Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Preservation Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Louis County official outlines county landmark program, parks historic sites and partnerships with Wildwood
Summary
Saint Louis County Historic Buildings Commission manager described county landmarks, park historic sites and cooperative work with Wildwood, including leased parks and reconstruction of historic cabins at Faust Park.
A St. Louis County historic and cultural sites manager described the county's historic buildings program, county landmark designations and park historic sites, and encouraged municipal cooperation and nominations.
Gwen Henman, historic and cultural sites manager and county historian, told the Wildwood meeting that county-level preservation is administered through the county parks department and that St. Louis County Parks manages 68 parks, roughly 14,000 acres and about 80 miles of trails. Henman said the county has seven National Register-listed properties and five historic and cultural sites under park management.
Henman summarized notable county resources and ongoing projects: Queenie Park's Java House (built 1854) is slated to house future parks administrative offices; Faust Park includes Thornhill (the 1818 home of former Gov. Bates) and a reconstruction program for two cabins recently acquired from Creve Coeur; Jefferson Barracks (established 1826) will mark a bicentennial next year. Henman also cited county-owned Frank Lloyd Wright house at Ebsworth Park and Laumeier Sculpture Park as examples of partnership-based sites.
The county Historic Buildings Commission (HBC) was established in 1957 by executive order and confirmed by county ordinance in 1983, Henman said. The HBC advises the parks department, county executive, council and planning commission on preservation and operates a county landmark program that is honorary and imposes no restrictions. Henman said the county currently lists several local landmarks and would welcome additional nominations; she noted Wildwood has 11 county landmarks on the list.
Henman described preservation awards the HBC issues annually to recognize adaptive reuse and other projects, and she explained the landmark preservation area (zoning overlay) that can be applied in unincorporated areas to allow nonstandard uses for designated historic properties (for example, bed-and-breakfasts or small venues). She encouraged municipalities and historical societies to collaborate with the county and suggested residents nominate properties or consider serving on the Historic Buildings Commission.
"We also have some really fun things like neon signs and Route 66-themed resources in the county landmark program," Henman said, noting the program aims to build awareness as much as to honor sites.
Henman invited residents to visit county historic parks and to contact county staff for support, and she offered the HBC as a resource for local groups and property owners seeking recognition or technical guidance.
