Heading east on St. Louis Avenue into the St. Louis Place neighborhood, perhaps I was struck at how little had changed since the last time I had examined this beautiful stretch.
The same houses sit abandoned among vacant lots.
The same houses sit in weird purgatory, while others are still well-preserved and in great shape. It’s hard to know why some are in one state and others are in another.
I loved the light on the buildings at the early hour.
The guy who owns this house really loves the Disney movie Mulan.
The old Polish Falcons was bought by failed developers the Roberts Brothers, who gussied it up a bit, no doubt as a speculative purchase, but no one has bit on the line yet.
I looked at this stretch just west of North Florissant Avenue back in October of 2020. Not much has changed since then, either.
I love the contrast between the Greek Revival and Modernism below.
Treasures. Doesn’t make sense that they don’t have anyone inviting in them, making good use of them, honoring the history, beauty and craftsmanship, but then, there’s a lot these days that doesn’t make sense..
In the past they sat empty because nobody wanted them. Now they sit empty because they’re owned by speculators, hoping to cash in on the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency opening nearby.
Was The Polish Falcons purchased by the Roberts Bros who went bankrupt in 2012 ?
Yep, the same. They just won’t go away.
Beautiful architecture of many different varieties, even the ones in disrepair. It would be cool to step back in time and stroll down the street when the street wall was fully intact, tree-lined streets, sidewalks safe enough for foot traffic, etc.
The important thing to remember is that no where is safe from decline. If it could happen to these stately homes, it could happen anywhere.
Have you been following the renovation of 2341 St. Louis Ave (the rightmost home on your first picture with the lift in the front yard) on YouTube? The owner intends to restore the home to its original grandeur, and is documenting it on his YT channel, The Second Empire Strikes Back.
He’s doing nearly everything himself and the process has been slow, but that particular home couldn’t be in better hands.
I have, and I considered mentioning the renovation but I generally don’t like to link to Instagram as many of my readers don’t have accounts. But I love what he’s doing.