Regrettably, there is a local version of Thursday's front page story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch concerning the real estate travails of the Roberts brothers. While the focus of yesterday's Post article was largely about a collection of troubled properties located Downtown, there is also substantial dormant real estate located at the north end of the CWE that is owned by the same developer. The sorry condition of these mostly vacant and unkempt parcels serves to reinforce the perception that the "nice" part of the CWE ends at Delmar.
Steve and Mike Roberts, who reside in the CWE, are the owners of the large parking lot at the southeast corner of Euclid and Delmar, which I photographed last summer, shown above. With parking at a premium all over the neighborhood, it seems a shame that this lot has been in the same sad, neglected and unproductive condition for many years. The look of abandonment persists at the former Schnuck's store at the northeast corner of Delmar and Kingshighway.
In addition, there are two vacant lots, one on either side of Washington just west of Euclid that were slated by the Roberts to become townhouse developments. After several false starts over the past few years nothing has occurred and both lots remain unsightly and undeveloped.
The owners of the Mahler Ballroom, whose property abuts one of these parcels, complained several times last year about the condition of the lot next to them, and eventually the weeds were cut. For those responsible property owners who have worked diligently to maintain and upgrade their properties along Washington Boulevard, the condition of these neglected parcels and the alleys behind them is an insult.
We all know times are tough and financing is difficult to come by, but keeping weeds and litter under control, and projecting a decent image does not seem too much to expect.