Reurbanizing Jefferson & Lafayette Pt 1
The Union Club once stood on the SE corner of Jefferson & Lafayette:
The Union Club was a social club which built its Romanesque Revival home on the current Union Club site in 1890. The Great Cyclone of 1896 completely destroyed the first Union Club building which was rebuilt on the site in 1900. The building remained until the 1950’s when it was demolished and an Aldi Grocery store was erected on the site.
The history above is far too brief, for example, Aldi didn’t begin US operations until 1976. The building that had the Aldi store is visible in a 1971 satellite image. In 1958 the site had a large oval object. You can view images at HistoricAerials.com, just search for 1700 S. Jefferson 63104.
I-44 wasn’t around in 1958 but was in place by 1971. The former gas station on the NE corner of the intersection was built in 1960, per city records. That property is now owned by the Church of Scientology, again per city records. The gas station still in operation on the NW corner was built in 1950.
I’ll be looking closer at the NW corner on Monday, today I want to focus on the SE corner. For decades this intersection, with the exception of the Barr Library on the SW corner, went from urban walkable to auto-centric drivable. All over the city the same thing happened, one by one corners were chipped away and then the spots between the corners until nothing urban remained. It took decades to destroy this intersection and it will take decades more to reurbanize it.
Thankfully in 2007 a big step forward was made with the construction of the Union Club condos. Â It’s not perfect but it gives the SE corner much needed massing.
Just because an area was turned over to the auto decades ago doesn’t mean it must remain the way forever in the future.
If we build the right forms in the right places we can reorganize the city one intersection at a time. Monday I will look at the NW corner mostly occupied by the long vacant National/Foodland.
– Steve Patterson
That “large oval object” would be a circus-type tent, liley housing some type of temporary sales, if not an actual circus.
That “large oval object” would be a circus-type tent, lilkey housing some type of temporary sales, if not an actual circus or a tent revival.
The problem is that that the city has not defined the future. Thus the various changes in the last 5 decades or so to the Lafayette and Jefferson intersection have been auto friendly and everything else (walking, bicycles, transit and so on) are treated as unfriendly. Current city policy does not state its goals for this intersection. I couldn’t get into the historical photos but I remember when row buildings marched much of all the way up West side of Jefferson Ave to the petro station. (There was a great Hungarian storefront bakery with the absolute best gooey butter cake ever)
The Union Club condo has not gotten enough recognition for its urban approach. Still, the city, nor transit officials have done nothing to support this development. Tif’s and other incentives should only be given to projects in compliance to city plans. The northeast and west corners should be slated for future urban development. (I think Mary One was going to develop the northeast until the real estate crash).
In conjection with urban planning for density and additional commercial, transit could easily develop this as a “major stop” with Lafayette headed to Soulard Market in one direction and Jefferson Ave. in the other. If a transit plaza of some sort could be carved out, so much the better.
The point is the city sits idly by as both small business and residents of the City alike suffer.
Free for all capitalism has not worked. it has to be shaped if it is to become an economic force again.
The problem is that that the city has not defined the future. Thus the various changes in the last 5 decades or so to the Lafayette and Jefferson intersection have been auto friendly and everything else (walking, bicycles, transit and so on) are treated as unfriendly. Current city policy does not state its goals for this intersection. I couldn’t get into the historical photos but I remember when row buildings marched much of all the way up West side of Jefferson Ave to the petro station. (There was a great Hungarian storefront bakery with the absolute best gooey butter cake ever)
The Union Club condo has not gotten enough recognition for its urban approach. Still, the city, nor transit officials have done nothing to support this development. Tif’s and other incentives should only be given to projects in compliance to city plans. The northeast and west corners should be slated for future urban development. (I think Mary One was going to develop the northeast until the real estate crash).
In conjection with urban planning for density and additional commercial, transit could easily develop this as a “major stop” with Lafayette headed to Soulard Market in one direction and Jefferson Ave. in the other. If a transit plaza of some sort could be carved out, so much the better.
The point is the city sits idly by as both small business and residents of the City alike suffer.
Free for all capitalism has not worked. it has to be shaped if it is to become an economic force again.
With Green Street Properties proposing a new grocery at the foodland site you will possibly see some more life. Getting activity or reuse of existing structure even if it is an autocentric is a plus in my mind.  However, most of us would probably prefer something much more ambitious out of Green Street properties at the end of the day or better yet, a tear down of foodland and rebuild mixed use.Â
With Green Street Properties proposing a new grocery at the foodland site you will possibly see some more life. Getting activity or reuse of existing structure even if it is an autocentric is a plus in my mind. However, most of us would probably prefer something much more ambitious out of Green Street properties at the end of the day or better yet, a tear down of foodland and rebuild mixed use.
Its interesting that they say the area won’t support a full scale grocery so it will be a small one. Yet just a few years ago, there was a big fight because Schnuck’s wanted to put a store in where the new Walgreens is at 55/44/Lafayette. Why the sudden change? I can’t imagine the population dropped.
Its interesting that they say the area won’t support a full scale grocery so it will be a small one. Yet just a few years ago, there was a big fight because Schnuck’s wanted to put a store in where the new Walgreens is at 55/44/Lafayette. Why the sudden change? I can’t imagine the population dropped.
not NIMBY – this a different location, one that is used to having a grocery store nearby.
not NIMBY – this a different location, one that is used to having a grocery store nearby.