for greater things and at least a few people expected for the area between downtown and midtown to fill in with towers. Hmm, maybe someday...
The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will consider the nomination for Council Plaza this Friday, November 8. The Preservation Board's opinion is only advisory and has no bearing on the ultimate listing -- the input of the reviewers at the State Historic Preservation Office is most important. Thus, the buildings may be listed long before the Preservation Board reconsiders their nomination.
I don't know if they still do, but the buildings used to have the "union" name in them somewhere, like "Council House on Union Plaza". I think they were funded by union pension money.
My worst nightmare, aside from the buildings being torn down, would be, as Cityboy puts it, a "god-foresaken pointy green roof" added on top.
The building interiors look renovated from the pics on the site, but the outsides need work. There is a spot where it looks like windows were replaced, so hopefully the whole building will get new windows. There is also an unsafe parking structure that needs to be torn down and replaced. The top level is unstable and closed off. The owner does seem to want to make the property nice though.
From the website, it looks like GrandView is one of the towers, not both.
The interiors look nice and I can imagine the views are good. Also, rent includes all utilities including cable. I don't know if the rent is reasonable or not since I haven't paid rent in St. Louis in many years. It convenient to Metro rail & bus. Glad to see someone investing in the buildings.
DeBaliviere wrote:Aren't these buildings specifically for retired teamsters?
The guy I know who lives in the taller building is a quadripalegic. I have also heard about an elderly dominatrix. Short answer - no, I don't think so. At least not anymore.
