Skyscrapers, preservation and development

Can preservationists learn to love skyscrapers? Sure. Because it’s not the height, the location or how old a build is that matters — it’s quality and how the building will serve people. In this article in the New York Times, “Sure, Build it in My Backyard,” the website of Nikolai Fedak is highlighted. The name…

Berry Building Receives State Honor

On Wednesday, Missouri Preservation will present the Preserve Missouri Award to John Ott for his renovation of the Berry Building, a former warehouse and grocery at 1025-33 Walnut Street. Once nearly derelict, today the 33,000-square-foot building gleams with PS Gallery and Independent Staves, a firm that manufactures and sells wine and whiskey barrels all over…

Historic renovation makes economic sense

John Ott, who has renovated several historic buildings, says historic renovation makes financial sense. His ideas are explained in full in a February 20, 2010 article in the Columbia Business Times. His most recent example is the Berry Building. For years, the building had been used as a warehouse. Then it went into decline and then…