LaSalle Park
Encyclopedia
LaSalle Park is an integral part of the three-neighborhood "Old Frenchtown" area—LaSalle Park, Lafayette Square
and Soulard
—bordering the southern edge of downtown St. Louis
. It was formed as a "new" neighborhood, legally distinct from the larger Soulard district, through the efforts of local company Ralston Purina, which has its world headquarters in LaSalle Park, and the city of St. Louis, Missouri
.
LaSalle Park contains a mixture of Victorian
and Federalist architecture. At least two of the homes in this French
neighborhood were built at the time of the Civil War
. New construction is also found in the neighborhood. The current urban renewal
guidelines http://stlouis.missouri.org/lasalle/regulations.htm, approved by the City of St. Louis, require that all new construction be built in a style similar to and compatible with the existing architecture
.
The LaSalle Park Neighborhood enjoys Federal Historic Status with homes that are considered to have neighborhood, city, state and nation-wide architectural significance. Plans were filed by Ralston Purina Co. and Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc. in 1977 (revised in 1979, 1980, 1982) to establish the historic importance of the neighborhood architecturally.
Saint John Nepomuk Church
St. Vincent de Paul
Roman Catholic Church
Dwell 912
Nearby attraction also include the Anheuser-Busch Brewery
, which conducts free daily tours (with samples). Brewery information
The Gateway Arch
is a quick bike-ride away.
Scottrade Center
where the Saint Louis Blues Hockey Club plays, and Saint Louis Union Station also a medium walk away.
The Metrolink light-rail system has two stops (at Scottrade and at the new Busch Stadium) that are an easy walk, giving access to Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo, Union Station, Laclede's Landing
, and the airport.
Architecturally interesting homes abound in the neighborhood. Two houses built in the 1860s in the 900 block of Morrison are the first documented use of decorative steel lintels
west of the Mississippi.
and Interstate 44
were built through the neighborhood. The area fell into decline even while Soulard was maintained. In March 1969, 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) were declared blighted
and the Saint Louis Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority applied for a federal planning grant to rehabilitate the neighborhood.
Federal funds were approved for redeveloping LaSalle Park in 1971. Brick
sidewalks, extensive landscaping and street lamps designed to mirror those that were in the neighborhood many years prior were installed.
Property throughout the neighborhood was sold in early 1976 to both individuals and developers who were willing to restore homes and businesses or to build "in-fill" houses. These structures are so named because they are designed and built to match or resemble the surrounding architecture. Through the efforts of Ralston Purina and the City of St. Louis, an Urban Renewal Plan and Guidelines for upholding the integrity of the neighborhood's properties was established under the leadership of the LaSalle Park Redevelopment Corporation.
The neighborhood continues to operate and maintain its distinctive architectural design and character through a revision of this urban plan. In 2006, all new street lamps were installed and sidewalk repairs undertaken, to maintain the quality of life
in the neighborhood.
Lafayette Square, St. Louis
Lafayette Square is a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri that is bounded on the north by Chouteau Avenue, on the south by Interstate 44, on the east by Truman Parkway and on the west by South Jefferson Avenue. It surrounds Lafayette Park, which is the city's oldest public park, created by...
and Soulard
Soulard, St. Louis
Soulard is a historic French neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. It is named after Antoine Soulard, who first began to develop the land...
—bordering the southern edge of downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis is the central business district of St. Louis, Missouri, the hub of tourism and entertainment, and the anchor of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The downtown is bounded by Cole Street to the north, the river front to the east, Chouteau Avenue to the south, and Jefferson Avenue...
. It was formed as a "new" neighborhood, legally distinct from the larger Soulard district, through the efforts of local company Ralston Purina, which has its world headquarters in LaSalle Park, and the city of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
LaSalle Park contains a mixture of Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Federalist architecture. At least two of the homes in this French
French American
French Americans or Franco-Americans are Americans of French or French Canadian descent. About 11.8 million U.S. residents are of this descent, and about 1.6 million speak French at home.An additional 450,000 U.S...
neighborhood were built at the time of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. New construction is also found in the neighborhood. The current urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
guidelines http://stlouis.missouri.org/lasalle/regulations.htm, approved by the City of St. Louis, require that all new construction be built in a style similar to and compatible with the existing architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
.
The LaSalle Park Neighborhood enjoys Federal Historic Status with homes that are considered to have neighborhood, city, state and nation-wide architectural significance. Plans were filed by Ralston Purina Co. and Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc. in 1977 (revised in 1979, 1980, 1982) to establish the historic importance of the neighborhood architecturally.
Attractions
Many attractions and buildings of historic importance can be found in the LaSalle Park neighborhood.Saint John Nepomuk Church
This historic LaSalle Park church was the first Czech Catholic church in America. In 2005 it was designated a chapel, meaning it serves the Czech community for special events, but does not have a parish. It's namesake John of NepomukJohn of NepomukJohn of Nepomuk is a national saint of the Czech Republic, who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia. Later accounts state that he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional...
is a national saint of the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. The Saint Louis Mother Church
St. Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul was a priest of the Catholic Church who became dedicated to serving the poor. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He was canonized in 1737....
Roman Catholic Church
The historic church building, with its Romanesque architectureRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
, was designed by Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr.Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr.Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr. was an architect, civil engineer, politician, and a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He first served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater as the initial commander of the Ninth Division of the Missouri State Guard and later commanded a brigade...
and completed in 1843 on the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Park Avenue adjacent to Highway 55. In addition to being a vibrant congregation and frequent wedding site; Saint Vincent's now provides assistance, education and food to the homeless in downtown Saint Louis area.Official Site
Dwell 912
A fine Bed and BreakfastBed and breakfastA bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
sequestered right in the middle of the neighborhood, within walking distance of the new Saint Louis Cardinals Busch StadiumBusch StadiumBusch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
. Dwell 912 was voted Saint Louis's best Bed and Breakfast in 2006 by the readers of the Riverfront Times. An Urban Retreat
Nearby attraction also include the Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
, which conducts free daily tours (with samples). Brewery information
The Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
is a quick bike-ride away.
Scottrade Center
Scottrade Center
Scottrade Center is a 19,150 seat arena located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, opened in 1994. It is the home of the St...
where the Saint Louis Blues Hockey Club plays, and Saint Louis Union Station also a medium walk away.
The Metrolink light-rail system has two stops (at Scottrade and at the new Busch Stadium) that are an easy walk, giving access to Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo, Union Station, Laclede's Landing
Laclede's Landing
Laclède's Landing is a popular attraction located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.Located just north of the Eads Bridge on the Mississippi Riverfront, the Landing is a multi-block collection of cobblestone streets and vintage brick-and-cast-iron warehouses dating from 1850 through 1900, now...
, and the airport.
Architecturally interesting homes abound in the neighborhood. Two houses built in the 1860s in the 900 block of Morrison are the first documented use of decorative steel lintels
Post and lintel
Post and lintel, or in contemporary usage Post and beam, is a simple construction method using a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts...
west of the Mississippi.
Rebuilding
The LaSalle Park neighbor hood was "cut-off" from the rest of Soulard when Interstate 55Interstate 55 in Missouri
In the U.S. state of Missouri, Interstate 55 runs from the Arkansas state line to the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Louis.-Route description:...
and Interstate 44
Interstate 44 in Missouri
In the U.S. state of Missouri, Interstate 44 runs northeast from the Oklahoma state line near Joplin to Interstate 55 in downtown St. Louis. It runs for a total of 290 miles in Missouri.-Route description:...
were built through the neighborhood. The area fell into decline even while Soulard was maintained. In March 1969, 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) were declared blighted
Urban decay
Urban decay is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude...
and the Saint Louis Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority applied for a federal planning grant to rehabilitate the neighborhood.
Federal funds were approved for redeveloping LaSalle Park in 1971. Brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
sidewalks, extensive landscaping and street lamps designed to mirror those that were in the neighborhood many years prior were installed.
Property throughout the neighborhood was sold in early 1976 to both individuals and developers who were willing to restore homes and businesses or to build "in-fill" houses. These structures are so named because they are designed and built to match or resemble the surrounding architecture. Through the efforts of Ralston Purina and the City of St. Louis, an Urban Renewal Plan and Guidelines for upholding the integrity of the neighborhood's properties was established under the leadership of the LaSalle Park Redevelopment Corporation.
The neighborhood continues to operate and maintain its distinctive architectural design and character through a revision of this urban plan. In 2006, all new street lamps were installed and sidewalk repairs undertaken, to maintain the quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
in the neighborhood.
External links
- LaSalle Park - Official neighborhood website (archived)
- Historic Soulard
- Soulard-Page District / LaSalle Park MRA - National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form
- LaSalle Park MRA map - Showing boundaries and significant properties for nomination form.