Storefront additions to residences were very common between 1920 and 1950 between on Lafayette Avenue between Jefferson and Compton in south city. I have written about two others (read them here and here) in this stretch, and neglected to point out a robust corner storefront addition at the southeast corner of Lafayette and Nebraska avenues. On the front of an eclectic Craftsman-inspired house with false mansard and front gable, we have the finest storefront addition on Lafayette. Actually, the addition houses two commercial spaces. Cast iron columns frame generously-glazed traditional storefront openings (which wrap the side), and an intact dentillated tin cornice with a second order of brackets provides a refined crown. Many of these additions bear the programmatic inelegance of their utility. Not this one.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Fine Storefront Addition
Storefront additions to residences were very common between 1920 and 1950 between on Lafayette Avenue between Jefferson and Compton in south city. I have written about two others (read them here and here) in this stretch, and neglected to point out a robust corner storefront addition at the southeast corner of Lafayette and Nebraska avenues. On the front of an eclectic Craftsman-inspired house with false mansard and front gable, we have the finest storefront addition on Lafayette. Actually, the addition houses two commercial spaces. Cast iron columns frame generously-glazed traditional storefront openings (which wrap the side), and an intact dentillated tin cornice with a second order of brackets provides a refined crown. Many of these additions bear the programmatic inelegance of their utility. Not this one.
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2 comments:
That is a great example. I have seen many more, as I'm sure you have.
Looking beyond the architecture and focusing on the whole question of zoning in a historical context is important for today in my view.
Harland Bartholomew is the father of zoning in St. Louis. The zoning that would exclude that type of use began to occur after Harland Bartholomew, although the separation of the city into larger and larger spaced lots occurred before his influence.
The question I would ask is what sort of urban policies in the past would generate that form?
Can or should they be applied today?
Hey, I drive past this one every day, and didn't even notice it. Thanks for pointing it out!
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