Apparently it was a big deal when the Stouffer’s Riverfront Hotel opened downtown. Personally, I see it as a symptom of a larger problem: the belief that turning St. Louis into a giant showpiece of Modernist superblocks would save the city. I think we can all agree it failed miserably.
One thing that always sticks out to me is that there are so few small buildings in downtown for entrepreneurs to start small businesses. You either have a park the size of a whole city block, a parking lot the size of a whole city block, or a building the size of a whole city block. Yes, yes, I know there are some small buildings, but not many. As I remarked a year or two ago, Metropolis, Illinois has more small independent tourist-oriented shops in its downtown than St. Louis.
But I digress. The hotel is coming down. It will not be the tallest building torn down in St. Louis; that honor goes to the Queeny Tower at 321 feet; the Stouffer is only 289. The Stouffer does get the distinction of being the tallest building torn down in downtown St. Louis, beating out the Landreth Building. They’re going to tear down the support structures first, then the shorter tower, and then the taller one over the next year or so. This puts an end to round Modernist skyscrapers in St. Louis; there was one in the former Mill Creek area and another in the Central West End that have both been torn down.
Oh! How well I remember when that was first built. I thought to myself: “Stouffer’s” why does St. Louis need that? We have a unique identity here in St. Louis. That can only dilute our uniqueness”
I won’t care its gone. But I am surprised, quite surprised that it is going to be gone.
Merry Christmas, Chris.
I feel the same.
I think it’s fascinating how Modernist architecture was once seen as the future of cities, but looking back, we can see how it often disconnected communities. St. Louis could definitely use more smaller, independent spaces in its downtown.
I wonder what they’ll put up in its place? I’d love to see St. Louis renovate it’s abandoned factories and hotels to benefit its community.
There are some plans, including a new skyscraper. I don’t think they are firm yet.
So the plans to replace it are: Creating a gigantic modernist super block. They never learn. The thinking is that building something shiny and new will nullify all the problems of the city. So why not build a big skyscraper that will challenge the height of the Gateway Arch, while just a few blocks away is a 40 story former AT&T building that is completely empty?
So the plans to replace it are: Creating a gigantic modernist super block. They never learn. The thinking is that building something shiny and new will nullify all the problems of the city. So why not build a big skyscraper that will challenge the height of the Gateway Arch, while just a few blocks away is a 40 story former AT&T building that is completely empty?