Update: See the renovated building in this photo from 2018 (third photo down).

My favorite (and many others’) commercial building in North St. Louis is being renovated by the city. I am very excited that the heart of Hyde Park will see new development that is conscious of the historic context of the neighborhood.

Fresh plywood indicates which buildings will be renovated.

I love the original late 19th Century cast iron pillars, which will be graced by fresh paint soon.

I also get a kick out of the last renovation, which attempted to cloak historic building in fake colonial revival decoration.