Conversations on the Stoop

We Put the Urb in Urban

Gale Ormiston, who handles the Benton Park Neighborhood Association newsletter and membership, treasures the friends he has made in the neighborhood. Gale, who lives on Wyoming Street with companion Gary Rauch, an information technologist at Enterprise Leasing, is a landlord and rehabber. In a previous life, he was a performing artist in the field of dance. He was attracted to Benton Park because of evolving friendships with area residents made while working on his rental properties.

Mark Olsen and Katrina Knight.
Homeowners Mark Olsen and Katrina Knight moved to St. Louis so she could get an advanced degree from Washington University.

"I have worked on properties in other neighborhoods, but I never really was involved with as many people as in Benton Park," Gale remarks. "After I started going to neighborhood meetings, I made friends with more and more people, and I eventually decided to make this neighborhood my home."

In addition to friendly neighbors, he has a spectrum of friends from his performing career and in the arts. "Most live in University City, and are from my days of working at Washington University. They are always very impressed when we get together at a neighborhood restaurant for a visit," he explains.

A resident since 1984, Greg Stock also values the friends he has made in the neighborhood. "I know all sorts of people," he says. "The neighborhood is like a big family, a really great group of people," he notes.

Originally from Kansas City, MO, Greg is an architect with Christner Architects & Planners, Inc., located in Clayton. He sold his first Benton Park house. He has done extensive work on his present home on Salena, and Greg is working on a third nearby house to sell.

Ladd and Jen Suydam.
Newlyweds Ladd and Jen Suydam are Benton Park renters who enjoy the numerous amenities of the neighborhood.

"Actually, my life in Benton Park did not really start until I had been here for about ten years," Greg confides. "That is when I started to get involved with others who were working on the neighborhood." Greg adds that "I really became comfortable here when I joined in."

Charlie Dahlheimer, who lives with wife Linda on Illinois Street, is among many others who have participated in neighborhood efforts. "Part of what was interesting about moving to Benton Park was working on the problems, facing the challenge of bringing the neighborhood around." He observes that "some people go out and play golf. We tend to go out and play neighborhood," he explains. "When we moved here in 1986 it was a lot rougher that it is today," he reflects. Charlie is a real estate brokerage management consultant.

The effort is paying off. Gale Ormiston comments that "it is amazing how the neighborhood has improved. A lot of shabbiness has been abated." One result of improved appearance and stability is gradually rising real estate prices.

Tim Mulligan reports that "I looked in Lafayette Square and in Soulard. Even in 1985, when I bought my home, Benton Park was less expensive than Soulard." He grew up in Kirkwood. "I love Kirkwood, but prices there were way out of reach," he adds.

"I like the older homes with tall ceilings and extensive woodwork," he says. "To get that at a reasonable price is one of the great pluses of St. Louis," Tim notes. One of his community paybacks is serving as a representative on the Preservation Board of the Cultural Resources Office of the City of St. Louis.

Currently viewing page 2 of 3 pages.

Previous page. | Next page.