"Actual construction of the first apartment building in the Plaza project got underway yesterday as this crane began excavating at Fifteenth and Pine streets. Relocation of a sewer line around the site has been substantially completed by the Fruin-Colnon Contracting Company, which will erect six 13-story apartment buildings in the development."
"Reaching for the Sky: Soaring higher and higher are the six 13-story apartment buildings under construction in the downtown Plaza Redevelopment Project. Steel being hoisted by the crane in this picture will be fitted into upper-floor construction of one of the buildings at Seventeenth and Pine streets. The buildings, which are to be completed simultaneously, according to present construction
Caption: "View from Market at 17th showing #30 Plaza Square in left foreground, with #20 at right, behind which is St. John the Apostle Catholic Church. Patio-court with striking landscaping is between #30 and #20 Plaza Square. Foreground area at left and right is where new city park is being landscaped."
"Housing accommodations in the Plaza area are described by City Plan Commission as "far short of the minimum standards required for health, sanitation and decency." This view of the interior of one one of the buildings shows the general dilapidated condition. Seven modern apartment buildings for 1,350 families will be built if the bond issue passes."
"The Plaza Bond Issue Committee, whoich is enlisting the aid of 763 employers in an educational program concerning the $1,500,000 redevelopment issue to be voted on Sept. 29, includes, seated from left, Postmaster Bernard F. Dickmann, E. T. Moberg, Armstrong Chinn, Mrs. Edward M. Harrington, Chairman Aloys P. Kaufmann, Frank M. Mayfield, W. H. Semsrott; standing, Preston Estep, Kenneth H. Bitting, David P. Wohl, Clark Hungerford, Chapin S. Newhard, J. H. Wenhoenoer, A. C. Knetzer, W. J. Kennedy, Irving Shapiro and Joseph D. Harnett."
"Alderman John Roddy (left) chats with John T. Dickmann, general manager of the Plaza Square Apartments, during a preview of 16 furnished display apartments, which will be open to the public at noon Friday. They are seated in the living room of an apartment which includes a separate bedroom and kitchen. Mrs. Carole Poehner (below) of the Dolan Company, which is handling rentals, sits in the living room of a similar unit furnished in Early American style.
Elevated view of the Plaza Apartment buildings under construction. The project would become the first urban renewal project to be completed in St. Louis.
"#10 Plaza Square, of Plaza Square Apartments, viewed to west from Plaza area just west of Soldier's Memorial. Chestnut and Market Streets are at left, Pine Street at right."
Two original captions: "Plaza Square Patio Party: Enjoying a get-acquainted party are some of the more than 650 residents of Plaza Square, who attended a picnic dinner served in the two patio courts between the apartment buildings on either side of the Pine street between Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets. Also attending the patio party Tuesday night were officers of the Urban Redevelopment Corporation, which raised funds to creat the $15,000,000 development." "View of patio-court between #30 and #20 Plaza Square, looking east to #20, with Centenary Methodist Church (Pine St.) at left. Surface parking at either side of patio-court, which features lily pond in center and lattice-covered resting area."
"Alderman John Roddy (left) chats with John T. Dickmann, general manager of the Plaza Square Apartments, during a preview of 16 furnished display apartments, which will be open to the public at noon Friday. They are seated in the living room of an apartment which includes a separate bedroom and kitchen. Mrs. Carole Poehner (below) of the Dolan Company, which is handling rentals, sits in the living room of a similar unit furnished in Early American style.
"Plaza progress continues as work goes rapidly ahead on 13-story apartment buildings being erected in the area bounded by Fifteenth, Chestnut, Seventeenth, and Olive streets. This view, looking north from Sixteenth and Market streets, shows two of the six buildings in the development along with the Cenetary Methodist Church and St. John's Basilica, which will serve residents when the 1090 units are ready for occupancy, probably in June of 1961."
"Buildings will be cleared from the area shown in the foreground of this photo as part of the Plaza redevelopment. The Eighteenth Street Garage, at left center, is outside the project area. This view, from the tower of Union Station, looks notheastwardly from the intersection of Eighteenth and Market streets. At extreme left is the edge of Aloe Plaza. All of the buildings in the area to the east, bounded roughly by Eighteenth, Market, Fourteenth and Olive, will be cleared away to make a connecting parkway with Memorial Plaza and a housing development. Demolition work will begin Apr. 19."
"Launching Plaza Redevelopment Project, Russell E. Gardner, president of the Urban Redevelopment Corporation, scoops up the forst shovelful of dirt. Lining the treat of the big shovel are (from the left) Daniel Sheehan, a member of the firm's executive board; Preston Estep, treasurer, and Aloys P. Kaufmann, president of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce. At right, Mr. Kaufmann shows Mr. Gardner where to dump the first scoopful. The housing project got underway at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets yesterday."
"Launching Plaza Redevelopment Project, Russell E. Gardner, president of the Urban Redevelopment Corporation, scoops up the forst shovelful of dirt. Lining the treat of the big shovel are (from the left) Daniel Sheehan, a member of the firm's executive board; Preston Estep, treasurer, and Aloys P. Kaufmann, president of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce. At right, Mr. Kaufmann shows Mr. Gardner where to dump the first scoopful. The housing project got underway at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets yesterday."
Caption on back: "Filling in unsightly holes in the Plaza redevelopment area gets underway as the basement of the Reed Hotel, which was demolished when the area was cleared, is buried under dirt excavated at sites of three apartment buildings going up in the area. The site and Fifteenth and Pine streets will ultimately be improved with commercial buildings and a parking lot for Plaza residents. All of the eyesore holes in the Plaza area will be eliminated as quickly as possible."
"Inspecting a barricade around a 30-foot deep excavation for an underground garage in the Plaza Development is Building Commissioner Albert H. Baum (top photo). Lower picture (not present) shows a view of the excavation separated from busy Olive street traffic by flimsy boards."
