Michael Allen is an architectural historian and founder of Preservation Research Office. He authors the blog, Ecology of Absence. Allen’s research is concerned with the impact of deindustrialization, population loss and postwar urban renewal projects on the preservation of historic urban landscapes.

Roundtable Discussion Part 2-Michael Allen by Juanwilliamchavez

Sylvester Brown, Jr  talks about the Sweet Potato Project.  The mission of the Sweet Potato Project is to create a North St. Louis program that offers educational and money-making opportunities for “at risk” urban youth. The expanded goal of the project is to bring vibrant economic activity back to long-neglected urban areas by creating alternative and progressive ways to create and distribute products that are grown and created within these disadvantaged communities.

Sylvester Brown, Jr. is an award-winning journalist, former publisher of Take Five Magazine and metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In January 2011, Brown established When we Dream Together, a nonprofit aimed at revitalizing long-ignored urban areas.

Roundtable Discussion Part 3 – Sylvester Brown Jr by Juanwilliamchavez

When did the buildings come down?
The St. Louis Housing Authority demolished three buildings in 1972; these were demolished through explosive blasts. The remaining 30 buildings came down in 1976 and 1977; these were demolished by wrecking ball. (The buildings were built between 1952 and 1956.)

How many acres is the site?
Pruitt-Igoe is 33 acres.

Are there any Pruitt-Igoe remains? (Example lamppost or structures)
The only buildings still standing on the site are accessory structures: the Union Electric Sub-Station (1952), Pruitt Elementary School (1955) and the Crunden Branch Library (1959). There are some crushed bits of reinforced concrete from the buildings that remain, as well as footings, tunnels and other underground components. Throughout the site, concrete walkways and curbs remain both exposed and under rubble piles. Dickson Street, the east-west street, is intact despite encroaching tree lines. A lamp post that once lit the walk in front of a tower inexplicably stands on the south end of the site. A few fence posts can be found that correspond to Housing Authority efforts to secure vacant towers before demolition.

Who planted the trees?
Some of the oaks in the site are street and lawn trees planted by the St. Louis Housing authority before the demolitions. The other trees are all volunteers.

Why did they plant the trees?
The trees were planted to provide shade to the residents.

What types of trees or plants are in there?
There are some slow-growth trees including oaks and maples, but the most common trees on the site are fast-growing somewhat invasive types that include poplar, tree of heaven and mimosa. Juniper trees can be found throughout the site. Sumac and bush honeysuckle have invaded many areas on the site, choking out other plant growth.

What types of animals have you seen in there?
There are wild turkeys, squirrels, opossums, rabbits, dogs, cats and many birds.

Who owns the Pruitt-Igoe lot?
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority.

How much does it cost?
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority has not set any price for the land. Staff members have stated that they would negotiate with any interested buyer.

What are the stipulations or condition of purchasing the lot?
The St. Louis Development Corporation, the city’s development agency that staffs the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, has stated that it will privilege redevelopment plans for the site that create permanent jobs.

What make Pruitt-Igoe a brownfield?
Although Pruitt-Igoe’s soil has not been professional evaluated, it is known that the buildings were demolished containing lead paint and asbestos not remediated or removed. Additionally there are potential PCBs and gasoline contaminants from previous uses on the site before Pruitt-Igoe was built.

What has been dumped there?
The city government dumped tons of debris and fill from the excavation for the Edward Jones Dome in 1993-1994, and that material contains parts of buildings and other elements. Other dumping includes tires, building debris, computers, gravel and other un-inventoried materials.

What ward is Pruitt-Igoe in?
Ward 5.

What are the details of Paul McKee’s two-year option to purchase Pruitt-Igoe?
McKee’s company Northside Regeneration LLC paid $100,000 to hold an exclusive two-year option to purchase the site. Under the agreement, McKee can close on the site for an additional $900,000 only if he can finance site redevelopment that includes creation of permanent jobs. The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority will determine if the plans meet those requirements.

When will his two-year option end?
The option expires on February 23, 2014.

What is the process to purchase the Pruitt-Igoe lot?
An interested buyer can make an offer directly to the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, which has a board appointed by the mayor that makes all final sales decisions. The sale does not require legislation or the approval of the alderperson.

Luxembourg Conversation from Juan William Chavez on Vimeo.

An interview at the Luxembourg Gardens with a French teacher who taught in the Saint Louis Public School system for two-years. The film touches upon issues of public space and includes footage of the first Beekeeping School in world, Jardin du Luxembourg Apiculture founded in 1856 located in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris France.

English Translation
_____________________

“I think that for me, the Luxembourg Garden is a unique place in Paris because it is a big green space dedicated for quiet rest and meetings, but in a very urban setting. It is not the lung of the city because it is not big enough or vegetated enough, but it is a peaceful respite in a very active, dynamic urban environment in the heart of Paris. And it was this idea that I found very seductive when I first discovered this garden when I was a student quite a few years ago.”

“There is also the aesthetic aspect. The Luxembourg Garden has been the subject of literature in the 19th century, notably for it’s aesthetic, architectural quality, but also for the theatrical scenes you can witness. Typical scenes with families and friends meeting, luncheons on the lawn, lectures, etc. There is therefore a sense of poetry around the Luxembourg that I like very much.”

Inspired by education and public space we took the proposal off the page and developed a pilot project and created a
bee sanctuary and an urban garden on a vacant lot in Old North St. Louis.  This pilot project required us to join the
Eastern MO Beekeepers Association (EMBA). The EMBA has been an amazing community and resource.
They have been excellent  mentors and helped up establish our  bee sanctuary.

In addition, we worked with two Washington University students  Anya Liao (printmaker) and Ryan A. Wilson (architect) that helped us construct and design our urban garden.  We created eight garden beds (six veggie and two flower).

Bee sanctuary and an urban garden will be the outdoor classroom for five summer workshop this summer.

A International research trip to Spain and France that exploring the partnership between humans and bees and urban apiculture was made possible through the Art Matters Foundation.

The Second stop was at the oldest Beekeeping School in the world, le Rucher-Ecole du Luxembourg. Located in Paris, France within Luxembourg Gardens, the school is home to over one million bees and is a historic and sustainable model of urban apiculture.

Click on link for more information about the Art Matters Foundation.

Our first stop was to visit the “Man of Bicorp” an 8,000-year-old cave drawing in Bicorp, Spain depicting a human figure climbing lianas and gathering honey from wild bees.

Click on link for more information about the Art Matters Foundation.

Pruitt-Igoe Bee Sanctuary ( film ) from Juan William Chavez on Vimeo.

This 8mm film explores the land where the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects once stood in St. Louis, Missouri. After the demolition of all 33 buildings that comprised Pruitt-Igoe the remaining empty lot of several acres over time has naturally transformed into an overgrown urban forest. The film begins with the site-specific installation of bee hives referencing the Pruitt-Igoe high-rise designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki and concludes with a scene taken of the Man of Bicorp, a 8,000 year old cave drawing of a figure gathering honey.