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Readers Like St. Louis’ Gateway Transportation Center

December 1, 2010 Downtown, Planning & Design, Sunday Poll, Transportation 11 Comments
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ABOVE: Street-side view of the Gateway Transportation Center

In the poll last week readers liked our combined Amtrak & Greyhound station but were not impressed with the surroundings.

Q: St. Louis’ combined Amtrak & Greyhound station opened on 11/21/2008. Your thoughts on the station?

  1. Can’t compete with the heyday of Union Station but it is a vast improvement over facilities for the decades prior. 84 [58.74%]
  2. The station is OK but the immediate area needs attention. 33 [23.08%]
  3. Other answer… 11 [7.69%]
  4. James Howard Kunstler was right, it is an embarrassing eyesore. 8 [5.59%]
  5. Unsure/no opinion 5 [3.5%]
  6. I didn’t like it at first but I’ve warmed to it. 1 [0.7%]
  7. I liked it at first but I’m less and less impressed as times goes on. 1 [0.7%]

img_1713The following are the “other” answers:

  1. I LOVE IT !
  2. Needs to be near the Metro, needs multilevel parking garage.
  3. nice. but money should be invested in union station
  4. Should of used Union Station
  5. Why not re-use Union Station? It works, and would make it seem less empty
  6. Where is the option for like?
  7. It is an eyesore, and embarrassing that the original is so under-utilized.
  8. functional, but architecturally weak
  9. I like it, plain and simple
  10. It’s not terrible, but an under utilized Union Station is criminal!
  11. I have liked it all along.

Amtrak pulled out of Union Station in the early 70s, switching to a shack under the large train shed and finally to a “temporary” along the rail lines.  Union Station, a massive structure, was sold to private developers.  Additional structures have been constructed between the former station and the rail lines.  Amtrak doesn’t like to back into stations.  Need more reasons why not Union Station?

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ABOVE: Mother, daughter & grandson walking to station from MetroLink

I don’t get the comment above, “Needs to be near the Metro.”  They could not be any closer together!

img_1708ABOVE: View of Civic Center MetroLink & bus transfer center as seen from the east entrance

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ABOVE: View of Civic Center MetroLink & bus transfer center as seen looking east from the north end of the station

For me the transit connection (bus & rail) makes this site a big winner over Union Station.

– Steve Patterson

 

Zoning Hearing on Leather Trades Building

November 30, 2010 Downtown, Planning & Design, Real Estate, Zoning 6 Comments

img_1635The Leather Trades building at 16th & Locust is a handsome building in need of considerable work.  In January 2007 Pyramid Construction applied for a permit to build a display unit on the 2nd floor. On 9/6/07 I attended a party, hosted by Pyramid, in the completed display unit. At the time I lived in south St. Louis but in less than three months later I was moving into a loft across Locust St.  The following April Pyramid ceased operations.

ABOVE: Artist rendering from 2007
ABOVE: Artist rendering from 2007

Pyramid’s real estate holdings were eventually all turned over to other parties for development.  In July, after talking with Desiree Knapp of the team I tweeted that work would begin in September. But it didn’t.

img_1634However, on October 29th Paric Construction applied for a building permit with estimated costs of $10.5 million.  The permit was denied because of our antiquated zoning.  The property is zoned “I-Central Business District” which requires:

26.52.050 Area regulations.

There shall be a lot area of not less than two hundred and fifty (250) square feet for each dwelling unit up to and including eight (8) stories or one hundred (100) feet in height; thereafter there shall be provided a lot area of not less than one hundred (100) square feet for each additional dwelling unit above eight (8) stories or one hundred (100) feet in height. Sleeping rooms without cooking facilities shall have a lot area of not less than one hundred (100) square feet each. (Ord. 59979 § 14 (part), 1986.)

The building sits on a lot containing 16,601 square feet which would allow for 66 units under the zoning code.  In 2007 the plan was for 63 lofts.  I don’t know the number of units in the current plans.  The hearing where the developer’s appeal will be heard tomorrow (December 1, 2010) in Room 208 of City Hall at 1:30pm.

– Steve Patterson

 

City Employee Parks City Vehicle Next To Fire Hydrant

November 23, 2010 Downtown, Parking, Politics/Policy 15 Comments
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ABOVE: City vehicle parked in no-parking area in front of fire hydrant on 11/10/2010

If you or I parked blocking a fire hydrant it wouldn’t be long before our car was ticketed and towed away, resulting in big fees.  But a city employee driving a city-owned vehicle, it seems, can get away with doing what we can’t.

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ABOVE: City vehicle parked in no-parking area between disabled space and fire hydrant on 11/10/2010

I’m sure it was just for a few minutes but anyone could use the same excuse.  The fact is the city isn’t going to ticket or tow away it’s own vehicle.  This employee likely didn’t face any disciplinary action for how they parked.  As a matter of policy, city employees operating city vehicles need to be held to the same standard as anyone else.

Some vehicles mention the department on the door but this one didn’t so I assume it is a pool vehicle that can be checked out as needed.  This makes me wonder, who manages the vehicles? What does the employee agree to when they check out a car?

– Steve Patterson

 

Poll: Thoughts On St. Louis’ Gateway Station

November 21, 2010 Downtown, Sunday Poll, Transportation 13 Comments
ABOVE: St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green speaking at the opening on 11/21/2008
ABOVE: St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green speaking at the opening on 11/21/2008

Two years ago today the Gateway Station opened, combing Amtrak passenger rail service with Greyhound bus service.  The station, at 15th & Poplar, is adjacent to the Civic Center MetroLink light rail station and local bus transfer station

ABOVE: Boarding is easier from the new platforms.
ABOVE: Boarding is easier from the new platforms.

In January of this year author James Howard Kunstler named the Gateway Station his Eyesore of the Month, which prompted a reaction from me: Kunstler’s wrong, St. Louis’ new train/bus depot is not an eyesore.  Also in January the Gateway Station was the setting for a Recovery Act high-speed rail announcement in St. Louis.

I like the station but I’ve never been a customer.  I had used the old “temporary” Amtrak station and the old Greyhound station in the former Cass Bank at N 13th & Cass.Neither was great, although the interior of the old bank was spectacular.  Next month I will take a trip by train so I will get to use the new station as a customer.

The poll this week asks for your thoughts on the station now that it has been open for two full years. The poll is located in the upper right corner of the blog.

– Steve Patterson

 

Improved Pedestrian Space Comes Before Pedestrians

November 18, 2010 Downtown, Walkability 12 Comments

Often readers comment that my pictures never show pedestrians.  They’ve said it is hard to justify improving the pedestrian environment given how few pedestrians we have.  To me the opposite is the case, we have so few pedestrians because our pedestrian spaces are so deficient.

ABOVE: A couple of pedestrians walk east toward the Amtrak/Greyhound station in August 2008.

My the logic of some we should have this dismal sidewalk bustling with pedestrians before investing in improving the area.  But if the area is teaming with pedestrians there would be little reason to make capital improvements.

– Steve Patterson

 

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