Fayette, Iowa
“But, but, we have to have a parking lot or people won’t come downtown!” I’m sure someone said that when it came time to do something with the vacant lot that was left on the west side of the main… Continue Reading
Post-Modernism
The 4400 Block of Gibson Avenue
I discovered that photographer Joel Sternfeld had created a series of photographs where various tragedies had occurred. He also photographed 4421 Gibson Avenue, in the Grove, where Christopher Harris was shot to death when he was used as a human shield by… Continue Reading
Redevelopment in the Ville
Large parts of the Ville are not in good shape, I will admit that. But as the man from yesterday across the street from Sara Lou’s told me, he had been busy working on new housing being built by Northside… Continue Reading
Princeton, Illinois
The weather was weird in Princeton when we came through, but it is a really beautiful town, with a long history going back before the Civil War. It has two “downtowns,” one down by the county courthouse, and the other… Continue Reading
JeffVanderLou, Early July 2018
Update: I went back in November of 2018 to see how things were doing. Eleven years now I’ve been photographing JeffVanderLou, particularly east of Grand Boulevard, and perhaps what is most striking is how little has changed, and if anything… Continue Reading
Skinker-DeBaliviere #26, 5900 Block of Pershing Avenue
Closer to Des Peres Avenue, which was once actually the River des Peres, the houses are smaller, and some are newer, reflecting the covering of the stream in the early Twentieth Century. Note the house above to the left; it… Continue Reading
Skinker-DeBaliviere #17, 5900 Blocks of McPherson and Waterman
The River des Peres’ legacy lives on in the avenue that bears its name, and the idiosyncratic architecture that lines the cross streets. The apartment building above got an awesome new facade sometime in the late 1960s or 70s, while… Continue Reading
Preston M. Green Hall, Washington University
I know Washington University gets a lot of grief for its decision to focus on building Gothic/Tudor/”Academic” Revival buildings on its campus for the last twenty years, but I like it. I think it’s important for a university to have… Continue Reading
Penrose in the Snow #11, Early Wood Frame Houses
Then there are the really old wood frame survivors, such as these on Aubert Avenue. Ironically, Post-Modernist in-fill has been added to the street, as well. Full circle? These houses below were clearly built before the street was graded, and… Continue Reading
Northeast Side of East St. Louis
There are some cool Modernist office buildings on State Street, such as the one above. This billboard stands isolated in the middle of some undergrowth and trees. Nelson Mandela Elementary School is not very old, but it was already closed.… Continue Reading