Our Lady's Inn loses court battle over bid to demolish mansion
By Patricia Rice
Of the Post-Dispatch
01/10/2005
A St. Louis charity can't demolish the so-called Virginia Mansion, a residence it owns in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood, a judge has ruled.
Our Lady's Inn, a 23-year-old residential charity, asked the Circuit Court to reverse a city board's denial of a demolition permit.
But on Thursday, Circuit Judge David L. Dowd upheld the refusal of the Preservation Board of St. Louis to grant the Inn permission to tear down the Southern Colonial-style building at 4242-44 Virginia Avenue.
"We are very excited," said Stephen Patterson, a Dutchtown resident who opposed the demolition.
He and other residents had objected at hearings to the demolition, saying its columned facade added to the varied architecture of their rebounding neighborhood.
The Inn, which assists pregnant women and single mothers, bought the Virginia Mansion three years ago. The charity's main facility is in a former convent, several hundred yards away across an alley from the Virginia Mansion.
The board of Our Lady's Inn wanted to demolish the house to construct a two-story building with seven apartments that would provide transitional housing for six mothers, their infants and one resident mentor.
In his decision, Dowd referred to the observation of the city's Cultural Resources Office that the property was sound and to the Preservation Board's finding that it has historic significance.
Dowd's decision was not a surprise to some who had attended various hearings about the building. Residents and preservationists turned out in force.
"I thought it could go either way," said Gloria Lee, Our Lady's Inn executive director.
The inn's board will decide on its next move for the site, she said.
"I don't think we will rehab it," she said. "Every professional opinion we have had has told us not to do that. I'm just glad there is a decision because you can't do anything when you are in limbo."
Our Lady's Inn board member Frank Vatterott said that he expected the board would look for other property in the neighborhood for the proposed transitional housing.
"We'll abide by Judge Dowd's decision; we won't take it any further," said Vatterott, a lawyer.
Some neighbors would like the board to sell the property.
"I would like to see Our Lady's Inn sell the property to a developer who would rehab the property," Patterson said. "We want property to be developed as soon as possible. We've been working on this for two years, and it's time for us to move on."
By Patricia Rice
Of the Post-Dispatch
01/10/2005
A St. Louis charity can't demolish the so-called Virginia Mansion, a residence it owns in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood, a judge has ruled.
Our Lady's Inn, a 23-year-old residential charity, asked the Circuit Court to reverse a city board's denial of a demolition permit.
But on Thursday, Circuit Judge David L. Dowd upheld the refusal of the Preservation Board of St. Louis to grant the Inn permission to tear down the Southern Colonial-style building at 4242-44 Virginia Avenue.
"We are very excited," said Stephen Patterson, a Dutchtown resident who opposed the demolition.
He and other residents had objected at hearings to the demolition, saying its columned facade added to the varied architecture of their rebounding neighborhood.
The Inn, which assists pregnant women and single mothers, bought the Virginia Mansion three years ago. The charity's main facility is in a former convent, several hundred yards away across an alley from the Virginia Mansion.
The board of Our Lady's Inn wanted to demolish the house to construct a two-story building with seven apartments that would provide transitional housing for six mothers, their infants and one resident mentor.
In his decision, Dowd referred to the observation of the city's Cultural Resources Office that the property was sound and to the Preservation Board's finding that it has historic significance.
Dowd's decision was not a surprise to some who had attended various hearings about the building. Residents and preservationists turned out in force.
"I thought it could go either way," said Gloria Lee, Our Lady's Inn executive director.
The inn's board will decide on its next move for the site, she said.
"I don't think we will rehab it," she said. "Every professional opinion we have had has told us not to do that. I'm just glad there is a decision because you can't do anything when you are in limbo."
Our Lady's Inn board member Frank Vatterott said that he expected the board would look for other property in the neighborhood for the proposed transitional housing.
"We'll abide by Judge Dowd's decision; we won't take it any further," said Vatterott, a lawyer.
Some neighbors would like the board to sell the property.
"I would like to see Our Lady's Inn sell the property to a developer who would rehab the property," Patterson said. "We want property to be developed as soon as possible. We've been working on this for two years, and it's time for us to move on."
