Not sure I see the appeal of brick on three sides and vinyl in the back - I suppose it saves money, and it's better than the mulleted homes proposed on p. 9. The offset attached garage is just odd. Detach the garage and you don't need to offset it to make room for the rear entrance...
-RBB
-RBB
As currently planned, I do not like this project. I would be OK with the project if staff recommendations are followed, except the offset garage. Detach the garage to the alley, and gain that yard space. It will look more appropriate, and the yard, to me at least, is a better feature than an attached garage with a driveway taking up my whole backyard.
- 10K
MattnSTL wrote:As currently planned, I do not like this project. I would be OK with the project if staff recommendations are followed, except the offset garage. Detach the garage to the alley, and gain that yard space. It will look more appropriate, and the yard, to me at least, is a better feature than an attached garage with a driveway taking up my whole backyard.
Yeah, I don't get the need to have an attached garage at the expense of a backyard.
What I don't really understand is that there is some very nice vinyl siding out... why even bother with the brick front? It looks tacky, especially when surrounded by the real thing all over the city. Why not diversify the housing stock and do all siding but a higher end one?
Looking at the examples, I think it looks good. Of course all brick is the best, but I don't think siding on the back is really that big of a deal.
There is a yard; all of that completely useless space between the houses. 
The new houses, which would be welcome additions to the neighborhood, gained preliminary design approval, but with some conditions: these included different windows and doors, and either a reconfigured location on the site, an additional house, or more brick.
The developer was not present; it was unclear from the testimony whether the conditions would be acceptable.
The developer was not present; it was unclear from the testimony whether the conditions would be acceptable.
I would actually be OK, just OK, with siding on the sides if there is another house on the site, and the offset garages are removed. If the houses are close enough the siding is acceptable.
- 10K
MattnSTL wrote:I would actually be OK, just OK, with siding on the sides if there is another house on the site, and the offset garages are removed. If the houses are close enough the siding is acceptable.
That's basically the way I feel. If the spacing between the homes is true to the typical spacing in city neighborhoods, the siding becomes unnoticeable.
^You also don't see the goofy roof behind the false parapet as much.
^What's the point of that roof, anyway? Can't they drain a slowly pitched roof just as easily? You know, like they did on all the existing houses in the neighborhood.
You would think. If I were building a house in that style I would definitely just slop a roof gently back from the front parapet. I don't know why this guy claims that won't sell.
- 479
Framer wrote:^What's the point of that roof, anyway? Can't they drain a slowly pitched roof just as easily? You know, like they did on all the existing houses in the neighborhood.
The first time these houses were being considered by the Preservation Board, Board Vice Chairperson Mary "One" Johnson, speaking as the broker of this project, stated that flat roofs do not sell. She went one to deliver an imaginative lecture tying flat roofs to lead paint and snakes crawling into houses through sewer laterals. (I wish that I was making that up!)
Ha, now that you mention it I remember you talking about that.
Flat Roofs don't sell? I do wonder how they became historically popular in St. Louis.
I guess people in St. Louis really like snakes.
I guess people in St. Louis really like snakes.
- 1,044
When we bought our first house almost 20 years ago our real estate agent refused to show us houses with flat roofs because she said they were a bad news.
There used to have major issues with leaking and costly upkeep, however I feel the technology has drastically improved and many of the upgrade in commercial roofing has found their way to residential. Tar is no longer the only option, many people are choosing longer lasting membranes.
There used to have major issues with leaking and costly upkeep, however I feel the technology has drastically improved and many of the upgrade in commercial roofing has found their way to residential. Tar is no longer the only option, many people are choosing longer lasting membranes.
Framer wrote:^What's the point of that roof, anyway? Can't they drain a slowly pitched roof just as easily? You know, like they did on all the existing houses in the neighborhood.
No, no they can't. Steeply pitched roofs shed water exponentially faster than roofs with a shallow, or zero, pitch. Standing water on a roof = homeowner nightmare. Granted, the design could have been better, but there is no doubt that the pitch of the roof helps to shed water. I just hope the flashing is solid behind the parapet.
I would expect the urban planners on this site to know this? Come on!
Doug wrote:Flat Roofs don't sell? I do wonder how they became historically popular in St. Louis.
I guess people in St. Louis really like snakes.
And Toasted Raviolis!
Flat tar roofs were far less expensive then their 6/12 pitched, ceramic tile covered cousins.
I have no specific knowledge of the zoning in the area of this project, but many ordinances no longer allow detached ancillary buildings such as garages, sheds, etc. I suspect that is the case here.
- 10K
Sounds like another good project for Hyde Park:
Link
Developer takes on renovation of Hyde Park
By Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/01/2008
Hyde Park in north St. Louis looks like many other city neighborhood where a good chunk of residents have left for the suburbs.
Empty, boarded-up buildings are a common sight, as are over-grown vacant lots.
But recent efforts by neighborhood organizations, a couple of developers and individuals are making a difference.
Newly renovated or constructed houses share the street with ones that are falling apart, and well-tended yards present a stark contrast to the weeds in others.
Now one developer has a plan that some say will help tie in the scattered sites that are sparking a neighborhood revitalization.
Peter George Sr., owner of University City-based Blue Shutters Development Inc., recently began work on a three-phase project to renovate historic structures and create owner-occupied houses along with some retail and office buildings.
Link
Hopefully the houses will be built in an urban nature that compliments the neighborhood, and after reading that story I'm pretty optimistic that it will.
- 10K
Shimmy wrote:Hopefully the houses will be built in an urban nature that compliments the neighborhood, and after reading that story I'm pretty optimistic that it will.
The picture in the print edition showed a nice looking frame house - couldn't tell if it was new or a rehab, but it looked kind of like a "New Town" house (which I generally like). It was next door to a brick house that was in need of renovation - didn't mention if the developer is going to renovate it or not.
- 479
Twas a new house you saw. I agree that the new frame houses in this project look good.