I.

Date: August 24, 2009

From: Cultural Resources Office
To: City of St. Louis Preservation Board
Subject: New Application
Address: 4520 Forest Park
District: Preservation Review District Ward: 17

4520 FOREST PARK FROM FOREST PARK 4520 FOREST PARK FROM DUNCAN LOOKING
LOOKING SOUTH EAST NORTH EAST

Owner:
St. Louis College Of Pharmacy

Applicant:
Spirtus Wrecking

District:
Preservation Review District - 17th Ward
Background:
The building at 4520 Forest Park was constructed in 1965 as a student dormitory of students of
the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. It contains 58 apartments. The College has constructed a new
campus just south of the building and no longer needs the building, which, according to the
College, needs increasing maintenance.

The College has contracted with the adjacent Washington University School of Medicine to sell
part of the vacant land resulting from demolition of the building for a surface parking lot,
reserving the rear portion of the lot for its own use. The four adjacent lots have a complex
ownership pattern.

4536 FOREST PARK

PARCEL OWNED BY BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL

4524 FOREST PARK

PARCEL OWNED BY WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL CENTER

4520 FOREST PARK

PARCEL OWNED BY ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF
PHARMACY

4505 FOREST PARK

PARCEL OWNED BY WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

MAP ABOVE SHOWS CURRENT MAP BELOW SUBMITTED BY APPLICANT SHOWS

OWNERSHIP PROPOSED OWNERSHIP AND PARKING LOT PLAN
 REAR OF BUILDING FACING SOUTH WEST SIDE OF BUILDING
Reasons for Application:
The applicant and current owner has stated that the College has no further use for the building
because of its construction of new residential facilities.

LOOKING WEST ON FORST PARK AT THE BJH LOOKING SOUTH AT THE BJH PARKING LOT
PARKING LOT, GARAGE ANND COMPLEX AND AND STRUCTURE WITH THE COLLEGE OF
THE LONG TERM MARIOTT HOTEL , SITE IS PHARMACY TO THE REAR
ADJACENT TO THE LEFT (EAST)

LOOKING NORTH WEST ACROSS THE BJH LOOKING EAST ACROSS THE WASHINGTON
PARKING LOT TO FOREST PARK BLVD. UNIVERSITY PARKING LOT
Community Consultation:
Staff has received no communication from Alderman Roddy or any neighborhood organization
concerning the proposed demolition or re-use of the site.

Governing Legislation:
St. Louis City Ordinance 64689
PART IX - PRESERVATION REVIEW DISTRICTS SECTION FIFTY-FIVE.
Decisions of the Preservation Board or Cultural Resources Office shall be in writing, shall be
mailed to the Applicant immediately upon completion and shall indicate the application by the
Preservation Board or Cultural Resources Office of the following criteria, which are listed in
order of importance, as the basis for the decision:

A. Redevelopment Plans. Demolitions which would comply with a redevelopment

plan previously approved by ordinance shall be approved except in unusual
circumstances which shall be expressly noted.
The site does not appear to be covered by any existing Redevelopment Ordinance regarding
demolition.

4520 FOREST PARK

B. Architectural Quality. A Structure's architectural Merit, uniqueness, and/or
historic value shall be evaluated and the Structure classified as High Merit, Merit,
Qualifying, or non Contributing based upon: Overall style, era, building type, materials,
ornamentation, craftsmanship, site planning, and whether it is the work of a significant
architect, engineer, or craftsman; and contribution to the streetscape and neighborhood.
Demolition of Sound High Merit Structures shall not be approved by the Office.
Demolition of Merit or Qualifying Structures shall not be approved except in unusual
circumstances which shall be expressly noted.
The building is a Mid-Century Modernist building constructed in 1965. Neither its design nor
location would make it eligible for listing in the National Register as a single site or as
contributing to a District.

C. Condition. The Office shall make exterior inspections to determine whether a

Structure is Sound. If a Structure or portion thereof proposed to be demolished is
obviously not Sound, the application for demolition shall be approved except in unusual
circumstances which shall be expressly noted. The remaining or salvageable portion(s)
 of the Structure shall be evaluated to determine the extent of reconstruction,
rehabilitation or restoration required to obtain a viable Structure.
Although in poor condition the building appears sound under the ordinance.

NEW CAMPUS OF THE ST LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

D. Neighborhood Effect and

Reuse Potential.

1. Neighborhood
Potential: Vacant and
vandalized buildings on the
block face, the present
condition of surrounding
buildings, and the current
level of repair and
maintenance of

neighboring buildings shall

be considered.
The building is located in a very well
maintained commercial and institutional use
neighborhood.
 NEW GOLDFARB NURSING SCHOOL
BUILDING AT DUNCAN AND TAYLOR WEST
OF EXISTING PARKING LOT

LOOKING SOUTH EAST AT THE EXISTING

PARKING LOT OWNED BY WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF
FOREST PARK AND TAYLOR

2. Reuse Potential: The potential of the Structure for renovation and reuse,
based on similar cases within the City, and the cost and extent of possible
renovation shall be evaluated. Structures located within currently well maintained
blocks or blocks undergoing upgrading renovation will generally not be approved
for demolition.
The building contains aproximately 35,000 square feet. According to the owner, it is in poor
condition and in constant need of maintenance. The surrounding area is undergoing development
with new construction of commercial and institutional buildings.

3. Economic Hardship: The Office shall consider the economic hardship

which may be experienced by the present Owner if the application is denied. Such
consideration may include, among other things, the estimated cost of demolition,
the estimated cost of rehabilitation or reuse, the feasibility of public or private
financing, the effect of tax abatement, if applicable, and the potential for
economic growth and development in the area.
No evidence of economic hardship has been submitted.

E. Urban Design. The Office shall evaluate the following urban design factors:
1. The effect of a proposed partial demolition on attached or row buildings.
NA
2. The integrity of the existing block face and whether the proposed
demolition will significantly impact the continuity and rhythm of Structures
within the block.
Because of prior demolitions the east end of this block has only one building, the one proposed
for demolition. Because of the mixed ownership of the parcels on the block, the current and
prospective owners have collaborated to submit a landscaping plan to screen the parking lots
created by the demolition and sale of the vacant lots.

3. Proposed demolition of buildings with unique or significant character

important to a district, street, block or intersection will be evaluated for impact
on the present integrity, rhythm, balance and density on the site, block,
intersection or district.
NA, see above.

4. The elimination of out of scale or out of character buildings or

nonconforming land uses will be considered; however, the fact that a present and
original or historic use of a site does not conform to present zoning or land use
requirements in no way shall require that such a nonconforming use to be
eliminated.
NA

F. Commonly Controlled Property. If a demolition application concerns property

adjoining occupied property and if common control of both properties is documented,
favorable consideration will generally be given to appropriate reuse proposals.
Appropriate uses shall include those allowed under the current zoning classification,
reuse for expansion of an existing conforming, commercial or industrial use or a use
consistent with a presently conforming, adjoining use group. Potential for substantial
expansion of an existing adjacent commercial use will be given due consideration.
The lot will be part of commonly controlled property.

G. Accessory Structures. Accessory Structures (garages, sheds, etc.) and ancillary

Structures will be processed for immediate resolution. Proposed demolition of frame
garages or accessory Structures internal to commercial or industrial sites will, in most
cases, be approved unless that Structure demonstrates high significance under the other
criteria listed herein, which shall be expressly noted.
NA

Comments
Given the rapid redevelopment occurring in the blocks south and east of Forest Park Blvd. it is clear
that this surface parking lot will be used for other purposes in the foreseeable future. Staff is
concerned that the lot, as currently proposed, contains enough screening to mitigate the appearance
of all the automobiles currently using the lot plus the additional parked cars using the newly created
parking surface.

Contact:
Kate Shea Planning and Urban Design, Cultural Resources Office
Telephone: 314-259-3463 Fax: 314-622-3413
E-Mail: [email protected]
St. Louis City Ordinance 64689
PART IX - PRESERVATION REVIEW DISTRICTS SECTION FIFTY-FIVE.
Preservation Review Districts may be established by ordinance for areas of the City in which the
Board of Aldermen finds, by ordinance, reviews of the effects of demolitions on the area are in
the public interest. Prior to adoption of a Preservation Review District ordinance, i) the alderman
for the ward in which the proposed district is located shall have requested the Cultural Resources
Office and the Preservation Board to assess the architectural and/or cultural quality of the
proposed district, and ii) within forty-five (45) days thereafter the Cultural Resources Office and
the Preservation Board shall have reported its findings to the Planning Commission and the
Board of Aldermen. The Cultural Resources Office and the Preservation Board shall assess the
proposed district as having i) high historic district potential; ii) possible historic district potential;
iii) low historic district potential; iv) demolitions within the last two years in excess of the
average for similar areas in the City. Districts which are reported as being in categories i), ii) or
iv) may be designated Preservation Review Districts. Preservation Review District ordinances
may be repealed by ordinance at any time without Cultural Resources Office or Preservation
Board action.

SECTION FIFTY-SIX.
No ordinance designating a Preservation Review District shall be adopted until the aldermanic
committee to which the bill is assigned shall have conducted a public hearing on the bill. Notice
of the hearing shall be given in a newspaper of daily circulation and in the City Journal at least
ten days prior to such committee hearing.

SECTION FIFTY-SEVEN. Ordinance 61366, approved June 9, 1989, is hereby amended by

adding one new section thereto, to be and to read as follows:
Section Sixteen. On and after the effective date of Ordinance ____ (B.B. #54) the provisions of
this ordinance shall not be applicable to applications to demolish structures individually listed on
the National Register of Historic Places, within a National Register of Historic Places District or
for which National Register of Historic Places designation is pending.

PART X - DEMOLITION REVIEWS

SECTION FIFTY-EIGHT.
Whenever an application is made for a permit to demolish a Structure which is i) individually
listed on the National Register, ii) within a National Register District, iii) for which National
Register Designation is pending or iv) which is within a Preservation Review District established
pursuant to Sections Fifty-Five to Fifty-Six of this ordinance, the building commissioner shall
submit a copy of such application to the Cultural Resources Office within three days after said
application is received by his Office.

SECTION FIFTY-NINE. Demolition permit Review Approval.

The Cultural Resources Office or Preservation Board shall have forty five working days after
receipt of a copy of an application under Section Fifty-Eight to review same as hereinafter
provided and advise the Building Commissioner in writing of their decision. Failure to notify the
Building Commissioner in writing by the end of such period of forty five working days shall
constitute an approval of such application.
SECTION SIXTY. Demolition permit Photos.
Any Applicant shall submit a 35mm photographic print, 3" x 5" minimum, focused and exposed
to show all visible facades, door and window openings and any architectural ornamentation.

SECTION SIXTY-ONE. Demolition permit Preservation Board Decision.

All demolition permit application reviews pursuant to Sections Fifty-Eight to Sixty-Three shall
be made by the Preservation Board, which shall either approve or disapprove of all such
applications. The Preservation Board may by a duly adopted order or regulation consistent with
this chapter, authorize the Cultural Resources Office to make reviews of demolition permit
applications. Decisions of the Preservation Board or Cultural Resources Office shall be in
writing, shall be mailed to the Applicant immediately upon completion and shall indicate the
application by the Preservation Board or Cultural Resources Office of the following criteria,
which are listed in order of importance, as the basis for the decision:

A. Redevelopment Plans. Demolitions which would comply with a redevelopment plan

previously approved by ordinance shall be approved except in unusual circumstances which shall
be expressly noted.

B. Architectural Quality. A Structure's architectural Merit, uniqueness, and/or historic value shall
be evaluated and the Structure classified as High Merit, Merit, Qualifying, or non Contributing
based upon: Overall style, era, building type, materials, ornamentation, craftsmanship, site
planning, and whether it is the work of a significant architect, engineer, or craftsman; and
contribution to the streetscape and neighborhood. Demolition of Sound High Merit Structures
shall not be approved by the Office. Demolition of Merit or Qualifying Structures shall not be
approved except in unusual circumstances which shall be expressly noted.

C. Condition. The Office shall make exterior inspections to determine whether a Structure is
Sound. If a Structure or portion thereof proposed to be demolished is obviously not Sound, the
application for demolition shall be approved except in unusual circumstances which shall be
expressly noted. The remaining or salvageable portion(s) of the Structure shall be evaluated to
determine the extent of reconstruction, rehabilitation or restoration required to obtain a viable
Structure.

1. Sound Structures with apparent potential for adaptive reuse, reuse and or resale shall generally
not be approved for demolition unless application of criteria in subparagraphs A, D, F or G of
this section indicates demolition is appropriate.

2. Structurally attached or groups of buildings. The impact of the proposed demolition on any
remaining portion(s) of the building will be evaluated. Viability of walls which would be
exposed by demolition and the possibility of diminished value resulting from the partial
demolition of a building, or of one or more buildings in a group of buildings, will be considered.

D. Neighborhood Effect and Reuse Potential.

1. Neighborhood Potential: Vacant and vandalized buildings on the block face, the present
condition of surrounding buildings, and the current level of repair and maintenance of
neighboring buildings shall be considered.
2. Reuse Potential: The potential of the Structure for renovation and reuse, based on similar cases
within the City, and the cost and extent of possible renovation shall be evaluated. Structures
located within currently well maintained blocks or blocks undergoing upgrading renovation will
generally not be approved for demolition.
3. Economic Hardship: The Office shall consider the economic hardship which may be
experienced by the present Owner if the application is denied. Such consideration may include,
among other things, the estimated cost of demolition, the estimated cost of rehabilitation or
reuse, the feasibility of public or private financing, the effect of tax abatement, if applicable, and
the potential for economic growth and development in the area.

E. Urban Design. The Office shall evaluate the following urban design factors:
1. The effect of a proposed partial demolition on attached or row buildings.
2. The integrity of the existing block face and whether the proposed demolition will significantly
impact the continuity and rhythm of Structures within the block.
3. Proposed demolition of buildings with unique or significant character important to a district,
street, block or intersection will be evaluated for impact on the present integrity, rhythm, balance
and density on the site, block, intersection or district.
4. The elimination of out of scale or out of character buildings or nonconforming land uses will
be considered; however, the fact that a present and original or historic use of a site does not
conform to present zoning or land use requirements in no way shall require that such a
nonconforming use to be eliminated.

F. Commonly Controlled Property. If a demolition application concerns property adjoining

occupied property and if common control of both properties is documented, favorable
consideration will generally be given to appropriate reuse proposals. Appropriate uses shall
include those allowed under the current zoning classification, reuse for expansion of an existing
conforming, commercial or industrial use or a use consistent with a presently conforming,
adjoining use group. Potential for substantial expansion of an existing adjacent commercial use
will be given due consideration.

G. Accessory Structures. Accessory Structures (garages, sheds, etc.) and ancillary Structures will
be processed for immediate resolution. Proposed demolition of frame garages or accessory
Structures internal to commercial or industrial sites will, in most cases, be approved unless that
Structure demonstrates high significance under the other criteria listed herein, which shall be
expressly noted.

SECTION SIXTY-TWO. Application Evaluation Validity of approval or denial.

Approvals or denials of applications hereunder shall be valid only for the Owner shown on the
demolition application. Requests or applications for reconsideration shall not be permitted with
respect to an application. The Cultural Resources Office may refer any application with respect
to which it has been granted review authority to the Preservation Board for initial evaluation and
decision hereunder. In performing its evaluation of any application hereunder, the Cultural
Resources Office may request further information from an Applicant or Owner, make site visits
or photographs, consult or obtain from public or private sources any information pertinent to its
evaluation, and may consider the views of Owners of property adjacent to the Structure, of
nonprofit neighborhood associations for the area in which the Structure is located, or of
established architectural preservation organizations. Any information so obtained and any
communications received by the Preservation Board and Office concerning any application shall
be summarized in the Preservation Board or Office's decision.

SECTION SIXTY-THREE. Appeals.

Any Applicant or current Owner of a Structure may appeal an initial decision of the Preservation
Board or a decision of the Cultural Resources Office under Sections Fifty-Eight to Sixty-Two to
the Preservation Board by filing a written notice of such appeal with the Cultural Resources
Office within fifteen days after the date of mailing of such decision by the Cultural Resources
Office. The Cultural Resources Office shall immediately refer any application which is the
subject of such an appeal, and the Cultural Resources Office's entire file thereon, to the
Preservation Board for hearing and resolution, based on the criteria set out in Sections Fifty-
Eight to Sixty-Two. Requests or applications to the Preservation Board for reconsideration of
any such appeal shall not be permitted. The Preservation Board shall issue its decision on
applications appealed under this section by the sixtieth working day following receipt of the
application by the Office under Section Fifty-Eight. Any such appeal shall be deemed and
conducted as a contested case within the meaning of Chapter 536, RSMo., as amended, and shall
be appealable and reviewable as in such chapter provided. The Cultural Resources Office is
hereby authorized to appeal any decision of the Preservation Board. Any final decision of the
Preservation Board may be appealed to the Planning Commission pursuant to Section Fifty-
Three.

SECTION SIXTY-FOUR. Demolition permit approval Effect of prior legal actions.

No demolition permit for properties described in Section Fifty-Eight, except in emergency
situations, shall be issued by the Building Commissioner unless it has been approved as provided
in Sections Fifty-Nine to Sixty-Four.