Washington Ave has become the heart of the revival of residential in downtown St. Louis. It is the old 'Garment District' that consists of buildings from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. Most are large brick and stone buildings. Here is an excerpt from the wikipedia page on the 'Loft District':
Quote:
The Washington Avenue Loft District is a portion of St. Louis, Missouri, located on the northern and western edge of the city's downtown. The neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The District is bounded by Delmar Boulevard to the north, Locust Street to the south, 8th Street on the east, 18th Street on the west, and is bisected by Washington Avenue in the center.
Most of the buildings in the area were built between 1880 and 1920, as warehouses when the area served as the city's garment district. Most are large multi-story buildings of brick and stone construction. Many have terra cotta accents on their facades. After World War II, the decline in domestic garment production and the preference for single-story industrial space led to many of the buildings being vacant or underused due to functional obsolescence.
The area began to experience some redevelopment in the 1990s. In 1998, the state of Missouri adopted a tax credit for the redevelopment of historic buildings, making large-scale renovation financially feasible. Local and national developers have acquired many buildings along Washington Avenue and in other parts of downtown. The buildings are being redeveloped with loft-style condominiums and apartments.
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I really don't know a lot about the older buildings in downtown San Antonio, vacancies and what-not, but the historical tax credits that program that Missouri adopted has done wonders for vacant and underutilized buidings that are registered historic places. In the late 1980's downtown St. Louis became soley a CBD. Over the past 10-years downtown has transfored dramatically and now has a strong 24-hour population. It would be nice to see San Antonio and developers attract and take on more progressive and urban development.
To attract a grocer, or for grocer to build downtown, there is going to have to be a decent population to support it within a half mile. Right now there is no such area downtown. I hope some time in the not so distant future there will. It will make San Antonio that much better.
Here are some photos pirated off flikr of the Washington Ave 'Loft District':
photo by: mom on flickr
photo by: urbanreviewstl.com on flickr
photo by: urbanreviewstl.com on flickr
photo by: urbanreviewstl.com on flickr
photo by: Payton Chung on flickr
Here are some pics of City Grocer's in the Loft District:
photo by: Kopper on flickr
photo by: bill streeter on flickr