Sunday I drove my husband to work so I could use our shared car for errands. As I was ready to return downtown from Ellisville (far West St. Louis County) I noticed the weather had suddenly gotten worse.
Poor weather on Sunday 11/16/2014
What amazed me is how many people driving on Clarkson & I-64 weren’t using their headlights, they must think headlights are only to help them see the road ahead. In low/reduced visibility conditions headlights help other drivers see your vehicle. Our car, like most newer cars, has daytime running lights, but headlights are more effective. Turning on headlights also turns on taillights, increasing visibility from behind.
On August 28, 2004 a law went into effect dealing with with the use of headlights at specific times, which motorists need to be reminded of during this time of year.
The definition in RSMo 307.020 dealing with when headlights are required was amended and new requirements were added to read: “When lighted lamps are required” means at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet ahead. Lighted lamps shall also be required any time the weather conditions require usage of the motor vehicle’s windshield wipers to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner as defined in section 304.012, RSMo. The provisions of this section shall be interpreted to require lighted lamps during periods of fog even if usage of the windshield wipers is not necessary to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner. (Missouri Highway Patrol)
Illinois and other states have similar laws requiring headlight use. This time of year car windows & mirrors aren’t always clear: snow & ice on the outside or frost/fog on the inside of other vehicles reduce the chances those drivers will so you.
Remember, your lights help others see your vehicle.
My husband and I recently visited the newly opened IKEA in the Kansas City area.
IKEA Merriam KS
I’d researched the location prior to our trip, more on that later. As we entered the top level it hit me — it’s just like the 2nd Chicago-area IKEA (Bolingbrook, IL). I emailed IKEA spokesman Joseph Roth while we were shopping:
Steve Patterson: “It looked like it was the Bolingbrook location over parking. I’m guessing the St. Louis location now under construction will be similar?”
Joseph Roth: “Correct. Essentially, there is mostly just one version of the store; but where the size of the site is smaller, we elevate the store above parking — as we did in Merriam, KS and are doing in St. Louis.”
Thus, by visiting the IKEA in Merriam KS we got a preview of the St. Louis location that will open in the Fall of 2015. Before we look at the store let’s look at the site — similarities and differences with the St. Louis site.
The demolition of a vacant shopping center that will become the future home of the area’s first Ikea store is set for Wednesday in Merriam.
The 60,000-square-foot building, which was initially planned for a Circuit City electronics store, will be razed and replaced by an Ikea home furnishing store that will be about six times as large. (Kansas City Star)
Razing an old shopping center for a new retail project isn’t a big deal, but a new, never occupied, shopping center was leveled!
In 2004, the city approved a plan by DDR Corp. (then called Developers Diversified Realty) to erect a fancy new “urban village.” Up went the strip mall. Then down went the U.S. economy. At the time of its completion, Merriam Village had signed only one tenant: Circuit City. But the electronics retailer collapsed into bankruptcy before it could occupy its brand-new store, leaving only “CIRCUIT CI” on the mall’s otherwise blank marquee, a ghost visible to highway drivers long after the deal fell apart. (Pitch)
You can see photos of the strip shopping center here.
Aerial of Merriam Village from Apple Maps, click to view a current aerial in Google Maps.
You can’t get much more suburban than this site! Still, the area is served by public transit. The area has good sidewalks and the Merriam Village shopping center did a good job of connecting to the public sidewalk out front. Employees are far more likely than customers to arrive via public transit.
Pedestrians on the public sidewalk have a straight shot to the front door.The site is so compact they built structured parking to the south of the buildingThe north side of IKEA as seen from the new QT down the hill. The retaining walls from the razed shopping center were…retainedLooking toward the southLooking toward the north
The St. Louis location, despite being closer to downtown, isn’t as tight. We’ll have lots more surface parking, here’s the site plan for St. Louis:
Proposed site plan for the IKEA, click image to view larger version.
The Kansas City IKEA is the 7th IKEA location I’ve shopped at over the last 24+ years but I realize many of you may not have been in one. My 15+ times visiting IKEA have always been while traveling, several times I’ve packed my car to the headliner. It’ll be nice having a store so close where I can just get a little something, I can easily go back to get more.
The top level is the showroom, with model rooms set up to show you ideas for using their products. After you make your way through this floor you’ll find the main restaurant. Down one level you’ll find the products.
Let’s start by parking under the store.
The garage under the store isn’t special, though brighter than under the Target at Hampton & ChippewaLooking toward the entryLosding areas are outside and in the covered garage. Unlike other IKEA stores, you can wheel carts to your car.Conveyor belt helps you get down from the checkout to the parking levelOnce at the main level you are directed up to the showroom level via the escalator or elevatorThe start of the showroom levelBesides living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, etc., they also are big in everything you need for a new kitchen.The large restaurant is cafeteria styleOn the lower level is where you’ll find the products to fill your bag or cart.Bed & bath linensLighting ia one of my favorite sections, many are now LED.Then you’ll find the warehouse area where you’ll find the flat-packed furniture you saw displayed in the showroom above.Seasonal merchandise is displayed near the checkout lines…and expect lines on weekends. Their bistro is just past the checkout
In the past I’ve told people to plan at least 4 hours to visit an IKEA the first time, but it’ll be different having a store so close. It’ll be easy to visit often a year from now. If you want a preview of the coming St. Louis IKEA just visit the suburban Kansas City IKEA.
Please vote in the poll, located in the right sidebar
Some retailers have announced they’ll be open Thanksgiving Day, while others proclaim they’ll be closed.
Kmart, J.C. Penney, Toys R Us and Walmart are all opening their doors on Thanksgiving this year, but that doesn’t mean everyone is asking workers to report for Black Friday duty a day early.
At least 13 large retailers have decided to remain closed on Thanksgiving. In various statements, the companies have cited the questionable benefits of opening on Thursday and the importance of preserving the holiday for employees and customers alike. (Huffington Post)
I’m curious if readers will be out shopping, at home shopping online, or not shopping at all. The poll is in the right sidebar (desktop layout).
If you haven’t seen the new parking meters that are coming you can stop by the St Louis Traffic Violation Bureau at 229 N 7th St.
The new multi-space & single space meters are in the lobby
You can also use these at Laclede & Euclid, they accept coins & credit cards. If you have a smartphone (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry) you can also download a free app here or use the web app here. Note that a small convenience fee will apply if using the app.
The last Blumeyer tower being razed, demolition started on October 23rd3501 Franklin in March 2012Most of the Blumeyer towers were razed years ago, photo from January 2007
A 2011 article says the site will become “green space.” I doubt it’ll be quality park space, just a green-ish rectangle.
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