Washington Avenue Historic District (St. Louis, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Washington Avenue Historic District
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Street view of the Washington Avenue Loft District
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 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | Downtown West, St. Louis, Missouri  United States |
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| Area | 34 acres (14 ha) |
| Built | Various |
| Architect | Various |
| Architectural style | Chicago, Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003733 |
| Added to NRHP | February 27, 1987 |
The Washington Avenue Historic District is a special area in Downtown West, St. Louis, Missouri. It stretches along Washington Avenue, from Delmar Boulevard to Locust Street, and from 8th Street to 18th Street. This district is famous for its historic buildings.
Most of these buildings were built a long time ago, between the late 1800s and the early 1920s. They show off many popular building styles from that time. Many are large, tall buildings made of brick and stone. They were originally built as big warehouses for the clothing industry in St. Louis. Some buildings even have cool terra cotta decorations on their fronts.
After World War II, the way clothes were made changed. Factories started using single-story buildings more. This meant many of the old, tall warehouses became empty or weren't used much. They were just too old-fashioned for new ways of working.
Historic Buildings to See
The Washington Avenue Historic District includes several important buildings. These buildings show off the unique architecture of the area.
Ely and Walker Dry Goods Company Building
The Ely and Walker Dry Goods Company Building was built between 1906 and 1907. It was designed by a famous architecture firm called Eames & Young. This building was once a large warehouse. Today, it has been changed into modern homes called residential lofts.
Lesser-Goldman/Ferguson-McKinney Building
The Lesser-Goldman/Ferguson-McKinney Building was built in 1901. It is located at the corner of Washington and West 12th Street. This building was also designed by Eames & Young. It's a very large building, about half a city block in size.
This building has many interesting design features. It has round arches with special stones called voussoirs and keystones. It also has decorative corners called quoins. The main entrance on Washington Avenue is surrounded by beautiful terra cotta artwork. Above the entrance, windows are grouped in twos or threes. These groups are separated by brick dividers called mullions or decorative columns called pilasters.
How the Area Changed
In the 1990s, the Washington Avenue area started to get a new life. People began to see the potential in these old, empty buildings.
Bringing Old Buildings Back to Life
In 1998, the state of Missouri created a special tax credit. This credit made it easier and more affordable to fix up historic buildings. Because of this, many developers bought buildings along Washington Avenue. They also bought buildings in other parts of downtown St. Louis.
New Homes in Old Spaces
These developers started to change the old warehouses into new homes. They created loft-style condominiums and apartments. This means people can now live in these cool, historic buildings. The area has become a lively place with many residents and businesses.
