urbanSTL

Obviously you are encouraged to go to any Preservation Board meeting but since this is turning out to be a particularly hot issue, the discussion that actually matters will be taking place at 4:00 on Monday at 1520 Market. It's very rare that I've seen us so torn on an issue before. Yes there are those that want a beautiful modern addition to our skyline and there are those that want to preserve one of the few remaining historic brick warehouses in SE downtown, a building that helped inspire the design of Busch Stadium. Four pages of discussion on here in one week, we discussed it for close to half an hour at a Landmarks board meeting last night. Not quite sure if any conclusion was reached there other than the fact that this is moving too quickly.


Randy Vines, who sits on the Preservation Board was present at that meeting last night, encouraged us to be there on Monday. For those of us that can't make it, he encourages you to reach out to him by email. randy@stl-style.com

https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d ... 8-2017.pdf

final agenda

^ short but interesting agenda.

Really glad I looked up the West Florissant Building:

Screen Shot 2018-01-11 at 8.50.03 PM by Alex Price, on Flickr

The other three listings are very exciting though. Delmar Devine could turn out to be a really cool building. Again, I love when chaotic and quirky architecture is preserved. Here's to hoping Delmar Devine involves as little exterior demolition as possible.

^ Really hope they uphold the denial for many reasons, but the fact this mural might still be buried behind some wall in the building is one of the top ones.

Gross. For a one story strip mall.

What function would that grant that this building doesn't already provide?

bwcrow1s wrote: ↑

Jan 12, 2018

Gross. For a one story strip mall.

What function would that grant that this building doesn't already provide?

Amazing parking spaces IN FRONT of the stores! What a difference maker all those spots will make to the area.

ImprovSTL wrote: ↑

Jan 12, 2018

bwcrow1s wrote: ↑

Jan 12, 2018

Gross. For a one story strip mall.

What function would that grant that this building doesn't already provide?

Amazing parking spaces IN FRONT of the stores! What a difference maker all those spots will make to the area.

Imagine that strip -- a Dollar General, beauty shops, fast food. Then another one story strip mall ... with... more of the same.

Club Imperial, from the PD:

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... e40e9.html

^I think I'll have to disagree with you on 505 Washington. It's not my favorite piece, but it's a decent enough example of what it is. But honestly, I think we've enough parking lots that's there's not too much cause to tear down anything that's sound. Plenty of space to build new. Of course, if you come through with a good enough proposal and financing and you really really really need that particular site . . . we can probably reach an agreement. But otherwise, what's it hurting?

framer wrote: ↑

Jan 20, 2018

Club Imperial, from the PD:

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... e40e9.html

I kinda agree with the guy that bought it, this thing has been rotting for years and nobody came to claim it, now everyone wants to save it when a demo is planned, saving it should have happened decade ago.

Denial of demolition of 6306-28 West Florissant aka Club Imperial upheld by a unanimous vote of the Preservation Board. Still in sound condition under the ordinance, and the only person to speak in favor of demolition was Robert Vroman, the current owner. Several speakers opposed to demolition, including the son of the owner in the Club Imperial days. Alderwoman Boyd was strongly in support of preservation and keeping the important history alive in her community. She also said that she would support City incentives for anyone that wants to do a quality renovation of the building.

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

Jan 22, 2018

I kinda agree with the guy that bought it, this thing has been rotting for years and nobody came to claim it, now everyone wants to save it when a demo is planned, saving it should have happened decade ago.

you could have said the same thing about practically every building that's been rehabbed in the last 4 decades.

and this guy's business model irks me. grab as many buildings as possible at sheriff's auction for as little money possible and then do whatever with them to make a few $.

^ Post-Dispatch had a good profile of him and his biz model a bit ago; I'll try to dig it up. It appeared to be almost all residential stuff and I think in this particular case he got into a larger commercial buy which he shouldn't have done if he wanted to pursue his quick flip routine, Without a doubt Preservation Board made a good decision today..

There's been a good back-and-forth over on NextSTL with the current owner (comments section):

https://nextstl.com/2018/01/groundbreak ... hreatened/

What's the story with 2220 Menard? Looks like it was in great shape before disappearing entirely.

is that the one with the explosion?

^ and ^^ yep, here's the thread: http://www.urbanstl.com/forum/viewtopic ... on#p284170

I don't know if this is the infill planned for 2220 Menard, but Phillip Dunham is listed as architect, and I found this on his website as "Soulard Infill Prototype":



http://studiodurham.com/portfolio/soula ... prototype/

^ the PRB agenda at the above link (from last year) shows a flat-roofed, 3-story, mixed-use building.