I know many people told me they could care less that the SaLees Kennard House was in danger of being demolished, since she was the daughter of one of the founders of the Veiled Prophet Parade. Well guess what? You got your wish! The house has now suffered a severe structural collapse, and will probably be demolished by the State of Missouri, which owns the property. My opinion was that the house is an extremely rare example of a post-Civil War Italianate town house built in Midtown–three stories at that–and its loss robs us of an important piece of St. Louis architectural history.
Its form could have easily inspired sensitive and sustainable in-fill when redevelopment returned to this part of St. Louis, which is a fifteen minute walk from downtown. Meanwhile, another house faces imminent demolition due to neglect at the hands of Paul McKee.
I photographed this little building back in 2011, which was probably a carriage house or stable originally, and now it has collapsed partially into the alley, and is threatening the safety of the church members next door since its bricks have fallen into the congregation’s parking lot. Again, I ask my readers, imagine if you attended that church.
There is construction going on, which looks to be a gas station, based off of the footings.