The Parc Frontenac Building at 40 N. Kingshighway in the Central West End, which is owned by Sterling Properties of Missouri, Inc., recently unveiled a large glossy advertisement in the lobby. The ad includes pictures of the rooftop deck, private lounge, newly renovated apartments and the lobby. When I first noticed the ad I realized that the people in the ad were models instead of actual tenants.
When I looked at the picture of the lobby, I noticed a doorman with open arms welcoming his guests. At first, I assumed this doorman was also a model as well. I asked the doorman on duty, Mr. Barnham, “Hey, who’s this guy and why aren’t you in the picture?”
He replied, “That man is from the Montclair Building.”
It struck me that all of the people in the ad were models except for the doorman, which was from one of Sterling’s other local properties, Montclair on the Park.
After a brief fact-finding mission, I learned that Mr. Barnham was on duty during the time of the photo shoot. Finally, I realized that all five of the regular doormen at the Parc Frontenac are black. The doorman from the Montclair is white.
I find it difficult to believe that the management’s motive to use a white doorman from a different property instead of a black doorman from the Parc Frontenac was not race-related.
I believe most of my neighbors at the Parc Frontenac would agree that our doormen, Mr. Barnham, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Laususe, Mr. Walker and Mr. Williams, are fine gentlemen that take pride in their work and should not be reduced to such insult.
Mark C. Pydynowski
St. Louis