Families Must Pay For St. Aloysius Windows A Second Time

Decades ago local families around St. Aloysius paid to have stained glass windows installed with their family names on them. For decades this is where they worshiped. Now the church is closed and if the new owner, Jim Wohlert, has his way the buildings will all be leveled.

When workers began removing the windows last year these families began inquiring about the windows bearing their family name. St. Ambrose, the parish where most of St. Aloysius parish was consolidated into, told them they’d be able to obtain the windows.

But the price tag is hefty.

One such family, who does not want to see the buildings razed, provided me with a copy of the letter they received from Fr. Bommarito. The cost to obtain their family windows? Try $2,350, half of the $4,700 appraised value. Keep in mind, this family paid for the windows in the first place!

Perhaps had the church sold the property to one of the other bidders for roughly $400K more they’d be able to return the windows to the original families without any cost to them. To the older members of these families, some of whom have lived in the area for 75 years or so, this is not easy money to find on such short notice.

Does the church have a layaway plan?

– Steve

Preservation Board to Review An Issue With Lafayette Walk

The agenda for Monday’s Preservation Board meeting is not yet published (due to a web issue I’m told) but I do know of one issue that will be heard: exposed gas meters in front of Orchard Development’s new Lafayette Walk project.

In January 2005 the Preservation Board approved the Lafayette Walk project (PDF review file) with staff noting:

The project is an important contribution at this neglected entrance to a significant City neighborhood. Because of its size and the manner in which it will dominate this entrance, it is very important that the details in project design as well as in project execution be well done. The success of the Lafayette Square Historic District, in large part, relies on the fine detail and historic character of its buildings and streets.

Some Lafayette Square residents are rightly upset that each unit has an exposed gas meter facing the public sidewalk. What is not known is how this happened or who is to blame. Was it a gas company requirement? The developer trying to save some money on installation of the gas service? Or simply an oversight on the part of the Cultural Resources staff? Whatever the reason it is most certainly unsightly.

You can only do so much with landscaping, especially in such small spaces. Yes, this is minor in the big scheme of things but these meters really stand out. The Preservation Board meetings are almost always interesting and this topic alone promises to make it a good one. The fun begins Monday 2/27/06 at 4pm at 1015 Locust, 12th floor.

– Steve

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

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