Coming Together In Lucas Park

We skipped last weekend in Lucas Park but resumed work earlier today. This time we worked a reduced shift from 10am to noon-ish. In the past Andy Martello set up a BBQ to smoke meats & grill corn. We’d have a few of the local homeless because they knew that was the only way to get any of the food.

This weekend we skipped the food. We still had several homeless persons helping us in the park. I think we’ve earned their trust. That first day some were upset by our presence in their park. Over the last month they’ve seen we are not going to push them out. It has become our park.

Maureen had recorded a testimonial for Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center. A few weeks ago she said she had not been paid for the work they gave her to do. Today she says she finally got paid but the additional work she was promised has not materialized. She does not feel safe on the street alone.

Over the last month barriers have been broken. Us loft dwellers that have been working in the park see the homeless in a new light. We’ve gotten to know many. They’ve gotten to know us. Fears of the other are diminished. We are all now acting different toward the other.

I didn’t get a picture of him but a man named Ernie also helped quite a bit today. Again no food was being cooked or offered. Ernie, Maureen & Farrell all helped because they wanted to help. Pride of place.

A month ago the park looked like this:

And a similar view this afternoon:

Homeless still use the park, I don’t expect that to change. But more and more residents are using the park
as well. We are mingling and getting to know each other. The experience has been nothing but positive for me and for many others.

On the 25th we’ve got a little Halloween event planned from 3-5pm in the park. We’ll have fun & games for the little ones. I think we are planning a costume contest for kids, adults & dogs.

With the bulk of the cleanup done we move into the next phase with a design charrette on Monday November 17th from 6pm-9pm. We need Architects – especially Landscape Architects to participate. An Arborist or two would be nice as well. Residents & the homeless will be represented.

For years now Lucas Park has been the meant homeless to many in our region. Now Lucas Park is becoming a place where we can all come together, talk and figure out our common bonds rather than our differences. We’ll never erase homelessness but we do our best to work for solutions to get the homeless off the street and into transitional housing as quickly as possible.

I realize everyday how lucky I am to still be living following my February stroke and 14+ hours spent on my cold concrete floor until my friend Marcia found me. I’m determined to make a difference for others.

Rumor: Drury Hotels Interested in KTVI Site at Hampton & 40.

Recently Drury announced intentions to build a hotel at Kingshighway & I-64 (aka Hwy 40). Residents pushed back at the idea of losing homes on the edge of their neighborhood.

At this point it is unclear if the Hampton location is sought as a replacement to the Kingshighway intersection or if the strategy is to keep both in play and see which sticks first.  What is clear is that with the rebuild of I-64 we will see new interest in redeveloping the areas around the intersections both in the city & county.

From the Business Journal on Sept 18, 2008:

TV stations KPLR Channel 11, a CW affiliate, and KTVI Channel 2, a Fox affiliate, will combine news operations and share programming, owners Tribune Co. and Local TV Holdings said Tuesday.

The two stations will co-locate in the Maryland Heights offices of KPLR and use one newsroom, which will most likely lead to cost-cutting and lay-offs.

The question is if the city is going to do anything to retain these jobs in the city?  News in the region happens all over but much takes place in the city & central county. As with print media, we are seeing cost cutting measures that may not please everyone.  Faces seen on TV for years are getting the boot.

KTVI employees, I’m told, are not so keen on commuting to Maryland Heights.  With people looking at their current real estate and an announced deal to combine news operations I’d say we’ll be seeing changes at 40 & Hampton in the next few years.

Thoughts From The Downtown Resident’s Meeting

Last night I attended the Downtown Resident’s Association meeting at the Tap Room. My friend Farrell joined me. Farrell is between residences at the moment. Note I didn’t say my “homeless friend” as I have done before. He is a friend that happens to be homeless but like most of us we don’t want to be defined or labeled by a single factor. I don’t want someone to describe me as their disabled friend.

What was interesting was after the meeting when the last 5-6 of us headed down to the main bar. So here I am watching Farrell and Andy Martello bond. Martello is the downtown dad that circulated the petition to get Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center shut down (his blog, petition, RFT story). Farrell pointed out to Andy that Rice’s NLEC, despite it’s shortcomings (no computer access, no place to store belongings, outdated training), does provide a place to sleep and food if you are hungry.

Last night, seven blocks from Lucas Park, progress was made. Farrell thought it was interesting to hear the Mayor & residents talk openly about their concerns. Farrell was pleased as he heard compassion from downtown residents.  A few residents experienced a different side of homelessness — speaking with an educated, well-read individual who is able to articulate what he and so many others need. It focuses on transitional housing.  Having your clothing/possessions in the same place you sleep.  Better access to the web & email.  With the last meals served at 5pm it is hard to get a job and be back to Centenary for 5pm dinner.  How is a person supposed to eat until the first paycheck arrives?  Coordination of services is Farrell’s request.

I think the more downtown residents get involved in creating viable solutions the less homeless residents we will see on the street and in Lucas Park.

We Need More Walk-Up ATM Machines

Finding a walk-up ATM machine is hard even in some of our more walkable areas. I can think of a few — in the Central West End and the Loop come to mind. For the most part ATM machines are in set up for the motorist but not the pedestrian.

I took the above image while in my own car waiting for the ATM. They each used this ATM. I don’t think they were together, just both on foot and needing cash. I was in my car but I would have preferred a walk-up ATM. Downtown we do have a few ATM machines in lobby’s but I try to avoid doors when using my wheelchair.

Safety is always a concern around ATMs, but how safe is it to have pedestrians getting into lines are cars? To have a vibrant walkable 24/7 downtown we’ve got to work on amenities toward that goal and increasing the number of walk-up ATM machines would be a good start.

They cannot be in out of the way places though. Walk-up ATM machines need to be in areas with the heaviest foot traffic because that is where the need is the greatest and where safety is the best.

If we want folks to support retailers we need to make it easier for them to get their cash. Often historic facades present issues with a street-facing ATM. This is why they need to be incorporated into facades of non-historic structures as they are being renovated. Put them adjacent to a restaurant entrance or other well traveled location.

It still amazes me that Commerce built an entirely new structure at Grand & Hartford yet failed to include a walk-up ATM. They have two for cars but none for pedestrians.

Make the ATM machines accessible by foot and you’ll find you’ve got more pedestrians than you thought.

Downtown Partnership Addressing Neglected Street Trees on Washington Ave

Back in July I wrote about the high number of missing street trees on our city’s most expensive streetscape, downtown’s Washington Ave. I had high hopes a few days later when I spotted a city crew grinding out a tree stump, but they only did one (see post). But people did take notice. From my original post:

Too bad we don’t have some taxing entity for improving the downtown community. Oh wait, we do — the downtown Community Improvement District (CID) that is administered by the Downtown St Louis Partnership. From the CID page:

“The Community Improvement District provides new and enhanced improvements and activities, including: maintenance, security, marketing/communications, streetscape improvements, landscaping services, economic and housing development, and special events above and beyond those currently provided by the City.”

Yes maintenance is on the list. Well Jim you’ve got some maintaining to do.

That last line is a reference to Jim Cloar, CEO & President of the Partnership for Downtown St Louis — the entity that manages the community improvement district. On September 19th I spotted workers out pruning the remaining trees on the street:

A few days later, on September 22nd, the Post-Dispatch mentions the tree issue:

Six years ago, city officials and downtown boosters celebrated with great fanfare the $14 million beautification of six blocks of Washington Avenue. Now, judging from the 10 missing street trees in that very stretch, it would be easy to think somebody dropped the ball. The project meant two years of barricades, cost overruns and construction delays. Washington Avenue retailers lost customers, and downtown residents had to put up with incessant jack-hammering. Yet the end result – a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined and decoratively paved street – seemed to be worth all the headaches.
Most blocks of Washington Avenue still look great. But there are troubling signs of neglect. In July, Steve Patterson wrote about the missing trees on his blog, www.urbanreviewstl.com, which focuses on city planning and accessibility issues. With the autumn tree-planting season right around the corner, I thought On Your Side ought to join in the mini-crusade.

Proper credit, sweet! Writer Matthew Hathaway did what I seldom have time to do — make follow-up inquiries. After contacting both the city and Partnership it looks like the Partnership will be replacing the missing trees “in the next planting season.”

Great, now if I can only get others to join me in getting rid of the “depressed section” of I-70, relocating the taxi stand located on the public sidewalk in front of the convention center, adding 24/7 on-street parking on Washington Ave East of Tucker, and redoing our 1947 auto-centric zoning code. Is that too much to ask?