Sunday Poll: Does The World Naked Bike Ride Encourage Indecent Exposure?

The annual World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) rolled through St. Louis last night.  Organizers use the phrase “bare as you dare.” Some riders were completely nude, except for shoes.

Although you can be as bare as you dare during the ride, the City of St. Louis requests that we cover our privates at the pre/post party. (WNBRSTL.org)

The St. Louis police allow privates to be exposed in public during the ride.

In most states around the country, there are indecent exposure laws which may prevent men and women from legally exposing their genitals in public.

Some states, however, only apply their indecency laws to those who show their man or lady parts for the purpose of sexual arousal or to shock others, allowing well-intentioned nudists to avoid prosecution. (FindLaw)

The above source indicates topless is ok in most states thanks to lawsuits on the equality of indecent exposure laws. For today’s poll you get to weigh in on the subject.

The poll will close at 8pm tonight.

– Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: Board Bill #99, Last Meeting Before Summer Break

Just one new bill being introduced at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen today, the last meeting before Summer break. .

ON AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION TODAY 7/14/17:

Note that just because a bill is on the agenda doesn’t mean it’ll be introduced, similarly, bills not on the agenda might be introduced if they suspend the rules to do so.

• B.B.#99 – Pres. Reed – An Ordinance pertaining to the collection of funds to assist in the prevention of domestic violence in support of individuals impacted in the City; authorizing the Comptroller to establish “The Domestic Violence Prevention and Family Support Fund” to provide grants to social agencies who serve victims of domestic abuse, bullying, childhood abuse and sexual assault, and provide education aimed at the prevention of these offences.

The meeting begins at 10am, it can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2017-2018 session. Next week’s meeting will be the last prior to their Summer break, board meetings should resume on Friday September 8th.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: New CWE Apartment Project Isn’t Too Much Density

In the non-scientific Sunday Poll, an overwhelming majority of those who voted felt a new project wasn’t adding too much density. I agree. Much greater density would’ve been good too, but the number of units was limited by the amount of parking that could fit into the former 1-story warehouse. I applaud the developers for leaving a small storefront space along the street.

The Milton is located at 4534 Olive.

Here are the poll results, the response was slightly higher than in recent weeks.

Q: Agree or disagree: Adding a 4-story tower w/30 apts to a 1-story warehouse is just too much density.

• Strongly agree 2 [4.08%]
• Agree 1 [2.04%]
• Somewhat agree 0 [0%]
• Neither agree or disagree 1 [2.04%]
• Somewhat disagree 3 [6.12%]
• Disagree 10 [20.41%]
• Strongly disagree 30 [61.22%]
• Unsure/No Answer 2 [4.08%]

I’m curious about the few that do think it’s too much density.

While I’m glad the front faced was reused, and I like modern contrasting with old — there’s something just not quite right about the new tower. It’s not displeasing, just not outstanding. Proportions and detailing — or lack of perhaps?

There were two interior details that were a miss — thresholds at each unit and out to each balcony.

So it’s not a perfect project, but it is a good example of how to retain a nice old facade while adding living space. In the next 5-20 years as fewer people own cars hopefully we’ll see less space & expense to accommodate car storage in new projects.

— Steve Patterson

Preparing For The Solar Eclipse, August 21. 2017

Solar Eclipse fervor is increasing as August 21, 2017 approaches.

What’s all the fuss?

For the first time since August 7, 1869 (That’s 148 years!) a total solar eclipse will come to Missouri, and, weather permitting, the next one will be even better than the last one. The 1869 eclipse only clipped the northeast corner of our state. The 2017 eclipse will begin its sweep from the northwest corner to Cape Girardeau (see eclipse map). Depending upon where you are in the state, the eclipse will begin between 11:30 am and noon. It will continue until between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm.

The path of totality will go over 42 of our state parks and historic sites and 22 of the KATY Trailheads. Of all of our sites, Felix Valle wil have the longest totality of more than 2 min 40 seconds. Even the parts of Missouri farthest from the path will experience a partail eclipse in which over 92% of the sun is covered and even that will be spectacular! (Missouri Dept of Natural Resources)

It’ll pass near and through major cities:

It’s an interesting fact that this eclipse path cuts right through the middle of several very large cities. If you’re in St. Louis or Kansas City, you need to be in a certain part of town to see totality. Nashville is partially in totality. Portland OR misses it, as does Atlanta and Chattanooga. Bowling Green is barely in the path. Greenville SC is, but Spartanburg isn’t! And Charlotte misses as well. Omaha is not in the path, but Lincoln is – just barely. And the great national Parks of Yellowstone/Grand Teton, and the Great Smoky Mountains are cut in half by the path. But Craters of the Moon misses the show! The Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky will be perfect, weather permitting! But if you want to be there to see it, then you need to be in the right spot! Check out the maps to make sure you’re there! (Eclipse2017.org)

Confused? The image below illustrates the path, with the center blue line being total darkness.

If you’re in the City of St. Louis on August 21st you won’t experience the eclipse — except those on the South side will experience a partial eclipse.

Those South & West of the city will experience it. The closer you are to the blue line the the darker it’ll be and the longer it’ll last.

On August 21st we plan to drive about an hour to be on the blue line to experience the full total eclipse  — nearly 3 minutes long! Yes, a 2-hour round trip for just under 3 minutes of the solar eclipse. Our eclipse glasses arrived Friday.

Use the links above, search for more, or look at Wikipedia for additional information. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Is New CWE Project Too Much Density?

The 1-story storefront/warehouse at 4534 Olive St has stood for nearly a century. From March 2015:

Every resident will get a balcony or a deck at a four-story apartment building to be constructed on piers over an 89-year-old Central West End warehouse.

Planned are 22 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom apartments in the new building at 4534 Olive Street and an adjoining structure built in 1900. The warehouse will provide garage parking for residents. (Post-Dispatch)

City records show both buildings were built in 1926, the adjacent building has 2-floors.

The warehouse occupies the entire lot — 100 foot of street frontage and all the way to the alley. The 1-story street facade was retained but a new tower contains 29-30 apartments.

Today’s poll is about the resulting density of this project. Is it too much?

This poll will close at 8pm tonight, The results and my thoughts & photos of the finished project on Wednesday.

— Steve Patterson