Glorious day! While solemnly surveying the damage to the Delmar Loop, primarily between Melville and Limit, I noticed an AALCO Wrecking dumpster in the parking lot of the boarded-up, blighting, under-productive, auto-oriented, former fast food building last occupied by Church’s Chicken over 4 years ago.

Checking the city’s records reveals a demo permit had been applied for on September 15th.

Church’s Chicken closed in May of 2013 after 40 years on the prominent corner. Washington University leased the property immediately after, planning something more productive in vain. The owner refused to sell or do anything but lease the building. Since ideas like a paid parking lot and most recently a Ferris wheel went nowhere.

Like a sore thumb, its auto-oriented land use sticks out in the human-scaled Delmar Loop while other parts progress. Like a middle finger it exemplifies how low-productivity auto-oriented development patterns bankrupt our city. Here’s hoping for a more productive future for this corner of the city!

Previous Coverage:

Church’s Chicken in The Loop Closes

Washington University Eyes Vacant Church’s Chicken Site for Next Loop Project

Pay Parking Lot May Be Next for Vacant Church’s Chicken in The Loop

Ferris Wheel Proposed for Delmar and Skinker

What Should Be: Delmar and Skinker