The Avalon at the end of the first day of wrecking.
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Demolition of the Avalon Theater at 4225 S. Kingshighway is nearly complete. On January 17, wreckers employed by owner Greg Tsevis started destroying one of the city’s last intact single-screen neighborhood movie houses. The 647-seat Avalon was designed by architects A.F. and Arthur Stauder in the Art Deco style. The geometry of the building form, stressed through the checker pattern of rough and smooth brick on the front elevation, was given poetic expression through floral terra cotta panels.
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Although the Avalon was not a major work of Art Deco design in the region, it was worthy of preservation and had been on Modern STL’s watch list since our founding. Read more about the Avalon and efforts to preserve it here.
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On Monday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch carried a front-page, above-the-fold article by Tim Logan. The article, “Razing of St. Louis theater sparks calls to change demolition laws“, spells out how the demolition of the Avalon Theater has sparked a larger discussion about protecting the city’s historic buildings. Modern STL is at the forefront of promoting citywide demolition review to offer protection of modern architecture.
Schweiss House photograph by Ted Wight.
In 1951, Bernoudy-Mutrux (the firm of architects William A. Bernoudy and Edouard Mutrux) designed a small, innovative house for sculptor Ruth Schweiss and her husband Frank. This house was laid out on a plan of parallelogram modules, and featured a central hearth and carport integrated in the design — details congruent with Frank Lloyrd Wright’s approach to the noted Kraus House in Ebsworth Park.
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Today the Schweiss house is for sale — with the dreaded “tear-down” as a possibility!
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Realtor Ted Wight
published a blog post urging a buyer to step forward and save the house. From the post:
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“This house is in real danger of being torn down by someone who just wants the lot. The price is somewhere around $410,000 which is also a good price point to buy a lot in Ladue. Someone needs to step up and buy this treasure before it is lost.”
The AAA Building at 3925 Lindell Boulevard, completed in 1976 and designed by W.A. Sarmiento. Photograph by Michaela Burwell-Taylor.
Brief update on the AAA Building: CVS requested a liquor license for the proposed store, and Alderman Terry Kennedy opposes a license there. CVS has not returned with a proposal for a store without a license, and seems to be looking at other possible sites on Lindell Boulevard. Stay tuned.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Come to the Six Row Brewing Company
from 7 – 8 PM
For all current ModernSTL, it’s time to vote for the board members that make it all happen.
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As part of the by-laws of our non-proft, once a year, all members vote during a board member roll call. We ask you to come and be part of the administrative process. And since that can be a rather dry experience, we have something to entice you!
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Arrive between 7 – 8 pm, and the first beer is on us!
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Here’s a map to Six Row Brewing Company. And we look forward to mingling with our members after you help us make quick work of the voting formalities.
