Landmarks Association of St. Louis

Five Demolition Proposals on November Preservation Board Agenda

| by Michael R. Allen, Former Assistant Director

The preliminary agenda for the St. Louis Preservation Board's regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 24 is now available. The agenda contains five demolition proposals.

Two proposals are preliminary reviews requested by the Department of Public Safety, seeking demolition on behalf of owners for private properties located at 1824 Warren Street in the Clemens House-Columbia Brewery Historic District (St. Louis Place) and 5115 Cates Avenue in the Mount Cabanne-Raymond Place Historic District (Academy).  One proposal is to demolish 622 N. Skinker Boulevard in the Delmar Loop area.

The fourth preliminary review is requested by a homeowner for a historic garage at 1106 Dolman Street in the Lafayette Square Historic District.

Then there is a staff denial of a demolition permit for the frame 19th century house at 4722 Tennessee Avenue in Dutchtown South.  A previous owner appealed the same denial last year last year, and in June 2007 the Preservation Board upheld staff denial of the demolition permit. This may be the most contentious item on the agenda.

Landmarks Association monitors the board's agenda and each month prepares testimony in defense of historic buidlings worthy of preservation.  At present, we are investigating the five items on this month's agenda in order to prepare testimony for Monday.  Our investigation typically includes field visits, primary and secondary source research, consultation with staff at the city's Cultural Resources Office and contact with alderpersons who represent the threatened buildings.