Chris Naffziger's Perspective
 Neighborhood MapIt's clear when looking at this map that the park was designed to be the center of the neighborhood. |  The Painted LadiesThese beautiful brick houses are called the Painted Ladies for their tasteful pastel paint jobs. |  Welcome to Lafayette SquareWrought-iron signposts welcome visitors to the park. |
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 Lafayette Square ParkThe park provides both a serene, peaceful retreat as well as a communal gathering spot for concerts, games, and other events. |  The Painted Ladies II |  Historic Architecture |
 The Painted Ladies III |  Historic Architecture II |  Historic Architecture III |
Lafayette Square Photo Gallery
On to St. Louis Place
 Neighborhood MapJust like Lafayette Square, St. Louis Place was designed around a central park as well. |  Historic Architecture I |  St. Louis Place ParkUnlike Lafayette Square Park, the St. Louis Place Park is underutilized and seems nearly forgotten about. |
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 Abandonment I |  Historic ChurchBeautiful churches like this dot the North City landscape. Their massive size is a testament to the vibrant congregations that packed them every Sunday in the past. |  Historic Architecture II |
 Abandonment II |  Historic Architecture III |  "Coming Soon" |
 BreweryThe Falstaff Brewing smoke stack towers over much of St. Louis Place. |  23rd StreetThe view up 23rd Street from Cass is an empty one almost devoid of all houses, trees and development. |
After decades of decline, Lafayette Square's future changed dramatically for the better in the 70's when the first rehabbers moved in. This house by house, slow and steady redevelopment transformed the neighborhood from a crime-ridden, run-down area to one of St. Louis' most desireable neighborhoods. This didn't happen overnight and it took decades to become a reality. There was never any large corporation behind the effort either; it was all driven by homeowners who wanted to restore their properties. After the homes were restored and the park became used a welcoming gathering spot again, businesses and jobs began returning to the neighborhood.
Currently, St. Louis Place and several other North St. Louis neighborhoods are facing a very different kind of redevelopment- Paul McKee's 8.1 billion dollar corporate development plan known as Northside. Click the button below to learn more about this controversial plan.
(View Northside I and II before continuing to the conclusion)