Home » Featured »History/Preservation »North City »Politics/Policy » Currently Reading:

Large 19th Century Home Being Razed, 19th Ward Not In Preservation Review

October 19, 2013 Featured, History/Preservation, North City, Politics/Policy 8 Comments

The once-stately residence at 3630 Page Boulevard was used as an assisted living facility for years. Now the 1888 structure is being razed.

2009 photo of Page Manor from GEO St. Louis
2009 photo of ‘Page Manor’ from GEO St. Louis
Earlier this week
Earlier this week from the #94 MetroBus

The sad part is this property is in the 19th ward, so Cultural Resources wasn’t even given a chance to review the request for the demolition permit. Most of the city is in a “preservation review” area where trained staff look at requests for demolition, referring some to the Preservation Board for a decision on the fate.

Note: city records list the property address as 3630 Page Blvd, but Page Manor used the address 3636 Page Blvd.

— Steve Patterson

 

Currently there are "8 comments" on this Article:

  1. JZ71 says:

    Most property owners do not just tear down old buildings (that are in decent shape) out of spite or a hatred of the past. They do so either to build something new or because the old structure presents some serious safety issues. What is the bigger context here? There’s a strip shopping center across the street – are there plans for more retail on this site? Assisted living facilities need to be accessible for people with disabilities. Victorian homes are not very accessible – are there plans for a new, accessible, assisted living facility for this site? St. Louis is a city full of old structures. We’re not a museum, we can’t save every old structure. This was apparently not a designated landmark structure, it’s not in an historic district and, yes, as you note, it is not subject to “preservation review”. Just because you like many of the older structures that you see riding by on the bus does not mean we need to create multiple hurdles to change in every single part of the city. If the 19th ward believed that there was a need for review, I’m pretty sure that review would be required. The people that live there just may value new construction and/or the rapid removal of old structures more than you do. Much like the saga of Cupples 7, saying “no” to demolition does not guarantee preservation. Many times it just delays the inevitable, to the detriment of the surrounding neighbors, especially in those parts of St. Louis where little reinvestment is currently happening.

     
    • It’s very near the north entrance to Grand Center (Grand @ Cook). I’ve been to many preservation board meetings where the owner incorrectly thought the vacant land was more valuable than the land + historic building. This corporate owner is based in Ballwin, so my guess is they’re not aware of the many renovations happening all over the city.

       
      • JZ71 says:

        And my guess is that this owner is very aware “of the many renovations happening all over the city”, and that they think that THEIR property will be more valuable with new construction than with a large Victorian home / mansion, even one that has been sensitively renovated. Just because you place great value in preserving old, not everyone shares your passion!

         
      • Travis says:

        Steve,

        I love this old mansion, but the fact remains that it’s right next door to the Ebony Motel, across the street from a strip mall and right around the corner from rather sad part of North Grand. Exactly who wants to renovate and here?

        There is a fine old house at 4270 Delmar that I have always liked. It needs a ton of work and is falling down, but again, who is going to spend their money to live in some of these areas?

         
  2. MB Brown says:

    Isn’t that the old Ferrier-Harris (spelling) home. It’s therefore not only a historic building by architecture, but also by history alone.

     
  3. guest says:

    The 19th ward is home to Alderman Terry Kennedy. Alderman Kennedy has been very open about his lack of interest in putting the 19th Ward under preservation review. HIs constituents are mostly black people. Old homes in St. Louis have not alway brought good memories for black people. Being a preservationist (often as a white person) is not qualification to understand the painful memories and associations many black people have with derelict buildings.

     
    • You’re right about Ald Kennedy, except he’s the 18th ward alderman: http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/ward-18/. The alderman for the 19th ward is Marlene Davis.
      Many lament about the lack of investment in the north side, yet they don’t take steps to protect the historic character that would attract investment.

       
      • JZ71 says:

        If historic character attracts investment, why is so much of the investment we’re seeing locally happening in what were once the rural areas surrounding places like Wentzville, Chesterfield and Fairview Heights? Any “historic character” has been completely obliterated, yet they seem to be doing far better economically than many of the “historic” areas of the city!

         

Comment on this Article:

Advertisement



[custom-facebook-feed]

Archives

Categories

Advertisement


Subscribe