Preservation Research Officeby Michael R. Allen
Work resumed at the Century Building Memorial Parking Garage on Wednesday, when I took this photograph. When I was there, the workers were drilling and also working on the elevator shaft structure rising on the southeast corner of the site.
Kudos to Craig Heller and Loftworks for actually soliciting public comments for their redevelopment of the Syndicate Trust Building. I’m impressed that any developer is trying this hard to be responsive to the needs of the creative people who are the life’s blood of this city.
….
Loftworks LLC and the Sherman Associates (of Minneapolis) are developing the Syndicate Trust building downtown into lofts and are planning to include affordable housing, as well as common gallery and “dirty” work space, that will appeal to artists.
As they develop their plans, they’d like to have artist input. That’s where you come in. You don’t have to be a potential user of the housing — just someone who understands what artists of various types might want or need. The developers would like to hear your input so they can shape something that really serves the local arts community.
A focus group on Thursday, August 4 will allow them to hear perspectives from the artist community before they refine their plans. They’ll share floorplans and proposed plans for the common areas. Please join us:
WHAT: Artist Community Focus Group
WHEN: Thursday, August 4, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Gallery Urbis Orbis, 419 N. Tenth St.
WHAT ELSE: Refreshments (chewable and drinkable) will be provided.
RSVP via email by Wednesday to Margie at mmnewman@earthlink.net
Thanks,
Margie and Alan
Gallery Urbis Orbis
by Michael R. Allen
Preserving the Dorsa Building at 1007 Washington Avenue presents a challenge: which building does the historically-minded owner save? There are two buildings here, at least on the level of ornamentation: there is the original 1902 red-brick wholesale warehouse with terra-cotta ornament designed by the noted St. Louis firm of Eames and Young, and then there is the stunning 1946 art moderne slipcover facade designed by Meyer Loomstein — with terra cotta by sculptor Sascha Schnittman — with stylized interior spaces.
The original facade is a typically masterful articulation of Renaissance Revival detailing on a Chicago School commercial structure. While the Eames and Young design is certainly impressive, it is far from the firm’s best work as well as unexceptional for Washington Avenue.
The Loomstein design breaks through the gentle, classical street wall on Washington with bold lines and bright colors. The lower two floors are clad in green tile and lack fenestration beyond the first-floor entries, while the upper floors are covered in yellow stucco with bright red window sashes and flutes spandrels. Originally, the western doorway was a fantastic modern creation: a pronounced web suggestive of both the pragmatic lines of geographic longitude and latitude as well as the mysteries of a spider’s web. To the right of this entrance, centered on the elevation, brilliant red neon tubing proclaimed “DORSA” in a vertical line. Inside, the first level was a showroom for the Dorsa Company, which sold women’s dresses. Nary a 90-degree angle exists in the curvaceous space, which contains a splendid theater for fashion shows. Loomstein’s design is one of the finest modern commercial interiors in St. Louis, and a forgotten one at that.
The Dorsa building enjoyed new life in the early 1980’s when developer Larry Deutsch renovated it as one of downtown’s first loft buildings. Unfortunately, the web work and the neon signs disappeared during this renovation. Lately, the Pyramid Companies has acquired the building for development as loft condominium space. The company had to answer the question on which building to preserve, and the answer seems to be the version by Loomstein, although saving the plaster-cast interior spaces seems less likely. New posters modeled on old Dorsa dress ads have appeared on the building lately, advertising the condos.
At the least, Washington Avenue will continue to be punctuated by one of its few modern designs. By saving the moderne facade, Pyramid celebrates accumulation and originality in the built environment.
Guess who dropped in for the Downtown Defense Fundraiser last weekend…
Dear Fellow Citizens:
As you know, the National Register-listed Century Building in downtown St. Louis was recently demolished to make way for a parking garage. We thought this tragic demolition was the end of an ugly chapter in St. Louis’ history. Now, it’s gotten uglier.
Before the demolition, two Downtown residents, Marcia Behrendt and Roger Plackemeier, took principled action to try to save the Century Building. They were plaintiffs in two legal cases that sought to keep this historic building as part of our architectural heritage. But the buildings came down anyway.
Now, the City of St. Louis, the State of Missouri and the project developers have filed a lawsuit against them, alleging malicious prosecution — and seeking actual damages exceeding $1.5 million, plus punitive damages “in an amount sufficient to deter said defendants and others from like conduct.”
Should the City, State and developers prevail, Marcia and Roger could lose all of their assets. Just to defend themselves will cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs, even if lawyers donate some services.
Marcia and Roger stood up for us and for our community. Now, it’s up to us to stand with them.
You can help in one of two ways:
— Write a check for any amount to help with legal costs. Make it payable to Downtown Defense Fund, and mail it to:
Downtown Defense Fund
c/o Scott Kluesner, Treasurer
7480 Cornell Avenue
St. Louis MO 63130
Funds received by the end of June are most important.
— Attend a free fundraiser on Saturday, June 25, 7:30 p.m. at Gallery Urbis Orbis, 419 N. Tenth Street. Bring cash or check in any amount to add to the pot, and enjoy music and good food and the company of people who care about our architectural heritage. No need to purchase tickets — but please do RSVP to mmnewman@earthlink.net so we can plan refreshments.
Let’s show our support for preservation and for citizen action. Let’s show it big.
Best regards,
Margie Newman
Amanda Doyle
Fundraising Co-Chairs, Downtown Defense Fund
PS Note that donations are NOT tax-deductible. Should the lawsuit be resolved before the money raised is spent, remaining funds will be donated to a group or groups dedicated to architectural preservation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2005
SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI — The National Register-listed Century Building in downtown St. Louis was recently demolished to make way for a parking garage — but that didn’t end the contentious battle between downtown residents, who sought to save the building, and the developers and government officials who wanted it demolished.
“We thought this tragic demolition was the end of an ugly chapter in St. Louis’ history,” said Margie Newman, one of the organizers of the Downtown Defense Fund. “Now, it’s gotten uglier.”
Before the demolition, two Downtown residents, Marcia Behrendt and Roger Plackemeier, were plaintiffs in two legal cases that sought to keep the historic building standing. But the buildings came down anyway. Now, the City of St. Louis, the State of Missouri and the project developers have filed a lawsuit against them, alleging malicious prosecution — and seeking actual damages exceeding $1.5 million, plus punitive damages “in an amount sufficient to deter said defendants and others from like conduct.”
Should the City, State and developers prevail, Behrendt and Plackemeier could lose all of their assets. Just to defend themselves will cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs, even if lawyers donate some services.
The Downtown Defense Fund, formed by neighbors and fellow citizens, is asking for help in raising funds to help cover those legal costs. Those wishing to donate to the Downtown Defense Fund can write a check for any amount to help with legal costs.
Checks should be payable to Downtown Defense Fund, and sent to:
Downtown Defense Fund
c/o Scott Kluesner, Treasurer
7480 Cornell Avenue
St. Louis MO 63130
Or, donations can be made through PayPal at www.downtowndefensefund.com.
Donations are not tax-deductible. Should the lawsuit be resolved before the money raised is spent, remaining funds will be donated to a group or groups dedicated to architectural preservation, Newman said.
The group is also hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, June 25, 7:30 p.m. at Gallery Urbis Orbis, 419 N. Tenth Street. Admission is free, but those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to mmnewman@earthlink.net. Attendees are asked to bring cash or check in any amount for the Downtown Defense Fund.
“Marcia and Roger stood up for us and for our community. Now, it’s up to us to stand with them,” Newman said.
###
For more information, contact Margie Newman at 314-241-4950.
The Architectural Record covers the controversy:
“Critics Say National Trust Helped Doom Renowned St. Louis Building”
by Michael R. Allen
The building in 1977. Source: Landmarks Association of St. Louis Archive.
The stately Herkert & Meisel Building (originally built by the Semple, Birge & Company Company as a warehouse) was built in 1874 and is depicted in Compton and Dry’s noted 1875 Pictorial St. Louis. In the last two decades of its life, the building stood as the only documented building depicted on the atlas standing in the downtown commercial core save the nearby Old Post Office and the Old Courthouse. (A small storefront building at Locust and 10th streets may date to the 1860’s.) The building stood as a remnant of St. Louis’s 19th-century wide use of the Italianate style for commercial architecture, a trend that was dwindling even by the time of this building’s construction. As such, it was an exceptional building in the downtown core that deserved careful preservation. However, exceptional commercial buildings have not fared well downtown.
The building’s most well-known use was as headquarters and factory for the Herkert & Meisel Trunk Company, a luggage company that used the building for almost 80 years until its demolition. The bay window had been added to the building, but largely it was in original condition.
Rear elevation, July 1998. Source: Landmarks Association of St. Louis Archive
The demolition of the Herkert & Meisel Building drew little protest. In fact, many of the proponents of demolition were purported preservationists working for the development company HRI, which sought demolition of the building for construction of a parking garage and ballroom building to serve the historic Statler and Lenox hotels that the company was renovating. Once again, the false ideal of “progress” won out, and the building was sacrified for preservation of supposedly more significant buildings nearby. What an odd foreshadowing of the demolition of the Century Building three years later, except this time the later building died and the building depicted on Pictorial St. Louis was the avowed cause of death.
by Michael R. Allen
The building in 1977. Source: Landmarks Association of St. Louis Archive
LOCATION: 910 Washington Avenue; Downtown; Saint Louis, Missouri
DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: 1874
DATE OF DEMOLITION: 2001
Originally built by Semple Birge & Company as an agricultural implements warehouse, the Herkert & Meisel Building at 910 Washington Avenue was built in 1874 and is depicted in Compton and Dry’s noted 1875 Pictorial St. Louis. (The second floor bay window was added later.) In the last two decades of its life, the building stood as the only building depicted on the atlas standing in the downtown commercial core save the nearby Old Post Office and the Old Courthouse. The building stood as a remnant of St. Louis’s 19th-century wide use of the Italianate style for commercial architecture, a trend that was dwindling even by the time of this building’s construction. As such, it was an exceptional building in the downtown core that deserved careful preservation. However, exceptional commercial buildings have not fared well downtown.
The building’s most well-known use was as headquarters and factory for the Herkert & Meisel Trunk Company, a luggage company that used the building for almost 80 years until its demolition.
Rear elevation, July 1998. Source: Landmarks Association of St. Louis Archive
The demolition of the Herkert & Meisel Building drew little protest. Development company HRI sought demolition of the building for construction of a parking garage and ballroom building to serve the historic Statler and Lenox hotels that the company was renovating. Once again, the false ideal of “progress” won out, and the building was sacrificed for preservation of supposedly more significant buildings nearby. What an odd foreshadowing of the demolition of the Century Building three years later, except this time the later building died and the building depicted on Pictorial St. Louis was the avowed cause of death.
by Michael R. Allen
After two city blocks bounded by Market, 14th, Clark and 15th had been cleared, work started on the foundation for the new Municipal Auditorium and Opera House. Photograph taken on April 5, 1932. (From the collection of the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation.)
Construction well underway. Photograph taken on November 10, 1932. (From the collection of the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation.)
Looking southwest from the corner of 14th and Market streets. Photograph taken on November 10, 1932. (From the collection of the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation.)
Laying the cornerstone on November 11, 1932. Mayor Victor J. Miller is at right. (From the collection of the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation.) The Municipal Auditorium and Opera House would be renamed after Mayor Henry J. Kiel in 1943, after his death.