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St. Louis-LaSalle Park-We've got a newly-renovated one bedroom unit in University City that has a great layout for roommates who need their privacy but also need a one-bedroom sized rent. In this apartment, we've put a door on the living room, so it can be used as a second bedroom. Studio apartments, lofts, and efficiency apartments also available. View More Listings -->
LaSalle Park Information
LaSalle Park is an integral part of the three-neighborhood "Old Frenchtown"
area — LaSalle Park, Lafayette Square and Soulard — bordering the southern edge
of downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It was formed as a "new neighborhood," distinct
from the larger Soulard district, through the efforts of Ralston Purina, which
has its world headquarters in LaSalle Park, and The City of St. Louis.
LaSalle Park contains a mixture of Victorian and Federalist architecture. At
least two of the homes in this French neighborhood were built at the time of the
Civil War. New construction is also found in the neighborhood. The current urban
renewal guidelines, approved by the City of St. Louis, require that all new
construction be built in a style similar to and compatible with the existing
architecture.
The LaSalle Park Neighborhood enjoys Federal Historic Status with homes that are
considered to have neighborhood, city, state and national architectural
significance. Plans were filed by Ralston Purina Co. and Landmarks Association
of St. Louis, Inc. in 1977 (revised in 1979, 1980, 1982) to establish the
historic importance of the neighborhood architecturally.
The LaSalle Park neighbor hood was "cut-off" from the rest of Soulard when
Interstates 55 and 44 were built through the neighborhood. The area fell into
decline even while Soulard was maintained. In March 1969, 137 acres were
declared blighted and the Saint Louis Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority
applied for a federal planning grant to rehabilitate the neighborhood.
Federal funds were approved for redeveloping LaSalle Park in 1971. Brick
sidewalks, extensive landscaping and street lamps designed to mirror those that
were in the neighborhood many years ago were installed.
Property throughout the neighborhood was sold in early 1976 to both individuals
and developers who were willing to restore homes and businesses or to build
"in-fill" houses. These structures are so named because they are designed and
built to match or resemble the surrounding architecture. Through the efforts of
Ralston Purina and the City of St. Louis, an Urban Renewal Plan and Guidelines
for upholding the integrity of the neighborhood's properties was established.
The neighborhood continues to operate and maintain its distinctive architectural
design and character through a revision of this urban plan. In 2006, all new
street lamps were installed and sidewalk repairs undertaken, keeping the
neighborhood a wonderful place to live.