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Look Back: 1954 Urban renewal
Date: 8/5/2009 Album ID: 810355
Photos by Post Dispatch staff photographers
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The Mill Creek Valley area, dating back to 1765, was home to nearly 20,000 people living in 5600 homes. In 1954, when Mayor Raymond Tucker announced plans to demolish the tenements, it would become the city’s biggest urban-renewal project and, for a time, the largest in the nation.
This part of Mill Creek Valley area housing in the St. Louis, Mo. area is located in the 3300 block rear of Laclede, between Laclede and Walnut. This photo was probably taken in 1952. Post-Dispatch Archive Photo
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The alley between Chestnut-Lacaton and Market (westbound) west of Compton Ave. Mill Creek Valley area housing in the St. Louis, Mo. area This photo was probably taken in 1948. Post-Dispatch Archive Photo
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November 27,1960---Roomers gather in the kitchen of the house they share on Bernard street. Lathern Blackwell wipes dishes as Mrs. Estella Minor, holding her daughter Patricia, and Essie Jack look on. The Land Clearance Authority is about to start condemnation proceeding against the property, which is owned by a non-resident of Mill Creek. Jack Gould | Post-Dispatch
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Aug. 29, 1962---Looking east, one of the last remaining homes in the Mill Creek area. This was made on the south side of Walnut St. Weeds in the foreground; with downtown St. Louis in the background. Jim Rackwitz | Post-Dispatch
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March 9,1961---Wielding spades in groundbreaking ceremonies for first construction in Mill Creek Valley redevelopment area yesterday were: (from left) Alderman Archie Blaine, in whose Sixth Ward project is located; Eugene C. Farrell, chairman of Land Clearance Authority ; Aloys P. Kaufmann, president of Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis; Alan Smith, district director of Federal Housing Administration here; Mayor Raymond R. Tucker and Alderman A. Barney Mueller, chairman of aldermanic housing and land clearance committee. Site is at Leonard and Laclede avenues. Mayor Tucker predicted the residential development by University Heights Redevelopment Corp. would make a great contribution to the economic stability of St. Louis. Post-Dispatch staff photo
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Mill Creek Valley area housing in the St. Louis, Mo. area This photo was probably taken in 1952. Post-Dispatch Archive Photo
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City planner Arthur Schwarz with model of Mill Creek area. Model was prepared by Russell, Mullgardt, Schwarz, Van Hoefen for St. Louis Redevelopment Corp. Architects incorporated the housing plan of Scheuer into the overall concept. Post-Dispatch Archive photo (This photo was probably taken in 1957.)
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Mill Creek Valley area housing in the St. Louis, Mo. area This photo was probably taken in 1942. Post-Dispatch Archive Photo
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Feb. 21,1969--Mill Creek Industrial area at 2800 Market St. Post-Dispatch staff photo
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Nov. 17, 1965--A view of the rejuvenated Mill Creek area looking east from atop St. Louis University's Griesedieck Memorial Hall at North Grand avenue and West Pine boulevard. Running east and west at right is Laclede avenue. Under construction in the foreground on the University's campus extension is the Busch Memorial Center. Beyond that is a complex of science and engineering building. The rectangle of green just east of the science building and bordering the student parking lot at left is Stan Musial Field. The tall building at right is on e of the Grand Tower apartment buildings. Farther east are the Grand Forest and Laclede Park apartments. Rising above the downtown skyline in the far background is the Gateway Arch. Post-Dispatch staff photo
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Looking North West from Leonard Ave. from the top of Waring School. Mill Creek Valley area housing in the St. Louis, Mo. area This photo was probably taken in 1948. Post-Dispatch Archive Photo
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March 15,1959---Demolition in progress in Mill Creek Valley is relatively easy because old buildings are so weak many can be pulled down. The Laclede avenue tenement is beginning to crumble as high-powered tractor pulls steel cable. New apartments will be erected here. Post-Dispatch staff photo
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Feb. 16, 1959--Three-thousand-pound headache ball swings through the air and smashes into wall of tenement at 3518 Laclede avenue, marking start of demolition on Mill Creek Valley redevelopment project. Mayor Raymond R. Tucker (in light coat) and officials of city's Land Clearance Authority beside the crane and watch the first building crumble. The 465-acre Mill Creek area will be cleared by stages to make way for new housing ,stores and industrial plants. Post-Dispatch staff photo
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