Historical November–December 1998 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The purchase of numerous of residential buildings in Skinker DeBaliviere by Washington University has raised a number of concerns, to property owners in the immediate area, and to various neighbors generally.
In late Sep. tember, the SDCC sent the following letter to Washington University’s chancellor to indicate the desire for continuing years of cooperation but also allowing the university to understand residents’ concerns and fears, especially in light of rumors regarding an extension of campus buildings to our neighborhood.
The Chancellor recently responded, expressing hope for continued cooperation, on-going discussion of concerns, and his desire to learn more about our neighborhood.
The Council’s letter follows: Chancellor Mark Wrighton Washington University One Brookings Drive St. Louis MO 63105 Dear Chancellor Wrighton: For almost one hundred years, Washington University and the SkinkerDeBaliviere neighborhood have existed in close proximity and have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. Our neighborhood experienced considerable adversity in the late 1960s and 1970s.
We were redlined by banks and insurance companies. Realtors carried out panic selling and many thought SkinkerDeBaliviere might be on a downhill spiral. Many of its beautiful homes and multifamily dwellings suffered from neglect. Crime soared.
With considerable foresight, several institutions joined with a strong coterie of neighborhood leaders to create the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council.
These institutions which included Washington University assisted the Council monetarily as well as supporting the programs it sponsored. Thanks to strong leadership Skinker DeBaliviere has accomplished what few neighborhoods under similar circumstances have done.
The neighborhood has survived.
In fact, it has prospered. Its property values have increased many times over.
The neighborhood has come back.
It has done this as a diverse neighborhood.
It is about 58 percent African American and 42 percent white (as of 1990).
It has maintained this ratio for 25 years which is practically unheard of in the United States. Our partnership with Washington University has been a beneficial one. Today we enter a new phase in our relationship. Washington University has become a significant property holder in our neighborhood.
It has acquired a great many 2, 4, and 6 and greater unit buildings. You are now the largest owner in the neighborhood and dominate the 6000 and 6100 blocks of Pershing. You also have acquired considerable property on 6000 and 6100 Waterman. Many neighbors have remarked on the welcome addition of Washington University students to our community.
Some students have participated in our McPherson Community Garden and other beautification work. Their presence— particularly on foot—has added to the safety of our environs.
In addition, the students increase the diversity of which we are so proud.
We might add that their deportment has been very good and complaints are almost nonexistent.
We hope to explore with the university further ways to enhance our already solid living environment.
We anticipate planning to assist development on certain streets which have not profited as fully from the neighborhood’s renaissance.
We also look forward to some type of collaboration on the planned redevelopment of Delmar. Delmar is the missing link—necessary for the neighborhood’s convenience, security, and aesthetics. Despite our positive tone, we see several areas of possible difficulty in our relationship with Washington University.
The university has acquired the Arthur building on Skinker Boulevard in our neighborhood the former home of Talayna’s). Many residents wish to see this building restored.
We understand that its condition is poor but some neighobors see it as the entrance to Skinker DeBaliviere and would object if there were any plans to dispense with it.
The Council would like to be apprised of your plans for this building as soon as they are more firm. Of greater importance to most of our community is the future use of the buildings, aside from the Arthur, that the university has acquired in our neighborhood.
There have been a variety of rumors, speculating about Washington University’s plans.
These rumors feed off of stories about difficulties in towngown relationships in other cities as well as the Missouri Botanical Gardens’ illfated attempt to raze dwellings in the Southwest neighborhood in St. Louis.
We need to say to you—without any equivocation—that this is a residential neighborhood and a historic district.
We wish this neighborhood to remain residential and want to preserve its housing stock in its present form far, far into the future.
If this essential point is agreed to, there need never be disharmony. Because of our historic district status, any residential or commercial edifice within our neighborhood’s boundaries that is rehabbed is eligible for state tax credits. That helps to make preservation a more attractive path to follow.
As we indicated earlier, we have thoroughly enjoyed a very beneficial relationship with Washington University and wish that it remains so.
We have benefited and continue to benefit from the fact that we are neighbors. Our student residents have added to the neighborhood.
We also appreciate your incentive to faculty and staff to acquire homes here although we are aware of the fact that the university has a right of first refusal to purchase such a dwelling as a condition of making its loan funds available. Skinker DeBaliviere is a very special neighborhood, an exemplar for other neighborhoods in the city.
We have proved that there is value in having a strong and creative neighborhood organization, that there is value in working with churches and schools, and most of all that there is value in preserving and protecting an architectural legacy. Our neighborhood is a home for a committed heterogeneous group of people who value city living.
We intend to continue to fight to maintain and enhance this very special neighborhood and hope that you remain our partner in this effort.
We would enjoy the opportunity of showing you what we value so deeply.
If your schedule allows for a tour, please let us know. Many in the metropolitan area still view our neighborhood as it was 25 years ago.
We are more than happy to demonstrate how far we have come and the direction in which we are heading.
With best wishes, Gary Hayes Lana Stein President Chair, Residential Committee cc: Alderman Lyda Krewson . Richard Roloff Steve Givens
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 1998.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1998_11.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 5.
