Introduced by Alderman Timothy J. Dee

An ordinance concerning the designation of the "North I-44 Historic District" as an historic district; containing legislative findings and declarations with respect to the procedures followed with respect to a petition for designation of the "North I-44 Neighborhood" as an historic district; designating the "North I-44 Neighborhood" as an historic district, and describing the boundaries of such district; containing, identifying and providing for maintenance of a general location map of such district; stating the historic and architectural significance and the current economic condition of such district; describing the advantages to residents and property owners of such district and to the City which shall be anticipated as a consequence of historic district designation; containing, identifying and providing for maintenance of a plat at a scale of not more than 300 feet to the inch indicating the existing uses and zoning of all properties within the district; stating a general plan for the district indicating planned or proposed restoration, development and demolition within the district; stating amendments to the existing zoning classification and boundaries necessary to conform to the proposed plan; with a severability clause and an emergency clause.

WHEREAS, Ordinance 57986 provides a procedure for designation of historic districts; and

WHEREAS, a petition for designation of the North I-44 Neighborhood as hereinafter defined as an historic district was filed with the Heritage and Urban Design Commission by the Alderman for the ward within which such proposed district is located on January 23, 1987; and

WHEREAS, the maps, statements, plats, plans, and standards, which Section 24.12.070 Revised Code, City of St. Louis, 1980, as amended, provides shall be submitted with such a petition, either had been filed with the Heritage and Urban Design Commission before the filing of such petition or were maintained and possessed by such Commission when such petition was filed; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 24.12.080 the Heritage and Urban Design Commission transmitted to the Director of the Community Development Agency and the President of the Board of Public Service, copies of such petition and certain related materials; and

WHEREAS, the community development commission and the Board of Public Service have reviewed the petition and exhibits and documents relating thereto, and have reported to the Board of Aldermen in writing; and

WHEREAS, the Heritage and Urban Design Commission held a public hearing on March 26, 1987, within the time and after giving the notice by publication and placarding prescribed by Section 24.12.100 Revised Code, City of St. Louis, 1980, as amended; and

WHEREAS, at such hearing numerous residents expressed their views respecting the proposed district; and

WHEREAS, the appropriate standing committee of the Board of Aldermen has conducted a public hearing on this Bill, after causing notice to be given in a newspaper of general circulation in the City at least fifteen (15) days prior to the public hearing of the pendency of said proposed ordinance; and

WHEREAS, designation of the North I-44 Neighborhood as an historic district is in the public interest and will promote the public health, safety, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of Ordinance 57986 were substantially complied with respect to the historic district designation petition and the subsequent proceedings thereon notwithstanding certain provisions of said Ordinance to the contrary, specifically Section One, 896.020, (5 through 8) lack of compliance with which are harmless and not prejudicial to the district or any person; and

WHEREAS, further delay in designation of the North I-44 Neighborhood as an historic district would be prejudicial to the public interest and contrary to the desires of a majority of the residents of such proposed district who have heretofore expressed their views on such designation.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION ONE.
The Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis hereby finds and declares that, with respect to the petition for historic district designation for the North I-44 Neighborhood and the subsequent proceedings thereon:

1. The provisions of Ordinance 57986 have been substantially complied with, notwithstanding certain provisions of said Ordinance to the contrary, specifically Section One, 896.020, (5 through 8) lack of compliance with which is hereby determined to be harmless and not prejudicial to the district or any person;
2. Further delay in designation of the North I-44 Neighborhood (as hereinafter defined) as an historic district would be prejudicial to the public interest and contrary to the intent of Ordinance 57986.

SECTION TWO.
Notwithstanding its present zoning designation, the following area of the City of St. Louis, together with the improvements therein, is designated an historic district:

Beginning at the center line of Park, 137.5 feet west if 39th, south along a line approximately 137.5 feet west of 39th to its intersection with the western line of City Block 4960, lot 080, south along said line across Folsom to its point of intersection with the southern line of Folsom, east along said line to its point of intersection with the western line of City Block 4961, lot 200, south along said line across the alley bisecting City Block 4961 to its point of intersection with the southern line of said alley, west along said line to its intersection with the western line of City Block 4961, lot 240, south along said line across Blaine to its point of intersection with the western line of City Block 4962, lot 190, south across the alley bisection City Block 4962 to its intersection with the western line of City Block 4962, lot 210, south across McRee to its point of intersection with the southern line of McRee, east along said line to its point of intersection with the western line of City Block 5438, lot 200, south across the alley bisecting City Block 5438 to its point of intersection with the western line of City Block 5438, lot 210, south along said line across Lafayette to its point of intersection with the southern line of Lafayette, west along the southern line of Lafayette to the center line of Vandeventer, generally northeast to the center line of Tower Grove, north to the San Francisco Railway underpass, generally northeast along said railway to the center line of Park, east to the origin; to be known as the North I-44 Historic District. The boundaries of such district as herein described are set forth in a map, which map shall at all times be maintained in the offices of the Heritage and Urban Design Commission.

SECTION THREE.
(a) The historic, architectural, cultural and aesthetic significances of the North I-44 Historic District is as follows:

The North I-44 Neighborhood District in St. Louis qualifies for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C and is eligible in the following areas of significance:

1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: The District illustrates the development of a significant American theme: the migration to the suburbs. In 1891, as critical commuter lines from the urban core reached Dundee Place, one of the decade's costliest and most intensive promotions of a suburban subdivision was launched by a small group of local and out of state investors. Located some distance southwest of the inner city, the new "street car suburb: was one of the largest subdivisions ever platted in St. Louis. Dundee Place offered improvements in lot size, sanitation, and housing quality to members of the working and middle classes seeking relief from conditions in older residential sections. A portion of the tract, in the northern sector, adjacent to tracks of the Missouri Pacific and Frisco Railroads was wisely reserved by the developers for industrial purposes. By 1895, industrial growth in the northern sector presaged the transformation of the District from a middle-class commuter neighborhood to a diverse community housed in multi-family dwellings as well as single family homes.

   Community Development History(continued)

2. ARCHITECTURE: The district embodies a wide range of representative types of middle and working class urban housing and small commercial buildings constructed between 1885 and 1932. Expressed in traditional St. Louis materials of brick and terra cotta, the buildings are in distinguished by the high quality of the brickwork and architectural detailing. Styles include Italianate/Mansard, picturesque Queen Anne and Romanesque, a strong Classical Revival cadre whose influence was felt throughout the development of the District, and early twentieth century Craftsman and Bungaloid. Although less than half were designed by architects, a large proposition of the most interesting and effective buildings were speculatively built by owner/contractors who frequently designed rows as cohesive units while imparting individual identities to the building. The factory and warehouse buildings in the northwest sector of the District are good examples of late-nineteenth century industrial architecture. Constructed in 1895-96 by the Ligget and Myer Tobacco Company from plans drawn by locally prominent Isaac Taylor, the complex included the world's largest tobacco factory. Although a number of the buildings have been demolished, what remains conveys a good sense of the importance and enormity of the original complex. The District's strong visual integrity is a result of density, similar building costs, materials, and scale, and a uniform building line.

   Architectural History (continued)

   SECTION FOUR. A set of plats at a scale of not more than 300 feet to the inch, indicating the existing uses of all properties with the North I-44 Historic District shall at all times be maintained in the offices of the Heritage and Urban Design Commission. SECTION FIVE. The following general plan for the North I-44 Historic District is hereby adopted, to be implemented consistent with the standards in Section Six, and in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Ordinance 57986. RESTORATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NORTH I-44 NEIGHBORHOOD. A. Zoning. No zoning changes are presently proposed. Rezoning to increase density is discouraged. B. Density. Dwelling units originally intended for a lower density occupancy shall be restored to that density. C. Preservation. The preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of all historic structures and designated as having national, state, city or neighborhood significance or architectural merit shall be guided by the historic standards set out in Section Six hereof. All construction, demolition or alteration of exterior architectural features with respect to any improvement within the North I-44 Historic District is subject to the provisions of Ordinance 57986. SECTION SIX. The following historic district standards for the North I-44 Historic District are hereby adopted:

   NORTH I-44 HISTORIC DISTRICT

   Use, Construction and Restoration Standards
   A building or premises shall be utilized for the uses permitted in the zoning district within which the building or premises is located. Any new permits for the following commercial uses are hereby prohibited; adult book stores, movie houses which show X-rated movies, massage parlors, pinball arcades, pool halls, tattoo parlors and pawn shops. Carry-out restaurants and motor fuel pumping stations as specified in Section 11 of Ordinance 59979, approved 7/30/86, or as amended, are hereby prohibited. In addition, the Excise Commissioner will issue no new license(s) for full drink, 22% drink, 5% drink, 3.2% drink, C.O.L., full package, 22% package, 5% package or 3.2% package shall be issued after the effective date of this Ordinance. The only exception to this provision is for license(s) which shall allow the sale of intoxicating liquor at retail by the drink for consumption on the premises where sold in a restaurant, as defined in Section 14.04.130 of the Revised Code, City of St. Louis, 1980, as amended. This exception shall not permit the license(s) to sell any alcoholic beverage of any kind or alcoholic content above .05% for off-premises consumption. The Excise Commissioner may issue a non-renewable temporary license for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days to establish whether a restaurant as defined in Section 14.04.130 of the Revised Code, City of St. Louis, 1980, is serving more than 50% consumed on premises food and thereby may be considered for a full drink license for the sale of intoxicating liquor as provided herein and pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 14.28 of the Revised Code, City of St. Louis, 1980, as amended.

   SECTION SEVEN. No amendments to the existing zoning classification and boundaries are necessary to conform to the historic district plan.

   SECTION EIGHT. The Heritage and Urban Design Commission and the Office on Heritage and Urban Design shall be responsible for administration of this Ordinance, as provided by, and subject to, the provisions of Ordinance 57986 with appropriate assistance of other City Departments, Divisions, or offices, as provided by City Charter or Ordinances.

   SECTION NINE. If any section or portion of a section of this Ordinance is declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining sections and portions of sections shall remain in full force and effect.

   SECTION TEN. This ordinance being deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and approval by the Mayor.