Resentment Toward the Old Post Office
Today I will visit the Old Post Office building in downtown St. Louis for the very first time. I’ve walked past it many times. I’ve photographed the beautiful exterior from all directions. I’ve also stood next to it while protesting the destruction of the Century Building for a parking garage.
While it is completely unfair of me to resent the Old Post Office for the razing of the Century Building that is exactly how I feel. I know it is not the building’s fault that it’s longtime neighbor was destroyed in a political game more about developer’s fees than actual need.
I don’t think I’ll ever forgive all those involved in the process. This includes the Schnuck’s family, Steve Stogel, the National Trust’s Richard Moe, Mayor Slay and his staff of intimidators, and the Board of Aldermen for allowing the atrocity to take place (in particular Ald Phyllis Young for her silence on the issue in her ward).
The Old Post Office is a stunning building. The new lighting is a spectacular sight to behold. Pity I can’t fully appreciate it. No matter how hard I try I still picture the Century Building, clad in marble, next door as it was for a good hundred years. The area is tainted. I actually try to avoid the area, refusing to look at the mud hole where the Century once stood.
It doesn’t help that some of my recreational reading of late has been from the official transcript for the October 2004 hearing on a Temporary Restraining Order to keep the Century standing. Yeah, I know, why not just read Harry Potter instead.
Below is an excerpt from Landmark’s attorney Matt Ghio cross-examining Downtown Now’s Tom Reeves regarding their planning document for the area:
GHIO: In that section on the Old Post Office Square, is there a statement in there to the effect that any parking for the Old Post Office could be sited one to two blocks away, so that no parking fronts the Old Post Office. Is that or words to the effect in that document? “Yes” or “no”?
REEVES: I don’t know. I’d have to see it.
GHIO: At any time in 2002 or 2003, Mr. Reeves, did any representative of GSA come to you — Downtown Now — and ask you whether or not there were any other parking solutions for the Old Post Office district other than what the developers were proposing?
REEVES: I don’t believe so. I don’t recall.
It appears that Mr. Reeves was not very familiar with the plan of his own organization, including the simple fact it recommended placing parking structures away from the Old Post Office:
The historic character of the area, the continuity of building faces on the street, and the need to enhance street level activity argues for careful siting of parking resources on other blocks not fronting the Old Post Office unless the parking is located below grade. The parking demands from the land use program are substantial. (Source: 1mb PDF)
The other issue is alternatives. Numerous concepts were presented, including putting structured parking within the existing Century and adjacent Syndicate Trust building. It basically boiled down to the developers would make more money from the complex financing package if they built a new garage for the Missouri Development Finance Board.
Our urban planning decisions are not based on sound principals but what pays the most.
When I enter the building today I hope I can see past all the recent political history and enjoy the magnificent interior. I just don’t know if that will ever be possible.
– Steve
Reeves sounds like Reagan answering questions on Iran-Contra. And by his “I’d have to see it (Downtown Plan)” comment, I guess the chief of Downtown Now, whose own organizational website lists the Plan as its development plan (http://stlouis.missouri.org/development/downtown-now/devplan.html), somehow doesn’t recall reading such a fundamental document to his organization and its mission?
Sorry to hijack, but where’s your commentary about the latest news on St. Louis Centre? It’s been everywhere this past weekend… and I’ve been looking forward to reading what you have to say!
After all the publicity and all the legal wrangles, Mr. Reeves must have worked very hard to stay ignorant of that portion of the Downtown Now Plan. I think someone in an earlier story about Downtown Now wrote something about him being very smart. Can a smart person remain ignorant of such an important point of the Downtown Now plan, when he works for Downtown Now? Mr. Reeves is, after all, Mr. Downtown Now. Didn’t Steve write a while back that Mr. Reeves makes over $250000/year? I guess he’d have to have a brain the size of a pea to not be familiar with such a sticking point in the plan which his organization hawks. Perhaps ignorance pays off when you are such a well-paid political power broker like Mr. Reeves.
Or he perjured himself.
The rehab is actually good. My major complaint is that they reversed the original statue in the atrium to face Locust Street — away from the front doors! Visually, the statue looks very weird that way.
Steve,
I think there are many including myself that share similar resenting feelings toward the OPO, and will for a long time. I will probably never be able to look at that building the way I used to before the Century was demolished.
In fact during the brutal demolition of the Century, my feelings went far beyond resentment… there were many evenings when I would look out the window and fantasize that someone would hijack the wreckers crane and begin pounding into the façade of the Post Office itself! Maybe it is because even though I had a great appreciation for the OPO, I found the Century to be more beautiful on the exterior, especially when I could see the veining of the massive blocks of Georgia marble that sometimes seemed to refuse to fall.
The two buildings were built just under 25 years apart, yet because one of them had a more civic or public function and happens to have a dome on top, it was elevated to national landmark status, while the other was considered a disposable throw away. Maybe it would have been different if Scruggs had survived longer than it did. Could you imagine the uproar there would have been if the Century Building had been the Famous Barr (Railway Exchange)?!!
Were it not for the spectacular spaces inside the OPO, I would probably not be able to have any appreciation of the building at all now. I recently went inside the OPO myself for the first time since the demolition, and while standing in the main sky-lit central space, was able to momentarily put out of my mind what had happened just outside. It was a very brief moment though.
What brought you there? How did it strike you?
{REPLY – I was a guest speaker at a Webster class last night so that is why I was there. Rode the scooter downtown, not too cold.
The building is pretty impressive although the parts I saw were not very ornate. I’m sure that exists on the upper floors but I when down one level to Webster’s classes. Their area is well done by generic. – SLP]
Check out the latest edition of the Business Journal.
There is a multi-page advertising spread thanking all of the supporters of the Old Post Office project.
It’s a who’s who in finance and politics in St. Louis.