Wasted Space on Laclede
Going to class at Saint Louis University last Thursday I noticed an interesting gap in the on-street parking in front of the building on Laclede.
I’m standing at my car looking at what is now known as the “Laclede Classroom Building.” This is a big gap in the on-street parking — enough for one or two cars. By not having parking here the city is losing money. “But that driveway!” you observe. Oh yes, the driveway.
As the above image shows, the driveway has been abandoned by the new owner, SLU. There is not even a service gate in the fence. There is no reason anymore to prevent someone from parking on-street here.
These examples exist all over the city — circumstances change but management of on-street parking doesn’t seem to change. I can think of several examples downtown where parking is not alowed at closed former drives. We need some system of alerting the parking folks in the Treasurer’s office when a substantial permit is issued for a building. This would prod them to evaluate the on-street parking & meter situation at locations like this where the situation has changed.
If my memory serves me as well a hope, that is the same building that my GF and I chanced upon and gazed at for it’s Deco/modernist beauty. Seems SLU has had a hand on it as those wondows weren’t installed when we saw it last year. It was designed by W B Ittner, or by his firm, W B Ittner & Associates. If the building facade hasn’t been completely destroyed, say by stuccoing or painting the lovely two-tone buff brick scheme, you should still be able to read the Architect info to the right of the front entrance, if that hasn’t been compromised as well. Have I said how much I hate SLU? Still, at least they didn’t tear it down.
If it were me, I’d just park there, even without a meter. The curb doesn’t appear to be painted, there aren’t any “No Parking” signs, and one could argue that the curb had dropped if one recieved a ticket. I’m not sure if “we need some system of alerting the parking folks in the Treasurer’s office”. We just need better management. The parking enforcement folks are out there every day. They know where meters are missing and/or could be installed. How about giving a $20 or $50 bonus to city employees and/or residents for every new meter spot they identify? The new revenue should pay for the bonus within a year . . .
My favorite example of wasted space is on Laclede just west of Euclid in front of the BJC parking garage. There must be space for 5 or six cars, but there is only a single meter with “No Parking” signs for the rest of the curb.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=st+louis&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=43.172547,55.546875&ie=UTF8&ll=38.640552,-90.263188&spn=0.001257,0.005429&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=38.640552,-90.263188&panoid=cri27oUYjtnlMaqnv5tUmw&cbp=12,146.1794456052508,,0,4.492504368480637
Oddly enough, I’ve had pretty good luck with the online service/complaint form of the Citizen’s Service Bureau.
http://stlcin.missouri.org/csb/csb.cfm
Mind you, it’s no overnight affair, but eventually most of the unsavoriness I have reported has been attended to eventually.
It would also be nice if the driveway ramp where replaced with a proper sidewalk. Shouldn’t this be part of
any new construction or renovation?
Thank you, CarondeletNinja, for recommending the CSB for issues like this. You’re helping turn the issue into action.
The CSB is something most complainers don’t even know about.
To me, the CSB has an identity problem….either most people don’t know about it, or they don’t use it.
Any ideas for how the CSB could solve?
I’d consider contacting Matt Hathaway of the Post-Dispatch as well.
The reduced parking on Laclede west of Euclid is do to BJC’s desire to improve site lines for motorists leaving the garage. BJC did agree to allow public parking in the garage after lengthy discussion with area restaurants who were hurting over the Opus construction and loss of on street spaces.
Much like you, I suspect underutilization is most probably a result of lack of awareness. The CSB should hire CarondeletNinja to be in charge of all advertising and PR. Not only would issues such as the above be almost instantaneously resolved, but this would also result in many jobs for the community, as the additional workload received at the CSB would require additional staffing not only at the CSB, but in all the affected city departments.
Run on sentences are just one of CarondeletNinja’s many skills…
^^ “The reduced parking on Laclede west of Euclid is do to BJC’s desire to improve site lines for motorists leaving the garage.”
That still doesn’t fully explain why there is a two car gap between the one existing meter and the entrance to the parking garage.
Street life has returned to Laclede because others, not SLU, have appeared. The lofts, Laclede Coffee Company, and of course the long-time Humphery’s. But rumors have increased in intensity that the University wants to buy Lacledes and build a residence hall in its place with more parking. This would have a devastating effect on the street life. Let’s hope that things fall through.
Shhhh, I have several spots all over mid and downtown where the meters are missing. Paying to park is for chumps. Don’t even get me started on valet parking……