All Entries Tagged With: "Riverview"
Rooms with a View: 9756 E Lookout Court
Among the rich tapestry of unique homes lining the Riverview bluff, this 1920s Spanish-style cottage just might be the coolest of them all.
In 1917, when Riverview Drive was nothing but a dirt road hugging the banks of the Mississippi, St. Louis real estate developers R.W. Sikking & Robert Beckwith hatched an ambitious plan. Eyeing the vast stretch of wooded hillside overlooking the river, they purchased 255 acres of prime bluff property and proceeded to sell off individual lots at a brisk pace.
Many of the buyers were well-heeled city dwellers like lumber magnate Ben Fry, who built a lavish 10-room residence with formal gardens and a grand pergola. But most of the homes constructed in the Riverview Gardens subdivision were actually summer cottages, chicken ranches and what the developers called “little city farms,” where men of modest means could work in the city, live in the country and grow their own food.
“The interest in Riverview Gardens,” said Sikking in a 1917 Post-Dispatch article, “is due to the fact that the home sites overlook the river and have the most attractive surroundings, including the magnificent Chain of Rocks Park and the long stretch of drive along the top of the towering bluff. The sites are in the country, in the sense that the homeowners can own their automobiles and raise enough [food] to pay the equivalent of rent; and they are in the city in the sense that they are right at the city limits, with street car service and other city conveniences.”
By 1919, Sikking & Beckwith were selling a “little city farm” every single day, at prices ranging from $250 to $500. But around the same time, others were flocking to the bluff for entirely different reasons, including the owners of Peabody Coal, who decided to build a tiny rustic cottage at 9756 E. Lookout Court. It was here, at this secluded half-acre hideaway with sweeping river views, that company higher-ups would escape to play cards, entertain women and sneak a drink during Prohibition.
A few years later, in 1926, legend has it that CEO Francis Peabody’s mother (or perhaps grandmother) wanted to use the cottage as a summer residence. But finding it a bit too small and rustic for her needs, she oversaw the construction of an addition, bringing the house to its current size of 1,000 square feet. She added two bedrooms, an indoor bathroom and a small basement, and reportedly lived there with a maid. She was also responsible for the Spanish Revival details on the exterior facade.
In 1951, after 30 years of ownership, the Peabody family sold the property to a couple who lived on Riverview Drive below. Unfortunately, the husband died soon after, leaving his widow to live alone in the cottage for another 40 years. She finally sold the home in 1991 to its third owner, Gena Scott, who has lovingly cared for it ever since.
Scott is an artist, a former antique store owner and an all-around free spirit, just like many of her neighbors on the bluff. And now that her health is declining, she is committed to finding the next owner and caretaker for this fantastic little rustic cottage.
During her time in the house, she often rose before dawn to paint, capturing the river’s changing colors in the sunlight. Her goal now is to share this one-of-a-kind haven with another creative soul, someone who will cherish the unique energy of the property and use the magnificent landscape for inspiration. Perhaps that person is you…
9756 E. Lookout Court is currently on the market for $98,000, including a half-acre of land. More photos and info available here.
If you’d like a buyer’s agent to show you this delightful vintage home on the most spectacular lot, I would be more than happy. Contact me at (314) 359-5927 or shannon@STLhomeswithsoul.com.
Tornado leaves many feeling grateful in Ferguson
Nearly every street in my Ferguson neighborhood suffered extensive tree damage during Friday night's tornado, the worst St. Louis has seen in 43 years.
Wow, it sure has been a long, strange weekend. After a powerful tornado ripped through North County around 8pm on Friday, many areas of Bridgeton, Berkeley, Ferguson and Dellwood were left in complete disarray, with downed trees, sheared off roofs, blocked roadways and no electricity. Homes and buildings were also damaged in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Riverview and Glasgow Village.
Here at my house, the power went out during the storm and just returned after 60 hours of down time, but I’m certainly not complaining. Looking around my community, I feel extremely fortunate today because I know there are lots of people dealing with far worse than a power outage.
When the tornado hit on Friday, I barely heard anything from my basement. In fact, it seemed like such a non-event that I assumed Ferguson had missed the worst of it. Then I stepped outside….
The beams of my neighbors’ flashlights were already cutting through the darkness, revealing tree damage up and down the block. One neighbor lost a 100-foot spruce. Another had a large limb crash through his roof. Another lost a branch so huge that it was blocking the entire street.
Almost immediately, sirens started echoing from every direction…and they didn’t stop all night. Power lines were dangling. Trees were continuing to crack and fall over. Police cars were zipping through the neighborhood, obviously overwhelmed by the number of calls.
It was a scary scene in Old Ferguson West, and continued to be throughout the weekend, but we didn’t have nearly as much devastation as the poor folks along Royal Avenue and Hereford. My heart goes out to them. Clearly the storm went through Bridgeton and Lambert Airport and then followed the path of Airport Road/Hereford/Chambers, causing unbelievable damage pretty much the entire length.
But there is good news: no one was seriously injured.
So while many in Ferguson are still feeling stunned and sad, and countless residents are dealing with tremendous property damage, at least we can all be grateful that no lives were lost. I’m also thanking my lucky stars to live in such a strong, resilient community, where people truly care about one another and are always willing to help a neighbor in need…
Maline Greenway plans to be unveiled 3/24 & 29
Suburban Avenue in Ferguson will eventually rest at the heart of the Maline Greenway, a proposed trail network spanning all across North County.
As I first mentioned back in October, the planning process is officially underway for the new Maline Greenway, an interconnected trail system that will run from the city of St. Louis all the way to Berkeley. Following the length of the historic Maline Creek, it will travel through Kinloch, Ferguson, Cool Valley, Jennings, Moline Acres, Riverview and unincorporated North County, ultimately linking the existing St. Vincent and Confluence Greenways and adding to the 600+ miles of trails that the local nonprofit Great Rivers Greenway has already completed.
Consultants from GRG have been busy soliciting citizen input and hammering out the details on the Maline project, and now they’re ready to share their results. During public open houses that start next week, they’ll lay out conceptual plans for the new trail and offer a glimpse at what each of the participating communities can expect.
“Our plan for Maline Greenway is intended to inspire citizens, developers, community organizations and local governments to work together to form an interconnected trail system along Maline Creek, providing children and families with a safe option for exercise, commuting and outdoor activities,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway.
The first open house will be held March 24, from 6-8 pm at the Bellefontaine Recreational Center, 9669 Bellefontaine Road, 63137. The second open house will be held on March 29 from 6-8 pm, at Ferguson Middle School, 701 January Ave., 63135. All are welcome. Free snacks and children’s crafts will be available during the event.
If you can’t make it, you may want to check out this video from Great Rivers Greenway. It follows a bus tour of the proposed Maline route, with commentary provided by GRG staff. The sound kicks in around :49.
By the way, the photo at the top of this post shows last year’s Live Well Ferguson 5K. Just wait until this year’s event, when my colorful new Ferguson banners will line Suburban Avenue… Have you registered for the race yet? It’s May 14th.
Hidden Jewels of the Riverview Bluff
A secret driveway leads to this 1.2-acre, two-house haven on Lookaway Drive, on the edge of the bluffs near Riverview and Glasgow Village.
In most cities, a house with a hilltop location and a beautiful water view would be considered real estate gold. But as we all know, St. Louis is…special. That’s why one of the area’s best-kept secrets remains just that, and why, if you told someone you were moving to Riverview, they would probably think you’re nuts. But ah, what treasures await in this gorgeous little corner of North County.
Perched high on a bluff overlooking the mighty Mississippi, the vintage homes on and around Lookaway Drive are truly architectural gems. Most date from the 1920s and 30s, coinciding with the growth of the Riverview Gardens and Glasgow Woods subdivisions, but some – like 11152 Lookaway, which is currently for sale – date back to the 1800s.
Resting on more than an acre of lush, very private property that was originally deeded to one Isabella Chitwood before the Louisiana Purchase, the house is like a place lost in time. Built just prior to the opening of the Chain of Rocks Water Works (those cute little buildings in the river), it’s surrounded by land once owned by Dr. William Carr, the first mayor of St. Louis, and Amadee Valle, a Missouri legislator and close friend of Abraham Lincoln.
A Glasgow Village brochure from the 1950s. Credit: Lori Campbell
Of course, from 1927 through 1977, the house shared its lovely bluff view with the Chain of Rocks Amusement Park (later known as Fun Fair Park), a once bustling destination whose rides, roller rink and massive swimming pool many St. Louisans still fondly remember. But during the 1950s, it was nearly swallowed by redevelopment, as William Glasgow’s adjoining “Bienvenue Farm” gradually became the sprawling collection of modest ranch homes known as Glasgow Village.
Much has changed in the area since then. Though most of the houses on the bluff still radiate their unique charm and a handful of Glasgow Village’s original homeowners still remain (and remain active), white flight has opened the door for an increase in poverty and rentals, spurring St. Louis County to identify the community as “changing” – essentially stable but with “emerging signs of trouble in specific areas.”
I hope I’m not alone when I say this, but man, we are crazy to let this happen. The Riverview bluff’s quaint winding streets, tucked with enchanting, one-of-a-kind homes, remind me of the fabulous canyon hillsides in Los Angeles – except that here, you also get a view of one of the grandest rivers in the world.
I think it’s a crime to let this area deteriorate, especially when you consider that exceptional older houses and estate-style properties can be found all around the Bellefontaine/Chambers/Riverview corridor. Talk about an opportunity for some bold, creative redevelopment, building on the area’s existing assets and potential for eco-tourism! (Green homes, anyone? Bob Cassilly’s wondrous recycled Cementland is right next door.)
It was natural beauty that attracted early landowners here in the first place, inspiring them to build such captivating houses. With a little focused effort, particularly from those who claim to love this area so much, why couldn’t it draw a new wave of progress now? Why walk away from a part of town that still has so much to offer?
Click any image for a larger view, and navigate with the arrows beneath it.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K