These beautiful houses are in danger in Tower Grove East; they’re getting their roofs and guts ripped out, and ugly second floors, made out of cheap pine 2x4s and vinyl siding, are being slapped on top of them. I’m tired of it.
A Blog detailing the beauty of St. Louis architecture and the buildup of residue-or character-that accumulates over the course of time.
These beautiful houses are in danger in Tower Grove East; they’re getting their roofs and guts ripped out, and ugly second floors, made out of cheap pine 2x4s and vinyl siding, are being slapped on top of them. I’m tired of it.
Aren’t most of them like 800sf? That’s not a size many people are looking for. Adaptive reuse is better than demo.
There are tons of people looking for houses this size. These houses are all occupied, for starters. Despite what the news media and city leadership says, my neighbors and I do not want a St. Louis that is made up of nothing but STEM workers making six figures. I actually enjoy living around people who make less money than me, or who work blue collar jobs. That is the point of a city–for people of all different backgrounds to live together in theoretical harmony. This house, and others like it, do not need to be “adaptive reused” with POS vinyl siding and cheap pine crap wood. The house next door, which sold for over $200K with a second floor added on top of it, already has warped vinyl siding, two years after being built. Talk about quality adaptive reuse.
A one story bungalow two doors from me just sold for $150,000, just the way it is. People want these houses. They have low utilities, low maintenance, and have mortgages lower than even the most crumby apartments in St. Louis. I should know; I live in one these little houses.
Also, why are these referred to as bungalows? Bungalow to me has always referred to a Craftsman style house, while I would classify these as brick shotguns. Is it local vernacular or something?
Also, why are these referred to as bungalows? Bungalow to me has always referred to a Craftsman style house, while I would classify these as brick shotguns. Is it local vernacular or something?
I agree that badly done second stories with inferior materials are not the way to go, but there is nothing inherently wrong with adding a second floor to these buildings. In one of your recent posts about one of the northwest suburbs, you lament it’s future in part because of the size of the homes. Also re six figure stem workers- STL is still catching up on that front. Once about 40% to 45% of the city’s population is people with a degree, it will be on par with other cities and probably won’t exceed that number by much. That tax base is badly needed to fund infrastructure and so on.
“I do not want a St. Louis that is made up of nothing but STEM workers making six figures”
I don’t want a St. Louis full of poor drug-addicted criminals either but I have to deal with that. Maybe your attitude towards people with a bit of an education and some money who would like to live in the City should be adjusted. Or maybe we should move a few of these criminals onto your block, give you a taste of that “theoretical harmony” you so desire.
Your attitude is why people with money and education leave the City, among other things.
Stem Worker, I think you should probably visit different blogs. Your blanket characterization of low income people as “poor, drug-addicted criminals” is incredibly obtuse, not to mention offensive. If you don’t want to live around folks of varying income levels and stations in life maybe you should move to somewhere in the county that suits you better. I, along with many others, am happy to live among people who might be down on their luck.
Chris, I agree with you that it’s a crime to slap a crappy second story on these beautiful, historic houses. My partner and I would be happy to purchase one of these little houses seeing as my current situation is paying $950 a month for a 900 sq foot apartment. Keep doing what you’re doing, I enjoy this site very much.
So City Dweller, are you saying there are no drug-addicted criminals in St. Louis?
Tell me City Dweller, which would you prefer as neighbors? Criminals or STEM workers?
Also, nice gate-keeping here on the blog. Guess we all need to check with you before we visit websites?
The bleeding heart liberal here is calling renovations to house a crime. You are all the same – brainless.
Dude. Seriously. You’re completely missing the point. No one is saying there are “no” drug addled criminals in STL. Grow up.
Well Chris was saying he doesn’t want a City full of STEM workers. You can’t have it both ways, Ben.
I’m leaning more towards your comment, one that I applaud you for making. St. Louis is a crap hole now…..but if the six figure STEM workers made up the population, it would be like it was in its glory, before the “cool” people decided that we all should just get along in harmony ( and theoretical is what it is. I didn’t struggle to make a living so I could live with a bunch of losers who can’t keep the drugs out of their systems and a nickel in their pockets.)