This is my 15th annual look at St. Louis’ Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, but my first as a resident living North of the street named for the civil rights leader.
After decades at Tucker & MLK, the Post-Dispatch will soon be moving to smaller offices nearby.Dr. Martin Luther King Drive ends a block East of Tucker, at Hadley. Hopefully the new owners of the building will do something to improve the pedestrian experience along the West side of Hadley.Last year this building at 14th was being prepped to reopen, which it did.Been watching the back of this building fall away for many years now.A message on the board covering the door of another vacant building, just to the West of the previous.Next doors is a charming old service station. This is located on the corner where 3 streets come together: MLK, Webster, and James Cool Papa Bell. Bell was a baseball player in the negro leagues, click image to learn more about him.Close up of the boards covering the door & windows.The coffeehouse at MLK & Page, in the Housing Authority building, moved a year or so ago. The retail space remains vacant.This suburban-style business incubator contains a number of businesses, but also a storefront church and the alderman’s office.Bricks are starting to fall from this building. It should be stabilized, but it’ll likely be allowed to crumble until neighbors demand it be razed.Across MLK this building is having some issues at the top center. It’ll likely be worse next year.Would be nice to see a project that includes the rehab of the former John Marshall School. Click image to view the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.Another building in need of stabilization.After a fire a few years ago I thought this building near Euclid would be gone soon — but it’s still here.Saw some newer houses so I turned onto Clara Ave., one looks like it has been boarded for a while now. the others all look well maintained.One of my favorite buildings in the entire city is still hanging on.Despite lacking a roof…The hole in the side of this building keeps getting larger every year. I’m thinking now the buildings from here to Hamilton have been razed. Welcome to the once-bustling Welston Loop area.On the West side of Hamilton the first building is having major issues.Here’s a close up.Other buildings on the same block are in better condition. Across MLK is the old JC Penny.On the South side of MLK another storefront was recently razed.And finally we have the deteriorating Welston Loop streetcar building.
It’s hard not to get depressed by the lack of investment in this corridor.
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