Search This Blog (A.K.A. "I Dote On...")

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Demolition Watch: Preliminary March Preservation Board Agenda is Available

It may be accessed here.

On the agenda are demolitions in Skinker-DeBaliviere (a brick garage); Central West End (commercial building); and Carondelet (a two-story brick house).

6169R Pershing in Skinker-DeBaliviere is a six-car, brick garage. You can see it (albeit at a nondescript angle) here on Bing Maps. The demolition work was begun without a permit.

414-18 North Boyle in the Central West End is a one-story, brick commercial building. Below is a screen cap from Google Streetview. The owner requesting demolition is listed as "Core Holdings, LLC".



6102 Michigan in Carondelet would be a tragic demolition. With its strangely pitched, almost flounder-like roof, this structure is likely very old. It's also very attractive, adding quite the visual punch to an already architecturally diverse block. Given that there is a residential building immediately to the south, I cannot see this as a parking lot. It's more than likely a pitch for new construction or simply an owner wanting to reduce maintenance costs. Below is the Google Streetview capture. Note that the home is located inside a second extension of the now very large Central Carondelet National Register Historic District. I previously reported that 6102 Michigan fell outside the boundaries, but this was incorrect. That means 6102 Michigan is eligible for the state historic rehabilitation tax credit.


As always, I will report further information as I receive it.

6 comments:

STLgasm said...

Oh god, no!!!! I've always had my eye on that little commercial building on Boyle, and I knew it was living on borrowed time for the last several years. It's such a scrappy survivor, even outlasting its larger, more high-profile neighbors around the corner in Gaslight Square. In such a stable location, it would make a great coffeehouse or small business. It's a tiny building, so it couldn't be very expensive to rehab. Worst of all, it is destined to be replaced with nothing more than a grassy field. WHY?????

Does anyone know the history of the building?

I hope the preservation board will deny this. I will try to make it to the board meeting to testify.

Matt M. said...

Completely agreed! Lately, though, a lot of these requested demolitions have been taken off the Preservation Board agenda before the actual meeting. Some simply get approval from Cultural Resources to go through without any public input; others likewise get scrapped by the CRO. I'm not sure if the CRO can approve a demolition in a local historic district without having it go before the board, though. I will have to look into it.

Anonymous said...

6102 Michigan is a contributing building in Boundary Increase III of the Central Carondelet Historic District which was listed in the NR this past January. It should be protected as such...

Matt M. said...

Anon ^

You're right! Last time I trust Ctrl+F!

I will change the language in the post.

Anonymous said...

that carondelet streetscape is beautiful... tragic indeed. i'm so f-ing sick of people who can't see past their own property. if you want new construction, BUILD ON AN EMPTY LOT! if you want more green space, MOVE! if you can't afford to maintain it, DON'T BUY IT! STOP F-ING UP THE CITY FOR EVERYONE ELSE! ok, breath... sorry.

Brian said...

I have a soft spot for that building on Boyle too. Boyle needs more buildings like that, not fewer. There's a vacant lot for sale across from the West End Grill that would be well-suited for additional retail as well.

Fashion STL Style!

Fashion STL Style!
St. Louis Gives You the Shirt Off of Its Own Back!

Next American City

Next American City
Your Go-To Source for Urban Affairs

Join the StreetsBlog Network!

Join the StreetsBlog Network!
Your Source for Livable Streets

Trust in Rust!

Trust in Rust!
News from the Rustbelt

Dotage St. Louis -- Blogging the St. Louis Built Environment Since 2008

Topics: Historic Preservation, Politics and Government, Development, Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design, Local Business, Crime and Safety, Neighborhoods, and Anything Else Relating to Making St. Louis a Better City!