The remnants of the Liberty Bell Oil Co building on Vandeventer in the Botanical Heights neighborhood were demolished Saturday July 8th. Owner Green Street submitted a demolition permit application May 5th which was issued July 6th. It was in a preservation review district, so the Cultural Resources Office reviewed the demo application and approved it. It didn’t go before the Preservation Board.
The building burned June 7th, 2018. Green Street closed on the purchase of the property, along with a few other adjoining properties, June 26th, 2018, according to city records. That fall some of the building was demolished, but the façade was propped up giving hope that it would be incorporated into a new build. Rapid development in the area, including many projects by Green Street, suggested that something would be viable here, possibly soon.
More photos and history at St. Louis City Talk – Liberty Bell Oil Building Façade – What Could Be
Green Street’s holdings along Vandeventer total over 5 acres. There is ongoing environmental remediation. ATON, an environmental support services firm, is advising Green Street. More info from ATON.
The National Building Arts Center contacted Green Street about salvaging artifacts from the building before demolition-
The National Building Arts Center was willing to provide a home for the terra cotta elements from the Liberty Bell Oil Company, and contribute labor and equipment needed to recover the same. We offered to accept the elements as a donation, but the owner insisted on payment for an asserted value that we could neither make nor fundraise for within such a short time frame.
Michael Allen Executive Director National Building Arts Center
Green Street has not responded to a request for comment.
Amazingly the Liberty Bell terracotta that was above the front door survived the demolition along with some other bits unearthed from the rubble. They were given to the City Museum.
