by Michael R. Allen
The 1970 census for the “Murphy-Blair” tract, known today as Old North St. Louis, reported the following building conditions (among people who responded, of course).
Total Units of Housing: 5,224
Total Buildings: 1,736
Buildings by Condition
Sound: 94
Minor Deterioration: 1,009
Major Deterioration: 478
Dilapidated: 115
Vacant and Open: 123
Rehabilitated: 40
A lot can change in 35 years! Today, there are probably only half as many buildings remaining, and probably under 2,500 habitable units of housing. The conditions are distributed somewhat more favorably, although the exact count will come in the next census. I’m looking forward to good news.