We first announced 1000 Morrison in the Winter 2025 Landmarks Letter (Pg 19-20). For over a decade, this long-vacant and deteriorating historic property threatened the surrounding block’s stability and presented a serious safety risk for neighborhood residents. The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places but suffering from severe neglect, was wrangled from its neglectful owners through the efforts of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and the stabilization work was a partnership with Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Tower Grove Community Development Corporation, the LaSalle Park Neighborhood Association, and MIN+ Architecture. It truly takes a village to avoid razing a building!
This beautiful building, located at the intersection of Morrison Ave and the pedestrian brickway that replaced 10th Street north of Park Ave, was in dire straits prior to our taking custody and, frankly, remained in dire straits after our taking custody. Inspection of the interior of the building revealed serious structural damage, and we spent months looking for a shoring contractor who could safely stabilize the building so that masons could re-lay the damaged walls.
In addition to cost overruns that could swamp a non-profit of our size, we faced a significant reputational risk since the building was in worse shape than anticipated: One can imagine how it would look if a building given into the care of a historic preservation organization collapsed before any work was completed. These risks kept our staff (and several board members) up at night, but we are proud to announce that the building has been thoroughly shored, the masonry has been completed, and as of the last week of September, the roof has been fully replaced.
While we did brick-and-mortar work in the early years of our organization (and even partnered with Ralston Purina in LaSalle Park back in the 1970s), this project is a big, new step for our current staff configuration, and I am proud to announce that our staff, board, and community partners have more than risen to the occasion.
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, which is headquartered near LaSalle Park, provided financial support for stabilizing the property. For decades, the company has convened and supported a network of nonprofits, known as the Near Southside Coalition, that work to benefit the lives of neighbors in close proximity to its downtown St. Louis campus. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri managed the vacancy litigation process. Additionally, Tower Grove Community Development Corporation, LaSalle Park Neighborhood Association, and MIN+ Architecture are providing ongoing technical and moral support.
In the near term, we are seeking developers who would like to finish this project, and we are interested in exploring institutional partnerships that can provide added value to the LaSalle Park neighborhood.
In the longer term, we are developing tools and processes for figuring out how we can be more “hands-on” in saving historic buildings in Saint Louis through organizing a network of rehabbers, developers, and contractors. We at Landmarks are excited to see what’s next for 1000 Morrison!
