Going out shooting on New Year’s Day is fun, as the streets are quiet and you can get some nice shots. I did it a couple of years ago in the heavy fog, and I did it again a couple of weeks ago. I normally don’t do this sort of thing, but I decided that it might be time to do a few “now and then” photographs, starting on Olive Street. Above and below, it’s interesting to see that two landmarks, the Union Trust and the Chemical Building, are still standing, but we see the introduction of the Railway Exchange and its parking garage in the foreground and the Laclede Gas Building in middle ground to the left.
Broadway south from Olive Street has seen some major changes.
The Merchant Laclede Building, in the right foreground, has been renovated into a hotel, and the bank building further down the street is a coworking space. But on the left the buildings have all been demolished for the Mansion House development.
To the north up Broadway from Olive Street, well…
Everything has been annihilated as far as I can tell.
This last photo is an enigma, simply labeled “tallest building in St. Louis.” I think it is the first building campaign of the Chemical Building, but that doesn’t make sense because there is no gap in the street wall for the Old Post Office. If you can identify this view, I would much appreciate it!
