St. Louis County Library Seeks to Demolish Historic Lewis & Clark Branch

From Modern STL:

“Of the twenty libraries in the St. Louis County Library (SLCL) system, Moline Acres’ Lewis & Clark Branch stands out for its exuberant modernist design and an architectural pedigree comparable to the finest mid-century buildings in the metropolitan area. Designed by prominent architect Frederick Dunn, FAIA, with Emil Frei Stained Glass windows by artist Robert Harmon, it was completed in 1963 at 9909 Lewis-Clark Boulevard.
 
After nearly 50 years in use, the building’s architectural integrity is unparalleled amongst its peers, and it functions as a vibrant hub for the surrounding North St. Louis County community. Such qualifications should give pause when considering the building’s future, yet Lewis & Clark is slated for demolition pending the passage of a massive county bond issue in the fall of 2012.

On November 6, 2012, SLCL will ask voters to approve a $108 million bond issue to enact, among other things, a “proactive” ten-year facilities plan. Upgrades ranging from renovations, to additions, to wholesale replacement are a major part of the system’s strategy as recommended by the New York-based consulting firm Aaron Cohen Associates. The goal is to expand community and collaborative spaces, enhance flexibility, and provide more room for changing technologies. $76.9 million in funds would be allocated to replace eight, or nearly half, SLCL branches within four years, including the beloved Headquarters building in Frontenac. The historic 16,000 square foot Lewis & Clark would be replaced with a new $6.5 million, 20,000 square foot building.
 
Consultants have recommended Lewis & Clark’s demolition since 2008 because of its age and in spite of its excellent condition. The building has benefitted from numerous improvements since 2000, including a new roof, carpeting, HVAC system, parking lot, signage, furniture, and reference area. All of these investments would be lost in demolition, and all for a net gain of only 4,000 square feet. The need for this gain is questionable since the facilities plan also calls for the development of a new 15,000 square foot library building program for certain branches throughout the system. Given that the existing Lewis & Clark is 1,000 square feet larger than this, and in light of the building’s significance, one wonders why this scheme could not be implemented here.

Indeed, of the nine branches marked for renovations to existing facilities alone, seven range between 15,500 square feet and 18,000 square feet, and two serve higher populations than Lewis & Clark. These two, Jamestown Bluffs and Samuel C. Sachs, were built in 1998 and 2002. This indicates a fair amount of ageism in the decision to demolish the comparably sized and populated Lewis & Clark, which features an entirely open floor plan easily adaptable to 21st century needs.
 

While most support SLCL’s desire to remain competitive in the fast-moving information age, its current strategy leaves something to be desired. As pointed out by St. Louis County’s Historic Buildings Commission, which opposes the plan, this takes none of these buildings’ architectural merit into account in weighing which should be demolished and which are deserving of renovation and addition. The Lewis & Clark Branch is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places based on its exceptional architectural significance and as a symbol of post-war development in North St. Louis County. Surely the St. Louis County Library system can move into the 21st century while still preserving its significant architectural past.

Your input is crucial!

To write in favor of preserving and renovating the historic Lewis & Clark Branch for future use, send a few words to:

St. Louis County Library Director Charles Pace: cpace@slcl.org

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley: http://www.stlouisco.com/YourGovernment/CountyExecutive/DearCharlie“

The Recent Past Preservation Network is now accepting submissions for our Summer 2011 issue of the RPPN Bulletin!

From the Recent Past Preservation Network:

“Right now, RPPN is accepting submission proposals for our Spring issue, which will be released in July. We have room for 5-8 articles right now and space will go fast. If you are interested in writing an article please contact us at newsletter@recentpast.org.

RPPN welcomes all contributions, whether it be a news item, a story about preservation efforts, research & resources, upcoming events, or anything else related to the preservation of modernism and the recent past.”

National Organization Announces Ten Most Endangered Roadside Places

From a huge concrete cowboy statue in Canyon, Texas; to California’s once common roadside orange stands; to a three-mile strip of forlorn motels in Lordsburg, New Mexico; to a Depression-era pullout in Garrison, Minnesota, many of America’s iconic roadside places are threatened.

The Society for Commercial Archeology announces its first Falling by the Wayside, a list of the ten most endangered roadside places in the United States. The list, ranging from a single building to a 65-acre park, includes the following threatened places:

1. Buckhorn Baths, Main Street, Mesa, Arizona
2. California’s Roadside Orange Stands, US Highways 66 and 99, California
3. Clark County Rest Area, Interstate 64, Clark County, Kentucky
4. Pig Stand Coffee Shop No. 41, Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas
5. Motel Drive (former US Highway 80), Lordsburg, New Mexico
6. Dinosaur World, Arkansas State Highway 187, Beaver, Arkansas
7. Garrison Concourse, US Highway 169, Garrison, Minnesota
8. Val Rio Diner, Pennsylvania State Highway 23, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
9. “Tex Randall,” US Highway 60, Canyon, Texas
10. Teapot Dome Gas Station, Yakima Valley Highway, Zillah, Washington

These places are all marked by threats which can include natural weathering, economic hardship, neglect, abandonment, inappropriate zoning, lack of maintenance and demolition. The list showcases the diversity of roadside places and highlights the issues and challenges facing the preservation of important roadside places.

The Society for Commercial Archeology (SCA) established the Falling by the Wayside program to raise awareness of the importance of roadside places throughout the United States.

“Our hope is the list will bring attention to roadside commercial architecture—especially these threatened places,” says Nancy Sturm, co-president of the organization. Along with the attention, SCA will help property owners connect with local, state and federal preservation programs.

Established in 1977, the SCA is the oldest national organization devoted to the buildings, artifacts, structures, signs, and symbols of the 20th-century commercial landscape. The SCA offers publications, conferences, and tours to help preserve, document, and celebrate the structures and architecture of the 20th century: diners, highways, gas stations, drive-in theaters, bus stations, tourist courts, neon signs, and more.

“We’ve encouraged research and appreciation of highway architecture over the years. Now it’s the time to move toward advocacy, as more roadside places are threatened,” says Sturm.

For more information: www.missouri66.org/10_most_endangered.html

Metropolis St. Louis Downtown Walking Tours to Resume for 2009 Season

From the Metropolis St. Louis events newsletter:

Date: April 18, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM

Every Saturday 10 a.m. From April-October
$5/Person No Reservations

Uncover the splendor of the architectural masterpieces that have made their home in Downtown St. Louis. Erected in the late 1800′s to the present, these structures were designed by famous architects such as Louis Sullivan, Cass Gilbert, Eero Saarienen, and Phillip Johnson. Experience a journey into the history of St. Louis.

WESTERN
The Western Tour begins at 10 a.m. every Saturday on the sidewalk outside the hotel entrance to Union Station on Market Street. Your tour guide will lead you through the downtown of one of America’s most historic cities. Walk through streets decorated by buildings such as Union Station and City Hall.

EASTERN
The Eastern Tour begins at 10 a.m. every Saturday outside the western entrance to the Old Courthouse, on Broadway between Market and Chestnut, opposite Kiener Plaza. You will learn about the architects, the design, and the history of buildings such as the Old Courthouse, Old Post Office, Wainwright Building, Missouri Athletic Club and many more!

Enjoy the Architectural Heritage of St. Louis

The season for the Metropolis St. Louis Architecture tours has just recently ended, but if you are planning to be in the St. Louis area on any Saturday between April and October next year, I hope you’ll consider joining one of the tours. You will be treated to an educational and inspiring experience where you will walk in the footsteps of history, see buildings from many different eras, and learn about the stories behind them.

Detail of Missouri Pacific Building

On a walking tour, one notices details that are missed while riding in a motorized vehicle. The role that St. Louis, The Gateway to the West, has played in our nation’s history as a transportation hub for water, train, road, and air is evident in all kinds of plaques, tiles, windows, markers, sculptures, and more. Enjoy those details along with the monumental shapes of the large buildings and you’ll get extra enjoyment and appreciation out of your Route 66 journey as you approach the American West.

Here are links to some photos that my Mom and I have taken on the tours:
Carolyn’s photos of the East and West Tours
Lois’s photos of the West Tour

For tour information, please see the Metropolis St. Louis web site:
Downtown Architectural Walking Tours