Update: I went back and looked at the north side of the street in February of 2022.
This is definitely not an April Fools’ Day post. Heading west from the old synagogue, we were shocked at the severe state of desolation and abandonment along Vernon Avenue. It was really, really sad to see this. This is St. Louis north of Delmar in many places. The pictures below speak for themselves.
Amazing buildings
Heartbreaking. What is the answer/alternative to watching them rot?
People have to create an objective outlook; these houses are within a five minute walk of the Central West End–in fact, they would have traditionally been considered pretty much the same neighborhood. But preconceptions and prejudices doom these houses.
I can’t stop reading your blog…and have learned so much from it. However – it frequently makes me both sad and angry. (that’s a compliment BTW)
I live in the twin of the sixth building on Page. Youll be happy to know that Ive met the owner of that building. He does construction and is starting to fix the building. He says he may even convert it into a two family!
That’s great news!
I noticed today that along Page Ave, nearer to Goodfellow, several buildings appear to be getting readied for demolition. Hope I’m wrong…
Many of them probably are. A couple on Page near Union are getting ready to go down. One of which has a caved in roof you can see from the street. A few in the area have gone down. One on Walton near Page, another on
Bayard near MLK, and an old storefront bldg. near MLK and Taylor. Its sad once theyre finished because it looks as if nothing was ever there!
I wonder what vinyl siding will look like when it’s 100 years old!