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Thu
Mar 7
2013

What’s Up With the Big Warehouse at 10th & Washington?

We’ve often wondered about a large, poorly maintained building at the corner of 10th & League. With numerous well-kept Bella Vista blocks immediately to the north, and the fabulous Bardascino Park just up the street, it’s always seemed rather out of place, even if it does front Washington Avenue.

Looking down 10th

Looking east on League

The address for the property is 943 Washington Ave., and it’s been owned by Dominic Giancaterino since at least 1961. Though it’s in deplorable condition on the outside, the building is used for primarily for the sale of mattresses and other furniture. We don’t know that we’d be too enthused to shop at Z Discount Furniture given the condition of the property, but they’ve apparently done enough at this location to remain solvent for many years.

Front of the building shows two separate structures, both of which look lousy

The buildings go back at least a hundred years, and have had some interesting uses. We’d speculate that they were built around the turn of the 20th century, by Bryant Coal, replacing a couple of smaller buildings on the site. By the 1950s, however, it appears as though an auto shop had taken over the buildings.

Bryant Coal in 1914

Properties in 1954. Corner building advertising Dayton tires and already has boarded up the top windows

We certainly can’t argue with the use of the buildings, and frankly we’re pleased to see these structures remain after so many years. But is it too much to ask the owners of the property to take a little pride in their building and clean up the facade? For someone walking south on 10th Street, it looks like an abandoned building, and we can only imagine that neighbors on League and Kimball Streets perceive it an an eyesore. Or are we being too sensitive, and should we leave these people alone?

5
COMMENTS
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Posted in Bella Vista | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments
  • http://www.facebook.com/bobbydombroski Bobby Dombroski

    of all the dilapidated properties in this neighborhood, this seems like an odd one to focus on. I think you are being too sensitive. There are far worse properties around.

  • Ben

    No one said to replace the facade – they simply said to keep it clean.

    There are plenty of buildings in the Loft District with ‘industrial grittiness’, but the outsides are kept clean.

  • Bella Vistan

    I’ve owned a home nearby for many years. I view this building as “patina” in the ‘hood. Prefer a gritty warehouse to a strip mall any day. The owners are very responsive to neighbors; btw, the graffiti in photo was painted over immediately.

  • JC

    It’s called “character”. Not sanitized. I like it. I wish there were more.

  • Carrie

    I live on the 900 block of League and while I’m not thrilled with the building, the owner keeps the sidewalks swept, usually cleans graffiti within 24 hours, and allowed a group of neighbors to plant trees on the 10th street side a few years back. Sure – I’d love a facelift, but if you want to go after a deadbeat landlord, go after the property owners for the Sherwin Williams / AutoParts complex (NYC based company). We’ve been battling them for YEARS over constant litter violations and total lack of property maintenance. Or how about the empty lot on the corner 9th and League that is FULL of trash / debris / graffiti (owned by Carl’s Poultry) and NEVER cleaned or maintained? (We have reported the 9th and League property to the city more times than we can count and nothing changes. But we all kno there is another set of rules for the Italian Market.) That particular owner is openly hostile to neighbors, while the mattress store folks work with us (within their means.) Pick your battles folks.

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