Poll: When Will St. Charles County Go Smoke-Free?

Interesting news from St. Charles County last week:

The fate of a proposed countywide smoking ban is now up to County Executive Steve Ehlmann.

The County Council voted 4-2 on Tuesday night for legislation to put the proposal on the November 2012 election ballot. Ehlmann has yet to signal whether he’ll sign or veto the measure, which would apply to bars, restaurants and most other indoor public places. (STLToday.com)

With St. Louis City & County now smoke-free, with some unfortunate exceptions, it would be nice to see more of the region become smoke-free.

He [Ehlman] has 10 days to veto or sign the bill. If he does neither, the bill is automatically approved. (Patch.com)

This is the subject of the poll this week: When Will St. Charles County Go Smoke-Free?  The poll is located in the upper right corner of the blog.

I hope Steve Ehlmann doesn’t veto this bill so the question goes to voters in November 2012.

– Steve Patterson

Happy 137th Birthday to the Eads Bridge

When I moved to St. Louis, almost 21 years ago, I immediately fell in love with Eads Bridge. The rail lines on the lower level of the bridge hadn’t been used in 15 or so years. The road deck was in place but it was removed during construction of the  MetroLink light rail that opened in 1993. The bridge was so beautiful to my young eyes.

The history of the bridge is fascinating.  It opened 137 years ago today on June 4, 1874 with the official dedication was a month later on July 4, 1874:

The bridge is named for its designer and builder, James B. Eads. When completed in 1874, the Eads Bridge was the longest arch bridge in the world, with an overall length of 6,442 feet (1,964 m). The ribbed steel arch spans were considered daring, as was the use of steel as a primary structural material: it was the first such use of true steel in a major bridge project.

The Eads Bridge was also the first bridge to be built using cantilever support methods exclusively, and one of the first to make use of pneumatic caissons. The Eads Bridge caissons, still among the deepest ever sunk, were responsible for one of the first major outbreaks of “caisson disease” (also known as “the bends” or decompression sickness). Fifteen workers died, two other workers were permanently disabled, and 77 were severely afflicted.

On 14 June 1874, John Robinson led a “test elephant” on a stroll across the new Eads Bridge to prove it was safe. A big crowd cheered as the elephant from a traveling circus lumbered towards Illinois. It was believed that elephants had instincts that would keep them from setting foot on unsafe structures. Two weeks later, Eads sent 14 locomotives back and forth across the bridge at one time.

The Eads Bridge, which became an iconic image of the city of St. Louis, from the time of its erection until 1965 when the Gateway Arch was constructed, is still in use. The bridge crosses the St. Louis riverfront between Laclede’s Landing, to the north, and the grounds of the Gateway Arch, to the south. Today the road deck has been restored, allowing vehicular and pedestrian traffic to cross the river. The St. Louis MetroLink light rail line has used the rail deck since 1993. (Wikipedia)

This bridge, and the railroad tunnels under downtown, allowed the first Union Station to open a year later on June 1, 1875.  This Union Station was located at 12th (now Tucker) & Poplar. The Union Station we know opened 6 blocks to the west just 19 years later on September 1, 1894.

In 2024 we need to have a big party to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Eads Bridge.  Hopefully by then the raised section of I-70 at the west end of the bridge will be gone, opening sight lines.

– Steve Patterson

Sprawl in South County 20 Years Ago

In 1991 I took these three pictures somewhere in south St. Louis County. The three pics were taken from the same spot rotating from left to right.

At the time it was a new subdivision.  Note that some homes have front-facing garages while others have rear-entry garages and paved backyards.

I just wish I could remember the location so I could return. Maybe it is best I don’t know, I’m sure they lovely rolling hills in the background has now been destroyed by two decades of “progress”.  I’m also pretty sure all those new streets still lack shade trees.

– Steve Patterson

Low Enrollment at Webster University’s Old Post Office Campus

Webster University’s main campus is in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, but they’ve had a downtown campus for years.  For a long time they had classeroom space in the Lammert Building at 911 Washington Ave.

Webster was a driving force behind the latest renovation of the Old Post Office and the razing of the historic Century Building across 9th Street for a parking garage.  Back in 2003 the predictions were big & bold:

Webster plans to duplicate the programs offered on its Webster Groves campus when it opens in the Old Post Office building in 2005. Initially, about 1,200 students will attend classes at the Old Post Office, a number university President Richard Meyers expects to mushroom to 1,700 by 2007 or 2008.

That could create enough demand to justify building dormitories downtown — especially since the university’s latest dormitory project on its 47-acre Webster Groves campus will leave no space to develop more student housing. (St. Louis Business Journal)

Current enrollment? Only about 600, far from 1,700!  Don’t look for any new downtown dormitories anytime soon, unless they can convince the state to pay for the construction and lease them to the university below market. Webster’s Old Post Office website.

I visited the Webster University space in the Old Post Office last week.  Despite being a block from the 8th & Pine MetroLink light rail station, driving & parking is what is encouraged.  I found two versions of a “campus parking” guide.  These similar flyers give detailed driving & parking directions and barely mention taking transit.

And as you can see above, the map doesn’t show where the MetroLink station is located.  A tri-fold brochure on the downtown campus did have a small map indicating the station.  The state of Missouri owns both the Old Post Office and the 9th Street Garage — I think we need to be concerned about the financial liabilities here.

– Steve Patterson

Readers Will Shop the Updated Downtown Macy’s More Than Before

Last week the poll was about the recently reopened downtown Macy’s store:

Q:  Will you shop at the downtown Macy’s more than you used to?

1. I didn’t shop there before and still won’t 26 [24.07%]
2. I’ve shopped there before, will continue to do so 24 [22.22%]
3. I didn’t shop there before, will check it out though 19 [17.59%]
4. I’ve shopped there before, will do more thanks to improved selection 19 [[17.59%]
5. I’ve shopped there before, will do less now that it is smaller 5 [4.63%]
6. I don’t live in the St. Louis region 5 [4.63%]
7. Other answer… 5 4.63%]
8. I didn’t shop there before but will start now 3 [2.78%]
9. Unsure/no opinion 2 [1.85%]

Some indicated they will shop less because the store is small, a good number indicated they will shop more or will at least check out the store. The five other answers were:

1. Will certainly give it a look, as it is closer than other dept. stores
2. Yes. But I won’t eat there more. Ba dum bump!
3. Ate there often, shopped a little. Less reason to go now.
4. Didn’t know there is a Macy’s downtown.
5. I won’t shop at any Macy’s. Famous-Barr 4-eva!

I will probably shop there less often because I won’t be there once per month for a lunch meeting anymore.

– Steve Patterson