I was drawn back to this house that I had photographed extensively back in January of 2014 and August of 2018 (last two photos).

It would cost a fortune to stabilize this house considering just how far gone it has become, spilling spalled bricks all over the front lawn now for several years.

But yet it doesn’t collapse, barring a massive straight-line wind storm. Look how the front façade has actually become concave.

It will cost money to tear it down, far less than to repair it, but yet it is money wasted nonetheless.

This house for me is a metaphor for St. Louis: rich in history and quality craftsmanship that harkens back to a more prosperous time that is often overromanticized, but yet is now a paradox of wasted potential that will waste even more money to either repair or simply destroy forever.