The Landmarks Association is putting out a call to St. Louisans to save a Midcentury landmark, the San Luis Apartments in the Central West End.
From Jefferson Mansell, director:
"As you know, Landmarks has been working to preserve the San Luis Apartments, formerly the DeVille Motor Hotel, which the Archdiocese of St. Louis plans to demolish for a surface parking lot. Completed in 1963, the San Luis is the work of renowned New Orleans modernist Charles Colbert. Rising over the corner of Lindell Boulevard and Taylor Avenue, the building is a vital component of Lindell's high-rise streetscape and a key feature of its unique collection of mid-century modern structures.
The Archdiocese's plans are up for preliminary review by the city's Preservation Board this Monday, June 22nd. Please help us in our efforts to support the San Luis by sending letters to the board and 28th Ward Alderwoman Lyda Krewson! Remind them that the San Luis is eligible for listing in the National Register and a desirable candidate for adaptive reuse; that the Central West End deserves better than a surface parking lot on such a prominent corner; that this plan goes against principles of sound urban design and sustainability."
There's a website, www.noparkinglotonlindell.com, dedicated to the preservation effort. Toby Weiss, the Queen of all things Modernist, has some extensive posts on her blog about the San Luis; Rob Powers, urban genius and blogger behind Built St. Louis, posts about the building here; and last but not least, here's a squib from Preservation magazine. --Stefene Russell
