Back in May of this year, I checked in on the massive new development transforming the long moribund northwest side of the Lafayette Square neighborhood. I think most people know the story: the wealthy area declined and industry moved in (though that’s not entirely true, as early sources show that dirty industry had always been…
Bellefontaine Cemetery, Late November 2022
I realized it had been some time since I had photographed Bellefontaine Cemetery, so I snapped some late November views that were new or ones that I had not taken in a long time.
St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Oratory, In the Fog
I thought it would be interesting to rush out into the fog Saturday morning and see if I could get any interesting photos of tall buildings. St. Francis de Sales was almost invisible on the fog-cloaked streets around 8:30 AM, even just two blocks away. But when I drew closer, it appeared out of the…
New Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Dutchtown Not Happening
Update: Severely damaged by fire on February 14, 2025. You may or may have not been familiar with the local branch of the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum (yeah, it’s a mouthful), which originally opened at the former Third Christian Scientist Church on Russell Boulevard in Compton Heights, before being gutted by flames in April of…
Redevelopment, Former A.G. Edwards Buildings
Update: Demolition was proceeding nicely in the fall of 2023. As readers might suspect, I have been bedridden, overwhelmed with grief at the announcement that two of the oldest buildings on the former A.G. Edwards campus are marked for demolition in order to build two new hotels, a couple of blocks from the new soccer…
Whispering Oakwood, Reborn
I had been following the saga of the house that had been in various legal wrangles with the suburb of Ballwin for years. As I reported in the past, it had been foreclosed on by a New York bank, and then it was demolished, leaving a vacant lot. Much to our surprise, a new house…
Euclid Avenue Between Lindell, Maryland and McPherson Avenues
I’ve always found it interesting how there is a quiet section of private streets off Euclid Avenue in the Central West End in between Maryland Avenue (which you can see here and here) in the south, and McPherson Avenue in the north (which you can see here and here). Above is the southeast corner of…
Private Traffic Signals
I recently became fascinated with the phenomenon of “private” traffic signals, which are electric traffic control lights which serve only one user at a busy or dangerous intersection. The first one is where West Pine Boulevard sweeps around and terminates at Lindell Boulevard after coming out of Forest Park. The traffic light usually only serves…
Streets of St. Charles
I was out visiting a friend two Saturdays ago, and I was intrigued by the “new urbanism” development of the Streets of St. Charles. It’s becoming increasingly common for wealthier suburbs of major cities to build these mixed-use developments, where there are ground floor restaurants and stores below apartments or condos. There’s usually a hotel…