Another One Bites The Dust

The once stately Doering Mansion is nearly gone. Today only a few walls remain standing as the machinery tears away at the structure.

It its place will be some vaguely interesting condos on an artificial bluff sited much closer to Broadway than people realize. Sadly this will be one of those projects where after it is completed people will be remorseful for the old lady that was razed.

Nobody is going to miss the nursing home on the majority of the site. But it is still standing for the moment — demo crews started with the house.

I don’t want to save every old building in the city. Many have been remodeled beyond belief, had the brick painted or other such irrevocable horrors. But not the Doering Mansion. Its only crime was having years of neglect, an alleged odd floor plan and highly valuable land.

We are too careless with our architecture and streetscapes. Many are too quick to assume demolition rather than approaching with an open mind. The local paper recently quoted SLU President Biondi regarding a church the university had just purchased. His comments were basically that he assumed they’d tear it down until he actually saw the building in person. It saddens me deeply that our “leaders” first assume demolition. Does destruction equal power?

– Steve

Lawrence Group Launches SSNB Website

Local Architecture firm turned developer, The Lawrence Group, has launched a stunning website for their development in the former Southside National Bank building at Grand & Gravois.

If the project is as cool as the website it will be a great project. This is certainly long overdue for the area. The project will also include new construction along Gravois as well as Grand. The Melba Theatre building across Grand will also be renovated into retail and apartments.

The Lawrence Group is planning a Grand Opening sales party for April. As a REALTOR® I would be more than happy to represent anyone interested in purchasing one of these condos.

– Steve

RIP: St. Louis Centre to become 600 Washington

Thankfully someone is doing the right thing with the near dead downtown indoor mall known since the early 80’s as St. Louis Centre. Pyramid is pulling the trigger and putting it out of its misery. It was a design failure from day one (see prior post).

From the BizJournal:

The $75 million redevelopment plan for St. Louis Centre, financed by National City Bank, includes 120 luxury condos priced between $155,000 and $800,000 or between $195 and $250 per square foot. The middle of the center will have the roof removed to expose a football field-sized open air atrium. Inward facing condos on the first floor will have terraces overlooking a swimming pool. A dog run and other amenities also will be included in the development.

On the ground floor, 80,000 square feet of retail will be available for between six and 12 stores or restaurants. Steffen said he has talked with several major national retailers about the space, including Whole Foods and Borders. “We’re looking at a lot of options,” he said. Pyramid Architects is the architect; Paric is the general contractor on the center redevelopment.

I’m not sure that a $155,000 condo qualifies as “luxury.” Typically condos in that price range qualify as “basic.” Sadly, even the larger units on the top end of the scale don’t meet my definition of luxury (commercial ranges, sub-zero fridges, steam showers with body sprays and rain shower heads, etc…).

I also like the “talking with” comment regarding Borders and Whole Foods, does that mean Pyramid keeps calling and they keep saying no? I’m not sure we have the density for either at this point but I’d love to see both. But, I think a large grocery store such as Whole Foods would do much better in the longer term near most of the residents and that is (or will be) west of Tucker. Rather than go with an outside chain store why not get a second location of City Grocers to open in the downtown area? Or another Straubs?

The only drawing I’ve seen of the proposal was a tiny one on the cover of the Journal’s print edition. Not much to go by but from what I can tell is looks OK. Nothing to write home about. It also appears a bit short. Here is what we do know:

St. Louis Centre will undergo a major facelift, including removing the green and white skin on the exterior and tearing down the skybridge that links the mall to the former Dillard’s building at 601 Washington Avenue.

Okay, what about the three other bridges? To the west is a bridge to the bank tower, to the east to a parking garage and another massive bridge to the soon to be Macy’s. The bridge over Washington Avenue is arguably the most important one to eliminate but the others are an issue as well.

The other thing is how the building is built over the sidewalk on three sides (north, west and south). Will this still be the case? What will be done to make the sidewalk less tunnel like?

And how do we get on-street parking around the building so the sidewalk is enjoyable for sidewalk dining? Seventh street on the west is only 3 lanes wide as it is. In fact, this is where cabbies wait before they pull up to America’s Center. Who will want to enjoy outdoor dining with a line of cabs idling?

It still amazes me how a $95 million dollar project could become virtually worthless 20 years later. It really shows the folly of thinking some big project is going to save downtown. The truth is it takes many smaller scale projects to build a neighborhood.

– Steve

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

Street Department Issues Valet Permits to Copia & Lucas Park Grille

We have no valet parking ordinance in the city but the city’s Street Department has issued numerous permits to at least two high-end restaurants. Lucas Park Grille holds roughly six permits for numerous parking spaces in the 1200 & 1300 blocks of Washington Avenue for Thursday-Saturday evenings, including spaces on the opposite side of the street.

Copia, in the 1100 block of Washington Avenue, has a permit for their entire side of the block. Their permit also applies to Thursday-Saturday nights. For the record, Copia began blocking the street and valet parking during the “rush hour” when parking is not permitted on the street. Funny, we can’t park during the 4:30-5:30pm hour but they can take the lane for their own private use. Double standard deluxe.

What is interesting is the permits for both restaurants were issued on the same date: January 30, 2006. Coincidence?

The city’s Treasury office, which controls parking meters, said on Monday they have no policy on valet parking. Who has authority, Streets or Treasury?

What is the big deal you ask?

Other businesses are trying to become established on these blocks. Guests of residents also need places to park. Two restaurants that have parking lots available for their use should not be taking away parking spaces that could be used by the general public.

At 10pm tonight about six to eight spaces near LPG were empty because they’ve got them coned off. The block with Copia was completely empty except for the cones. It just doesn’t look good for the area to have empty spaces at 10pm on a Friday night.

The answer is obvious — give them the space in front of their own business and require any cars they park to go into private off-street lots. Anything more is unfair to adjacent businesses and detrimental to the overall health of the street.

– Steve