Daily Dose of Blairmont 104

Welcome to the 2500 block of Dodier Street, in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood. Here is an entire block laid to waste by Paul McKee's absentee shell companies. Arson and brick rustling have destroyed every building on the block's western end... except for one holdout, a profitable business that has refused Blairmont's offers of buy-out. Now they find themselves surrounded by a ghost town, a landscape of devastated architecture, buildings smashed by the hammer of McKee's speculatory schemes.

The southern half of the block, west to east:

• 2566 W. Dodier Street (Sheridan Place LLC, March 2007, $85,000)
  
• 2560 W. Dodier Street (Larmer LLC, April 2008)
  
• 2554 W. Dodier Street (LRA)
  
• 2546 W. Dodier Street (Blairmont Associates Ltd. Co., August 2004)
  
• 2540 W. Dodier Street (privately owned - not pictured)
  
• 2538 W. Dodier Street (privately owned - not pictured)
  
• 2534 W. Dodier Street (VHS Partners LLC, November 2005, $38,000)
  
• 2532 W. Dodier Street (privately owned - not pictured)

2566 W. Dodier - May 2008. Burned in the May 2008 arsons.


2560 W. Dodier - May 2008. Destroyed by brick rustlers.


2546 W. Dodier - May 2008. Destroyed by brick rustlers.

The northern block, east to west:

• 2515 W. Dodier Street (privately owned)
  
• 2517 W. Dodier Street (N & G Ventures LLC, May 2006, $65,000)
  
• 2525 W. Dodier Street (Larmer LLC, April 2008)
  
• 2527 W. Dodier Street (privately owned)
  
• 2547 W. Dodier Street (Larmer LLC, April 2008)
  
• 2549 W. Dodier Street (Clarence Machine Company)
  
• 2559 W. Dodier Street (Sheridan Place LLC, May 2007, $75,000)
  
• 2561 W. Dodier Street (Sheridan Place LLC, May 2007)

2517 W. Dodier (left) - May 2008


2525 W. Dodier - May 2008


2547 W. Dodier - May 2008. Burned in the May 2008 arsons.


The besieged commercial building, at 2549 W. Dodier - May 2008


2559 W. Dodier - May 2008. Destroyed by brick rustlers.


2561 W. Dodier (left) - May 2008. Burned, date unknown.

Blairmont also owns most of the vacant lots between the surviving buildings.

Links:

• 2525 W Dodier at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 103

Three houses, three streets, but all on a single city block.

• 1500 Branch Street (Blairmont Associates Ltd. LLC, August 2003)

May 2008

Among the very first of Paul McKee's purchases, this long block of rowhouses has become quasi-famous in local urban photography circles for the graffiti sprayed on the back. It's been vacant since 1996.

Stay out crack heads



The wooden back porches are falling down, but otherwise the building doesn't appear irretrievable. Of course, boarding up the top floor would've helped a lot, but "helping" doesn't really fit with Blairmont's mission of demolition by neglect.

• 3211 Blair Street (Blairmont Associates Ltd. LLC, August 2003)

March 2003

Blairmont also purchased this small frame house around the corner at the same time. It had been vacant for 2 years, and has remained so under Paul McKee's stewardship.


May 2008

• 1501 Palm Street (Blairmont Associates Ltd. LLC, March 2006)

May 2003 - Photograph by Kevin Keiffer

And finally, at the other end of the block, there's this little hard luck case. A tiny Second Empire house, two stories disguised as one, this building was nearly demolished by its previous owner, till the city stepped in to stop it. Blairmont didn't put the hole there, but haven't done anything to fix it, either.


November 2006


November 2007


May 2008





September 2006

Ecology of Absence has further information and photos of 1501 Palm Street.

Links:

• 1500 Branch at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 102

• 1445 Monroe Street (Noble Development Co. LLC, March 2006, $65,000)

A frame house, with lovely bargeboard along the front gable, and some not-so-lovely permastone siding. But hey, siding can always come off.



Paul McKee owns the vacant lot on one side; the LRA has the other. A family to the east owns a lovely little home with a beautiful and spacious garden and greenhouse.

To the west stands three vacant houses. The LRA owns two; the third is privately owned. One of the LRA properties includes a front house, alley house, and garage, most of which are in need of total rebuilding or demolition due to wall and roof collapses.


May 2008

Links:

• 1445 Monroe at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com, showing a lot of the area before all the recent construction
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 101

• 3261 Knapp Street (Dodier Investors LLC, December 2006, $29,000)

May 2008

It's a beat-up little alley house at the northern end of Old North, on the corner of Branch Street. The aerial view reveals a couple of facts not apparent from the ground, such as a third-floor roof collapse, and a completely fenced-in yard which indicates that the front house has been gone for many years.

It was condemned for demolition in 2004, but that may have been when the attached house next door came down.





It's not secured; it's not weathertight. It's Blairmont. No surprises there.

Price bounce: Sold in September 2006 for $1,500. Sold again in December 2006 for $29,000. Man, I wish I could sell stuff for a 2,000% markup.

Links:

• 3259 Knapp at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 100

The big one-oh-oh. On this momentous occasion, we visit not a location but a building type: churches. Blairmont has possession of 6 small church buildings that I know of... so far.

• 3060 Thomas Street (N & G Ventures LLC, November 2005)

May 2008
Last used as: New Life of Praise M.B. Church, 2004. Vacant since 2001.

• 3037 Thomas Street (Sheridan Place LLC, January 2007)

May 2008
Last used as: Faith Deliverance Temple, 2006

Links:

• 3060 Thomas at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com

• 2547 University Street (VHS Partners LLC, November 2005)

May 2008
Last used as: St. Paul Church of Christ Holiness USA, 2004

Links:

• 2547 University at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com

• 2940 Montgomery Street (Sheridan Place LLC, April 2007, $245,000)

Last used as: North Galilee Baptist Church, 2006

Links:

• 2940 Montgomery at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com

• 2900 Gamble Street (Sheridan LLC, April 2007)

May 2008
Last used as: Everlasting Light M.B. Church TRS, 2006

Links:

• 2900 Gamble at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com

Left and right:
• 3977 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (N & G Ventures LLC, August 2005)
• 3965 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (Sheridan Place LLC, January 2007)

May 2008
Last used as: Rock of Ages Baptist Church. The church owned the two conjoined buildings at right.

Links:

• 3065 Martin Luther King at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com

This is Paul McKee working hard to build communities, folks.

• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 99

Left and right:
• 1523/1521 Palm Street (Blairmont Associates LLC, November 2004 / LRA)
• 1519/1517 (privately owned)

September 2006

1523 is the left-hand unit of the left-hand house; the LRA owns the right-hand unit. They owned the left-hand unit until it sold to Blairmont in 2004, which is odd. Isn't LRA supposed to sell to owners who will do something with their property?


May 2008

But I want to talk more about the next door neighbor, which isn't owned by Paul McKee. In 2007 it was purchased by a serviceman who's currently stationed overseas.

And you know what's happening inside of it?




Renovation. Rehabilitation. New construction. While Paul McKee sits 25 miles away letting the building next door, a soldier on the other side of the planet is getting this one ready for a return to life.

Now really, somebody wanna explain that one to me?

Links:

• 1523 Palm at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 98

Left and right:
• 1420 Hebert Street (Dodier Investors LLC, October 2006, $60,000) with 1420 (alley) behind
• 1424 Hebert Street (Dodier Investors LLC, October 2006)

May 2008

These two worker cottages are situated on one of the most dense blocks of Old North. The house next door suffered a fire last year, but the remainder of the block is still standing, with nearly all houses occupied and many renovated. Many of these homes are shown on the neighborhood's annual tour of homes, and are replete with creative interior designs and lovely backyard gardens.




In the past I've touted these two as having potential in the small-house market. Another option would be to combine the lots, and join the two houses into one with a small addition across the back.




Meanwhile, at the back of the lot, this Blairmont-owned alley house stands long-vacant and deteriorating. Right next door, a private owner has vigorously worked to renovate a neighboring alley house. Relaid brick walls, a brand new roof, and ongoing interior framing attest to the tireless spirit of Old North. Hopefully, Paul McKee will stick to the word that's been spread on the street, and sell out of Old North, allowing the rest of this block to rise to match its surroundings.




Price bounce: Again, odd doings in the sales history. Dodier Investors has been the owner of 1424 since 2006, having purchased it for $60,000. Yet it is listed as selling again for $25,000 in 2007; Dodier Investors is still listed as the owner.

Links:

• 1420 Hebert at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 97

Left and right:
• 3242 N. Knapp Street (Dodier Investors LLC, October 2006, $35,000)
• 3240 N. Knapp Street (Dodier Investors LLC, October 2006, $20,000)

May 2008

This pair of battered frame houses, covered with asphalt shingle siding, stands in the northern reaches of Old North St. Louis.




The left-hand house is a bit more than meets the eye -- there's an oddly shaped alley house behind it, likely much older than the front house. It very nearly butts up against another back-lot house, which is undergoing total renovation by an enterprising local resident.



Some strange doings in the sales history. Both properties were briefly held by a Patrick Noble before being sold to N & G Ventures. "Noble" just happens to be another of Blairmont's pseudonyms. Coincidence? There are just too many "coincidences" surrounding Paul McKee's properties for any of them to be very believable.

• September 2005: $7,960 for multiple locations (3240, 3242), to Patrick Noble
  
• June 2006: $20,000 for multiple locations (3240 only)
  
• October 2006: $35,000 (3240); $20,000 (3242); both to N & G Ventures

A bookkeeping error? Mmmaybe. Maybe not.



With the sheer number of Blairmont houses, it's getting to the point where it makes sense to just cover an entire block at a time. So, here's...

• 3248 Knapp Street (N & G Ventures LLC, March 2006, $14,700)

It was bought by the CIT Group in foreclosure in 2005, and soon sold to Blairmont at what appears to be a net loss. Blairmont also owns vacant lots on the same block at 3232, 3246, 3252, and 3260.

Links:

• 3240 Knapp at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?

Daily Dose of Blairmont 96

• 2512 Palm Street (N & G Ventures LLC, October 2006, $168,000)

May 2008

This three-story mixed use building, on the northern edge of JeffVanderLou, has the Blairmont trademark of removed upper story windows. Though much remuddled over the years, the form of the mansard roof and the multiple chimneys help it retain a distinctive architectural character.




Blairmont also has the low industrial building next door at 2526 Palm, and a vacant lot between them.

Links:

• 2512 Palm at the city's Geo St Louis database
  
• Aerial view from Maps.Live.com
  
• More on Blairmont:
  Built St. Louis || Ecology of Absence || What Can I Do?