SSNB

Many of you will remember the South Side Bank Building at Grand and Gravois from the controversy that erupted earlier this century when the owners wanted to sell the historic building to someone who planned to tear it down and build a drug store. I’m happy to say that these plans never came to fruition.

Thanks to the tenacity of Alderwoman Jennifer Florida and Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation — and to the generosity of then-Allegiant Bank (now National City) — the building was donated to the Community Corporation, where it sat for several years.

Now, the Lawrence Group is preparing to develop the building as condos and retail space. Those of you who know the Lawrence Group know that they do great work. In addition to the wonderful views of the City and the Arch that are available from the top floors of the tower, the building has a fantastic historic lobby area that will someday make a great restaurant or retail space. The development — and the transformation of this prominent but sadly neglected and vacant building into an architectural gem once again — is made feasible through the use of a TIF.

We’ll have the opportunity to see some of it tomorrow when the Lawrence Group unveils the model residential unit at 4 pm. I’m looking forward to celebrating the beginning of the rebirth of wonderful historic property —- saved from the wrecking ball by a lot of hard work.