Occasionally I wonder to myself why I bother doing this website, and then I’m just wandering down a random street such as Union Boulevard, and I come upon a building I’ve probably driven by a dozen times but this time I finally notice, and I remember, this is why I do all this work.

In this instance, I discovered 3401 Union Boulevard, which could easily be one of the most unique and interesting apartment buildings in St. Louis. Located on the edge of the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood, it has only been abandoned for just over a decade, as far as I could tell from city records.

Designed by famed architect Benjamin Shapiro in 1929, it was one of many apartment buildings going up in what was then a growing and desirable neighborhood on the eve of the Great Depression. Interestingly, Shapiro is more well known for his bold and cutting edge Art-Deco commissions in the following years, so it interesting to see how he was still working in the Spanish Revival style at this time (newspaper advertisements for the property called it the “Spanish Patio” style).

The courtyard is what is really stunning at this building. It was described in advertisements as a “sunken garden,” and I imagine when brand new was planted with all sorts of plants and flowers. It’s interesting, however, like all multi-family apartment buildings, that if you look at it from above, it becomes obvious that the complex is really just a bunch of six-families bunched together.

The protruding staircases were needed to get above the storefronts that face Union Boulevard, from what it looks like.

The entrance portal, which obviously does not possess its original gate, features some nice ogees on either side. Remember, the Spanish Revival contains many elements of the Baroque. When the building closed, there were 28 units. I think there might have been fewer when it originally opened, as it advertised four to five room apartments.

Just look at all the preserved wrought iron balconies and other terracotta elements on the staircases!

One of the best elements are the quattrefoil windows, seen below.

More ogees…

The building was constructed by Monarch Realty and Building Company, with F.F. Meckfessel as the president.

Management was Cornet and Zeibig, with additional promotion by Anson H. Klauber.

Like the building we featured yesterday, the apartments featured Craftex plaster walls, Murphy beds (referred to here as “in-a-door beds”), built in ironing boards, telephone niches, colorful bathrooms tiles, and many other amenities. It must have been quite the upscale apartment building when first built.

There were also storefront spaces, as well, with original advertised rates of $75 a month.

Even abandoned, it carries a striking presence along Union Boulevard.

Here’s a somewhat low quality photo advertisement of the building when it first opened back in 1929.

There’s sort of an interesting Modern building next door.