ST. LOUIS 鈥 The head of an area nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic buildings wants the city to invoke a never-before-used power in an attempt to hold Dr. Gurpreet Padda, owner of the Second Baptist Church, accountable for the renowned structure鈥檚 deterioration.
Part of the 鈥淗oly Corners鈥 district on the National Register of Historic Places, the church at 500 North Kingshighway in the Central West End is known for its brickwork and 130-foot-tall bell tower that caught fire in October, adding urgency to preservationists鈥 cause.
Andrew Weil, executive director of the Landmarks Association of 50度灰视频, sent a formal request on Dec. 15 to Cultural Resources Office Director Meg Lousteau asking for her to use her powers under the 2014 鈥渄emolition by neglect ordinance鈥 to call a hearing on the 1907 church.
But so far, Weil hasn鈥檛 gotten a response. The city has actually never used the ordinance, though it , including Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, who co-sponsored the measure.
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鈥淎ll we are asking is that the (Cultural Resources Office) put the matter before the Preservation Board,鈥 Weil said. 鈥淎t the very least, this would allow a public hearing and a public record of consideration. The ordinance was enacted by city legislators because they recognized that protecting irreplaceable cultural assets served a common interest. The ordinance serves the people and the cultural legacy of the City of 50度灰视频. At the very least we deserve a hearing.鈥
Heather Navarro, who was the area鈥檚 alderman until stepping down Monday to take another job, supported the request. Just before she left office, she said city officials informed her they are reviewing the matter.
鈥淭his is the exact scenario the ordinance contemplates,鈥 Navarro said.
The ordinance, passed in the wake of the high-profile demolitions of the downtown Cupples 7 Warehouse and Midtown鈥檚 Castle Ballroom, allows the Cultural Resources Office director to initiate a hearing at the Preservation Board for certain 鈥渉igh merit鈥 historic buildings she believes are undergoing 鈥渄emolition by neglect.鈥 The board can then vote to relay the petition to the Building Commissioner鈥檚 office, which must hold further hearings.
Ultimately, the city can use the ordinance to make emergency repairs to stabilize a building and bill the owner for the work by adding the cost to real estate taxes.
However, the process to get to that point would involve multiple hearings and, likely, lawyers.
At a Preservation Board hearing Monday, Lousteau said the city was looking at using the demolition by neglect ordinance 鈥渙r other avenues鈥 to protect 50度灰视频鈥 architectural legacy.
Board Chairman Richard Callow asked why the ordinance hadn鈥檛 ever been used.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little complicated,鈥 Lousteau responded. 鈥淚t involves several departments and legal action, but that鈥檚 not to say it can鈥檛 be used.鈥
The city actually and secure many buildings. But it has historically lacked the funds to do so. Talks are underway to potentially give the building commissioner鈥檚 office the cash needed to step in and make repairs to some of the city鈥檚 most historically significant buildings, billing the owners for the work.
Alderman Jack Coatar, also a Preservation Board member, pointed out the city has millions in federal funding and from the NFL lawsuit settlement that could potentially be used to finance some of the needed stabilization work for neglected historic buildings under the city鈥檚 existing powers.
Just initiating a hearing at the Preservation Board 鈥渋sn鈥檛 a worthy endeavor unless we can put our money where our mouth is,鈥 Coatar said.
Weil, though, argued initiating the 鈥渄emolition by neglect鈥 process could still spur Padda to secure the building and make emergency repairs before it deteriorates beyond saving. Padda did not respond to requests for comment.
Padda, , bought the church in 2012, with plans for a brewery. But nothing has happened in the decade since, and the church has fallen further into disrepair. Without the quick response from firefighters, the October fire may have destroyed it.
There is a development proposal from Monica Butler, the owner of , and developer Steve Smith to turn the church into a gospel music museum.
Butler said in an interview Monday talks are ongoing with Padda, and her team is renegotiating a price for the structure to take the damage from the fire into account. She hopes to close on the purchase of the building by the end of the year. She said the fire was 鈥渉eart-wrenching,鈥 and she won鈥檛 be confident the building is secured until her group closes on the structure.
But, she said, talks are progressing and she is sure her group can purchase the building for the gospel music museum concept, whether or not the city takes any action due to the building鈥檚 condition.
鈥淲e will have a gospel music hall of fame here in this area,鈥 Butler said. 鈥淚 feel in my heart of hearts that by the end of the year we will have the building totally secured.鈥
Consulting firm PGAV is now helping with the project鈥檚 planning, and other supporters are signing on, she said. For instance, there are plans for a 鈥淕ospel Music Day鈥 at a Cardinals game in August at Busch Stadium, which she said will help raise awareness for the project.
鈥淭he doors have just opened and it makes me feel better knowing that this is something the community wants,鈥 Butler said.
Still, there鈥檚 no guarantee that deal will happen, Navarro said, and even while it鈥檚 being negotiated, city action under the 鈥渄emolition by neglect鈥 ordinance might speed things along.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I think it鈥檚 really important to keep the pressure on,鈥 Navarro said.
Updated at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, with comments from the Preservation Board meeting.聽