#compton-heights — Public Fediverse posts

Urban Inequity as Seen from Four Elegant Water Towers

While traveling this spring and early summer, we had the opportunity to visit four of the oldest and most elegant water towers one can find in the United States. While all four standpipe towers are beautifully designed and constructed, two (Grand Avenue and Bissell Street in St. Louis, MO) are located in the impoverished College Hill neighborhood of the city that has seen decades of neglect and disinvestment. The other two towers [Louisville (KY) and Compton Hill (MO)] are located in neighborhoods that have been stable or thriving for many years.

Grand Avenue Water Tower (1871) in St. Louis, Missouri

When entering the College Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, one is immediately greeted by dilapidated, boarded up, and collapsing buildings, numerous vacant lots, and poverty in the areas surrounding the two towers. Particularly noticeable when visiting the neighborhood is the limited amount of tree canopy.

The Grand Avenue Water Tower sits fenced off, while Bissell Street has a boarded up doorway and banged up guardrails surrounding it. Since the 1990 Census, the College Hill neighborhood has lost 77 percent of its population. According to the City of St. Louis’ 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan, wholly 49 percent of the lots there are vacant, as are 24 percent of the remaining buildings.

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PYCx8ZSg1Lnu-ckM6Kqz6ROxKzBNym4m/view

As further evidence of the decline that has taken place there:

“College Hill is a community that on the whole, struggles economically. The median annual household income estimated for 2026 was $43,625 for the city overall and $74,500 for the region. Moreover, approximately 39 percent of College Hill families live in poverty when compared to 27 percent of the city and 11 percent of Missouri families overall.”

– 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan

It should be noted that more recent 2026 estimate shows the median household income in College Hill rising to $43,625 (a year-over-year increase of 7.7%). However, the total number of housing units there continues to decline.

Bissell Street Water Tower (1886) in St. Louis, Missouri

Several organizations are striving to improve the situation in College Hill, including the College Hill Foundation, Bridge of Hope STL, and The Old North St. Louis Restoration Group. Hopefully, such efforts will lead to significant reinvestment in this northern part of St. Louis without forcing out current residents so they can enjoy the benefits, as well. While area residents are fortunate to have two iconic towers gracing the neighborhood, until their housing, schools, healthcare options, safety, and employment opportunities improve, the water towers are will remain symbols (and reminders) of once better days.

Meanwhile, the Louisville (Kentucky) and Compton Hill (St. Louis, Missouri) water towers triumphantly adorn their visibly more prosperous locales in pastoral, park-like settings. Both offer occasional tours and are tended to with loving care. It is wonderful to see how well cared for both towers are, but the juxtaposition from the Grand and Bissell Water Towers is notably stark.

The gorgeous Louisville Water Tower is located at an historic city water works in a largely non-residential area dominated by parks and green spaces northeast of downtown along/near the Ohio riverfront (see map below). Several marine terminals are located just to the west.

N ^ Source: lojic N^ Louisville Water Tower (1860) in Kentucky

The Compton Heights neighborhood in St. Louis is dominated by Compton Hill Reservoir Park, where the namesake standpipe water tower rises dramatically above the tree line. Certified as an historic district, Compton Heights was designed in 1888 as a planned residential community with strong deed restrictions, dedicated natural features, and curvilinear streets.

N –> Original Neighborhood Design N –>
Source: comptonheights.org

As with much of the City of St. Louis, Compton Heights has lost population since the 1990 Census, but to a much smaller degree than College Hill: a 25 percent drop in Compton Heights compared to a 77 percent reduction in College Hill. Furthermore, the estimated median household income was $68,764 in 2026. Comparing the map above with the one below, Compton Heights has retained much of its original design.

N^ Compton Hill Historic District -Source: www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/documents/upload/ComptonHillLocal-HistoricDistrictMap_8-2-101.pdf Compton Hill Water Tower (1898) in St. Louis, Missouri

The locations of these four elegant standpipe water towers represent all-too-common examples of America’s wealth gap, inequity, and inequality. The College Hill neighborhood in St. Louis, where the Grand Avenue and Bissell Street towers call home, has struggled for many decades and continues to face significant challenges. Fortunately, there are signs of hope. In the meantime, the Louisville, Kentucky and Compton Hill water towers reside in attractive urban neighborhoods that have and continue to thrive.

For Americans to fully realize their hopes and dreams, we must come together as a nation and work to solve difficult problems like inequity. Otherwise, the wealth gap will continue to present a noticeable and harsh divide between the haves and the have-nots in places across the country — a scenario which is hardly just or fair in a nation blessed with so much abundance and prosperity.

Peace!

#cities #CollegeHil #ComptonHeights #disinvestment #inequality #inequity #Louisville #revitalization #StLouis #waterTowers #wealthGap

Urban Inequity as Seen from Four Elegant Water Towers

While traveling this spring and early summer, we had the opportunity to visit four of the oldest and most elegant water towers one can find in the United States. While all four standpipe towers are beautifully designed and constructed, two (Grand Avenue and Bissell Street in St. Louis, MO) are located in the impoverished College Hill neighborhood of the city that has seen decades of neglect and disinvestment. The other two towers [Louisville (KY) and Compton Hill (MO)] are located in neighborhoods that have been stable or thriving for many years.

Grand Avenue Water Tower (1871) in St. Louis, Missouri

When entering the College Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, one is immediately greeted by dilapidated, boarded up, and collapsing buildings, numerous vacant lots, and poverty in the areas surrounding the two towers. Particularly noticeable when visiting the neighborhood is the limited amount of tree canopy.

The Grand Avenue Water Tower sits fenced off, while Bissell Street has a boarded up doorway and banged up guardrails surrounding it. Since the 1990 Census, the College Hill neighborhood has lost 77 percent of its population. According to the City of St. Louis’ 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan, wholly 49 percent of the lots there are vacant, as are 24 percent of the remaining buildings.

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PYCx8ZSg1Lnu-ckM6Kqz6ROxKzBNym4m/view

As further evidence of the decline that has taken place there:

“College Hill is a community that on the whole, struggles economically. The median annual household income estimated for 2026 was $43,625 for the city overall and $74,500 for the region. Moreover, approximately 39 percent of College Hill families live in poverty when compared to 27 percent of the city and 11 percent of Missouri families overall.”

– 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan

It should be noted that more recent 2026 estimate shows the median household income in College Hill rising to $43,625 (a year-over-year increase of 7.7%). However, the total number of housing units there continues to decline.

Bissell Street Water Tower (1886) in St. Louis, Missouri

Several organizations are striving to improve the situation in College Hill, including the College Hill Foundation, Bridge of Hope STL, and The Old North St. Louis Restoration Group. Hopefully, such efforts will lead to significant reinvestment in this northern part of St. Louis without forcing out current residents so they can enjoy the benefits, as well. While area residents are fortunate to have two iconic towers gracing the neighborhood, until their housing, schools, healthcare options, safety, and employment opportunities improve, the water towers are will remain symbols (and reminders) of once better days.

Meanwhile, the Louisville (Kentucky) and Compton Hill (St. Louis, Missouri) water towers triumphantly adorn their visibly more prosperous locales in pastoral, park-like settings. Both offer occasional tours and are tended to with loving care. It is wonderful to see how well cared for both towers are, but the juxtaposition from the Grand and Bissell Water Towers is notably stark.

The gorgeous Louisville Water Tower is located at an historic city water works in a largely non-residential area dominated by parks and green spaces northeast of downtown along/near the Ohio riverfront (see map below). Several marine terminals are located just to the west.

N ^ Source: lojic N^ Louisville Water Tower (1860) in Kentucky

The Compton Heights neighborhood in St. Louis is dominated by Compton Hill Reservoir Park, where the namesake standpipe water tower rises dramatically above the tree line. Certified as an historic district, Compton Heights was designed in 1888 as a planned residential community with strong deed restrictions, dedicated natural features, and curvilinear streets.

N –> Original Neighborhood Design N –>
Source: comptonheights.org

As with much of the City of St. Louis, Compton Heights has lost population since the 1990 Census, but to a much smaller degree than College Hill: a 25 percent drop in Compton Heights compared to a 77 percent reduction in College Hill. Furthermore, the estimated median household income was $68,764 in 2026. Comparing the map above with the one below, Compton Heights has retained much of its original design.

N^ Compton Hill Historic District -Source: www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/documents/upload/ComptonHillLocal-HistoricDistrictMap_8-2-101.pdf Compton Hill Water Tower (1898) in St. Louis, Missouri

The locations of these four elegant standpipe water towers represent all-too-common examples of America’s wealth gap, inequity, and inequality. The College Hill neighborhood in St. Louis, where the Grand Avenue and Bissell Street towers call home, has struggled for many decades and continues to face significant challenges. Fortunately, there are signs of hope. In the meantime, the Louisville, Kentucky and Compton Hill water towers reside in attractive urban neighborhoods that have and continue to thrive.

For Americans to fully realize their hopes and dreams, we must come together as a nation and work to solve difficult problems like inequity. Otherwise, the wealth gap will continue to present a noticeable and harsh divide between the haves and the have-nots in places across the country — a scenario which is hardly just or fair in a nation blessed with so much abundance and prosperity.

Peace!

#cities #CollegeHil #ComptonHeights #disinvestment #inequality #inequity #Louisville #revitalization #StLouis #waterTowers #wealthGap

Urban Inequity as Seen from Four Elegant Water Towers

While traveling this spring and early summer, we had the opportunity to visit four of the oldest and most elegant water towers one can find in the United States. While all four standpipe towers are beautifully designed and constructed, two (Grand Avenue and Bissell Street in St. Louis, MO) are located in the impoverished College Hill neighborhood of the city that has seen decades of neglect and disinvestment. The other two towers [Louisville (KY) and Compton Hill (MO)] are located in neighborhoods that have been stable or thriving for many years.

Grand Avenue Water Tower (1871) in St. Louis, Missouri

When entering the College Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, one is immediately greeted by dilapidated, boarded up, and collapsing buildings, numerous vacant lots, and poverty in the areas surrounding the two towers. Particularly noticeable when visiting the neighborhood is the limited amount of tree canopy.

The Grand Avenue Water Tower sits fenced off, while Bissell Street has a boarded up doorway and banged up guardrails surrounding it. Since the 1990 Census, the College Hill neighborhood has lost 77 percent of its population. According to the City of St. Louis’ 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan, wholly 49 percent of the lots there are vacant, as are 24 percent of the remaining buildings.

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PYCx8ZSg1Lnu-ckM6Kqz6ROxKzBNym4m/view

As further evidence of the decline that has taken place there:

“College Hill is a community that on the whole, struggles economically. The median annual household income estimated for 2026 was $43,625 for the city overall and $74,500 for the region. Moreover, approximately 39 percent of College Hill families live in poverty when compared to 27 percent of the city and 11 percent of Missouri families overall.”

– 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan

It should be noted that more recent 2026 estimate shows the median household income in College Hill rising to $43,625 (a year-over-year increase of 7.7%). However, the total number of housing units there continues to decline.

Bissell Street Water Tower (1886) in St. Louis, Missouri

Several organizations are striving to improve the situation in College Hill, including the College Hill Foundation, Bridge of Hope STL, and The Old North St. Louis Restoration Group. Hopefully, such efforts will lead to significant reinvestment in this northern part of St. Louis without forcing out current residents so they can enjoy the benefits, as well. While area residents are fortunate to have two iconic towers gracing the neighborhood, until their housing, schools, healthcare options, safety, and employment opportunities improve, the water towers are will remain symbols (and reminders) of once better days.

Meanwhile, the Louisville (Kentucky) and Compton Hill (St. Louis, Missouri) water towers triumphantly adorn their visibly more prosperous locales in pastoral, park-like settings. Both offer occasional tours and are tended to with loving care. It is wonderful to see how well cared for both towers are, but the juxtaposition from the Grand and Bissell Water Towers is notably stark.

The gorgeous Louisville Water Tower is located at an historic city water works in a largely non-residential area dominated by parks and green spaces northeast of downtown along/near the Ohio riverfront (see map below). Several marine terminals are located just to the west.

N ^ Source: lojic N^ Louisville Water Tower (1860) in Kentucky

The Compton Heights neighborhood in St. Louis is dominated by Compton Hill Reservoir Park, where the namesake standpipe water tower rises dramatically above the tree line. Certified as an historic district, Compton Heights was designed in 1888 as a planned residential community with strong deed restrictions, dedicated natural features, and curvilinear streets.

N –> Original Neighborhood Design N –>
Source: comptonheights.org

As with much of the City of St. Louis, Compton Heights has lost population since the 1990 Census, but to a much smaller degree than College Hill: a 25 percent drop in Compton Heights compared to a 77 percent reduction in College Hill. Furthermore, the estimated median household income was $68,764 in 2026. Comparing the map above with the one below, Compton Heights has retained much of its original design.

N^ Compton Hill Historic District -Source: www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/documents/upload/ComptonHillLocal-HistoricDistrictMap_8-2-101.pdf Compton Hill Water Tower (1898) in St. Louis, Missouri

The locations of these four elegant standpipe water towers represent all-too-common examples of America’s wealth gap, inequity, and inequality. The College Hill neighborhood in St. Louis, where the Grand Avenue and Bissell Street towers call home, has struggled for many decades and continues to face significant challenges. Fortunately, there are signs of hope. In the meantime, the Louisville, Kentucky and Compton Hill water towers reside in attractive urban neighborhoods that have and continue to thrive.

For Americans to fully realize their hopes and dreams, we must come together as a nation and work to solve difficult problems like inequity. Otherwise, the wealth gap will continue to present a noticeable and harsh divide between the haves and the have-nots in places across the country — a scenario which is hardly just or fair in a nation blessed with so much abundance and prosperity.

Peace!

#cities #CollegeHil #ComptonHeights #disinvestment #inequality #inequity #Louisville #revitalization #StLouis #waterTowers #wealthGap

Urban Inequity as Seen from Four Elegant Water Towers

While traveling this spring and early summer, we had the opportunity to visit four of the oldest and most elegant water towers one can find in the United States. While all four standpipe towers are beautifully designed and constructed, two (Grand Avenue and Bissell Street in St. Louis, MO) are located in the impoverished College Hill neighborhood of the city that has seen decades of neglect and disinvestment. The other two towers [Louisville (KY) and Compton Hill (MO)] are located in neighborhoods that have been stable or thriving for many years.

Grand Avenue Water Tower (1871) in St. Louis, Missouri

When entering the College Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, one is immediately greeted by dilapidated, boarded up, and collapsing buildings, numerous vacant lots, and poverty in the areas surrounding the two towers. Particularly noticeable when visiting the neighborhood is the limited amount of tree canopy.

The Grand Avenue Water Tower sits fenced off, while Bissell Street has a boarded up doorway and banged up guardrails surrounding it. Since the 1990 Census, the College Hill neighborhood has lost 77 percent of its population. According to the City of St. Louis’ 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan, wholly 49 percent of the lots there are vacant, as are 24 percent of the remaining buildings.

Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PYCx8ZSg1Lnu-ckM6Kqz6ROxKzBNym4m/view

As further evidence of the decline that has taken place there:

“College Hill is a community that on the whole, struggles economically. The median annual household income estimated for 2026 was $43,625 for the city overall and $74,500 for the region. Moreover, approximately 39 percent of College Hill families live in poverty when compared to 27 percent of the city and 11 percent of Missouri families overall.”

– 2018 College Hill Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan

It should be noted that more recent 2026 estimate shows the median household income in College Hill rising to $43,625 (a year-over-year increase of 7.7%). However, the total number of housing units there continues to decline.

Bissell Street Water Tower (1886) in St. Louis, Missouri

Several organizations are striving to improve the situation in College Hill, including the College Hill Foundation, Bridge of Hope STL, and The Old North St. Louis Restoration Group. Hopefully, such efforts will lead to significant reinvestment in this northern part of St. Louis without forcing out current residents so they can enjoy the benefits, as well. While area residents are fortunate to have two iconic towers gracing the neighborhood, until their housing, schools, healthcare options, safety, and employment opportunities improve, the water towers are will remain symbols (and reminders) of once better days.

Meanwhile, the Louisville (Kentucky) and Compton Hill (St. Louis, Missouri) water towers triumphantly adorn their visibly more prosperous locales in pastoral, park-like settings. Both offer occasional tours and are tended to with loving care. It is wonderful to see how well cared for both towers are, but the juxtaposition from the Grand and Bissell Water Towers is notably stark.

The gorgeous Louisville Water Tower is located at an historic city water works in a largely non-residential area dominated by parks and green spaces northeast of downtown along/near the Ohio riverfront (see map below). Several marine terminals are located just to the west.

N ^ Source: lojic N^ Louisville Water Tower (1860) in Kentucky

The Compton Heights neighborhood in St. Louis is dominated by Compton Hill Reservoir Park, where the namesake standpipe water tower rises dramatically above the tree line. Certified as an historic district, Compton Heights was designed in 1888 as a planned residential community with strong deed restrictions, dedicated natural features, and curvilinear streets.

N –> Original Neighborhood Design N –>
Source: comptonheights.org

As with much of the City of St. Louis, Compton Heights has lost population since the 1990 Census, but to a much smaller degree than College Hill: a 25 percent drop in Compton Heights compared to a 77 percent reduction in College Hill. Furthermore, the estimated median household income was $68,764 in 2026. Comparing the map above with the one below, Compton Heights has retained much of its original design.

N^ Compton Hill Historic District -Source: www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/documents/upload/ComptonHillLocal-HistoricDistrictMap_8-2-101.pdf Compton Hill Water Tower (1898) in St. Louis, Missouri

The locations of these four elegant standpipe water towers represent all-too-common examples of America’s wealth gap, inequity, and inequality. The College Hill neighborhood in St. Louis, where the Grand Avenue and Bissell Street towers call home, has struggled for many decades and continues to face significant challenges. Fortunately, there are signs of hope. In the meantime, the Louisville, Kentucky and Compton Hill water towers reside in attractive urban neighborhoods that have and continue to thrive.

For Americans to fully realize their hopes and dreams, we must come together as a nation and work to solve difficult problems like inequity. Otherwise, the wealth gap will continue to present a noticeable and harsh divide between the haves and the have-nots in places across the country — a scenario which is hardly just or fair in a nation blessed with so much abundance and prosperity.

Peace!

#cities #CollegeHil #ComptonHeights #disinvestment #inequality #inequity #Louisville #revitalization #StLouis #waterTowers #wealthGap