Fountain Park and Lewis Place North of Page

The area between Page Avenue and MLK Drive is a long suffering counterpoint to the better preserved areas to the south. This lone wood frame house is probably one of hte oldest houses on the block, built before the city came out this far.

Here and there, a few houses are left, and they're owned by fiercely proud people, several of who I had the opportunity to talk to while I was in the area touring the tornado damage last year.

Vacant lots, some with freshly planted grass, show that there has been substantial loss to the built environment. At what point does it become so degraded that everyone moves out? I've seen completely abandoned blocks further into the city.

But the good news is that the majestic church down the block serves as a reminder of what had been, and what can be here again. Well maintained and occupied, it's the type of structure that can anchor the revived neighborhood.

Tan Brick Up North in the West End

I live on the south side; its north and south streets make it hard to get a sense of place sometimes in relation to downtown, unless you're on Gravois. But up north, the street grid is actually aligned not with the cardinal directions, but rather logically with the shortest, "as the crow flies" route. And because of that, the streets and avenues of the north side often times provide you with fantastic views of downtown.

Likewise, out by Fountain Park, Lewis Place and the West End (not to be confused with the Central West End), the brick starts to change from that ubiquitous red to tan.

Obviously, tastes and styles change, but I almost wonder if brick manufacturers throughout St. Louis felt that need to compete and try to find the next trend in brick. Regardless, it's an interesting change of pace to see an area so full of non-red brick buildings.

Even the red brick has evolved on this magnificent former synagogue; the brick has a different, richer red surface coat compared to the classical red brick deeper in the city.

Dr. Martin Luther King Dr, North St. Louis

Natural Bridge has some amazing buildings on it, and unfortunately, it took a tornado for me to realize it.Contrary to public perception, people do care about their neighborhood up this way, and these buildings were occupied when the tornado hit.Were they occupied by the Cheesecake Factory or Houlihans? No, but they sold some interesting stuff.For example, where else in St. Louis can you buy a bidet right on the sidewalk in front of a business?No, I did not buy it. Let's not forget that there were many victims of high winds and the tornado all over St. Louis, and not just in Sunset Hills.

Mansion, Lewis Place

I have no idea really what to call the style of house shown in these pictures. Eclectic? Neo-Classical?Regardless, the house has some amazing detail, giving the house a distinct appearance.

Lewis Place

Lewis Place is an incredible street, lined with a wide variety of housing stock, from mansions to bungalows.I will talk more in the future about the street, which recently suffered damage from a tornado.

Page Boulevard

Page Boulevard is one of the great avenues that passes straight through North St. Louis, providing a fascinating view straight toward the Mercantile Tower, or whatever it's called this week. Lining the grand boulevard is an amazing mix of public and private buildings, often loving preserved or severely deteriorating.Much of the housing is abandoned, collapsing and destitute, but yet still clings to a certain dignity; it could be easily renovated if there was the willpower.This building above sits in relatively good condition, illustrating how simple maintenance protects historic structures easily.I would love to have a Corinthian portico on my house! This august residence above needs some restoration, but its columns with their acanthus capitals could come back to life.This former synagogue is now under the protection of another congregation, keeping it safe for the time being.But yet, some life clings to buildings such as the ones above; perhaps Page came return to its former glory.

Deteriorating House in Fountain Park

I wish I knew the story behind this house; why it is falling apart, and what it was after it was a house. Was it a funeral home? A church?

Lewis Place Gates

Fountain Park

I realized I hadn't been out to take pictures in three weeks, so I headed up to Fountain Park to finally see a unique spot of St. Louis that I had heard about from other people. The fountain is actually smaller than I thought, and the intersection of Euclid and Fountain was largely desolate the day I went by.The houses are nice, with some abandonment, but overall the effect is formed not by one single house but all the houses around the park together.I wonder if it wouldn't be possible to return some portion of the absurdly large blacktop area at both ends back to greenspace.And finally, the unique castle building that anchors one end of the park on the east. Why this can't be restored is beyond me; is there really no market for a sidewalk cafe in this part of the city?See an aerial view of the park here.