St. Louis’ Planning & Urban Design Agency releases drafts
I wouldn’t have moved to St. Louis in 1990 if I didn’t see the potential for a great city. However, numerous times during my fourteen years in St. Louis I’ve considered moving to more urban places such as Chicago, Seattle or even Portland. Each time I was ready to pack it up and leave something has drawn me back in. Five years ago, after having sold my furniture and put my house on the market, a new job offer and optimism about Metropolis St. Louis got me to stay. Metropolis is nearly dead and I left that job in May. Once again my thoughts turned to moving – the Missouri constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, loss of the Century Building, and recent elections haven’t helped my resolve to stay put. But my interest in seeing St. Louis change and regain its place as a great urban city is prompting me to stay once again.
One of the most exciting elements of change has to do with zoning. Granted, by most people’s standards zoning ranks up there with going to the dentist but it is the basis for how our cities are put together (or dismantled). St. Louis’ 1947 Plan is an example of what not to do to a city. It is great the city now has this relic plan online but the scary part is much of our zoning is still based on these outdated concepts of the automobile city.
For the last ten years St. Louis has had two 5-year Consolidated Plan Strategies to guide development. Recently, St. Louis has released a draft of the 2005-09 Consolidated Plan Strategy. I’ve only begun to read it but it appears to be like the previous plans – overly intellectual. You know, a masters thesis type of work. Lengthy, boring. I’m sure HUD will be quite pleased. Yawn. Not that it matters – the leaders will do as they please anyway.
On the off chance they are listening, complete the survey on the CPS website – (click here to fill-out the survey) Be sure to fill out the comments section at the bottom – otherwise they might misunderstand the question about “entertainment” and think you want professional basketball when all you want is a neighborhood piano bar. Planners & politicos think grandiose. We’ve got to remind them – daily – that our lives don’t revolve around the grandiose.
On the positive side is another draft document that I have not yet read – the Stragetic Land Use Plan dated September 2004. This is created as a much needed replacement to the 1947 raze the whole damn city plan. The first impression is it is short and to the point – exactly what is needed. I’m cautiously optimistic about this document so I will reserve any further comments until after I’ve managed to review the material and presentation.
As long as the Mayor’s office and Board of Aldermen manage not to fuck it up we’ll be alright.
Steve
Please pardon the New York-centricness of the following, but New York is the only frame of reference I have.
–Is there in St. Louis a process for designating historic structures and neighborhoods, as there is in New York?
–Does designation confer legal protection against demolition or exterior alteration?
Thanks.
Dan Icolari
Dan – good questions. Yes, we have the Cultural Resources office within the Planning & Urban Design Agency. Web site is: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/planning/heritage/
Just like anywhere, National Register Historic districts afford no protection against demolition or alteration. But, these are great for tax credits. We also have some local historic districts which have various rules & regs about what can and can’t be done. We also have some areas, such as my neighborhood, which is in a Preservation Review District which means the Preservation Board must hear any applications for a demolition permit.