PR: Mayor Slay, Downtown Partnership Announce Downtown Bike Center

The following is a press release:
Mayor Francis G. Slay, the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis, the Downtown CID and Loftworks today announced that the funding is finalized to create the region’s first public commuter bike center.

The public Downtown Bike Center will offer cyclists a place to secure their bike, store their bike gear, and shower before coming to work. The City anticipates these services will be available late this Fall for a monthly fee.

The public Downtown Bike Center will use 1300 square feet of the ground floor of the 1011 Locust Street building, which is owned by Loftworks. The building that will house the bike station is right downtown – located on the northwest corner of Locust and Tenth Streets – and is within two blocks of a Metrolink station. The building has been restored using Historic Tax Credits, and is on track to obtain LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.

The City of St. Louis applied for a Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the Department of Energy to specifically fund this project. These funds were designated for energy-saving projects, and had to be approved by the Department of Energy. From the grant the City received, $181,600 will cover the costs to buy the lockers, interior bike racks, and fund the operational costs of the Downtown Bike Center’s first two years. The Downtown Community Improvement District and other partners will provide additional funding.

“We are building a City that provides an attractive way of life. After World War II, the car was a symbol of freedom. For some people today, it is just the opposite,” said Mayor Slay. “We look forward to working with the Downtown St. Louis CID and Loftworks to ensure the long-term success of this public bike center and the City’s cycling initiative.”

“This project will help cement Downtown as a walkable, livable neighborhood where you can rely on alternatives to the car,” said Maggie Campbell, Partnership President and CEO. “We are thrilled to be working with the community to realize this sustainable investment.”

“Since vehicle emissions contribute about a third of the Greenhouse Gasses into the environment, we wanted to use these ARRA Stimulus funds to promote an alternative mode of transportation,” said Catherine Werner, the City’s Sustainability Director. “By enabling St. Louis commuters to choose cycling as an affordable and attractive option, the City is demonstrating its commitment to being a healthy and sustainable community.”pre

PR: HUD OFFERS $110 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CLEAN UP LEAD HAZARDS

The following is a press release:

HUD OFFERS $110 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CLEAN UP LEAD HAZARDS
Funding to protect children from lead poisoning

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it is making approximately $110 million in grants available to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint from lower income homes and to protect young children from lead poisoning. The grants to States and local governments are being offered through HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Programs.

“These grants are critical for States, counties and cities who are on the front lines of protecting our children from dangerous lead hazards,” said Jon Gant, Director of the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. “While we have made remarkable progress toward eliminating lead poisoning in children nationwide, now is the time to focus on reaching the finish line. We look forward to communities applying for these grants so that they can help make older housing safer and healthier for children.”

HUD is providing an opportunity for applicants through its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program. Prospective grantees will be able to apply for supplementary funding to promote and develop a local Healthy Housing initiative, building on their lead hazard control program, to address multiple housing-related health hazards in accordance with best practices HUD has identified. In addition, the Department will announce the availability of funds for four Healthy Homes and lead grant programs in the near future.

HUD requires prospective grantees to submit their applications electronically via www.grants.gov. Any changes to HUD-published funding notices will be made available to the public through a Federal Register publication and published on this government-wide portal. Applicants are urged to sign up for Grants.gov’s notification service to receive periodic updates or changes to this grant offering.

###

PR: Brian Owens Closes O’Fallon Park Summer Jazz Concert Series

The following is a press release:

Brian Owens Closes O’Fallon Park Summer Jazz Concert Series

R&B singer, Brian Owens, performs at 6:00PM in the last concert of this summer’s concert series in O’Fallon Park

(ST. LOUIS) – Tonight R&B singer, Brian Owens, will close out this summer’s O’Fallon Park Jazz Concert Series with a performance at 6:00PM. Brian Owens is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the most promising young R&B and soul singers on today’s music scene. At the age of 29, Owens has already shared the stage with many notable performers such as jazz legend Ramsey Lewis, smooth jazz artists Boney James and Spyro Gyra. Brian has made television appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and BET’s “Jazz Discovery” program. He describes his musical style as a blend of Bill Withers, Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, with a bit of Al Green and Marvin Gaye just for fun.

Produced by the Sheldon Concert Hall in partnership with 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French, this is the 2nd year for the jazz series in O’Fallon Park. The series offers residents a unique opportunity to enjoy one of the city’s largest and most beautiful parks. Concertgoers have the opportunity to hear some of the region’s most talented jazz musicians this summer, while enjoying refreshments from the park’s new Boathouse café, which was opened specifically for the event.

In addition to the concert series, many new renovations are taking place in O’Fallon Park this summer, including five new basketball courts and a one-mile fitness trail. This summer also marked the long-awaited groundbreaking for the new O’Fallon Park Recreation Center coming in December 2011.

“There are a lot of exciting changes coming to O’Fallon Park,” says Alderman French. “These renovations are part of a larger effort to reclaim this historic park as a safe and beautiful space for families in our community.”

Tonight is the last concert in what has been an 8-week summer Jazz Concert Series. Tonight’s concert will begin at 6:00PM and is free and open to the public. Concessions will be available at the O’Fallon Park Boathouse and attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair.

###

PR: 14th Street Bridge Closed for Repairs Starting Monday, August 30

I receive many press releases each day. I will now start posting some of these as received, in addition to my regular daily posts.
– Steve Patterson

—

14th Street Bridge Closed for Repairs Starting Monday, August 30
Repairs part of On-System Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program

14th Street Bridge over Mill Creek (between Papin and Spruce) will be closed for repairs on Monday August 30, 2010. It will be closed for approximately 30 days. The closure is part of a larger maintenance program that will be performed on several bridges from April until November.

Concrete Strategies, LLC, the contractor for the project, will be repairing columns underneath the bridge, the expansion joints at the ends of the bridge, prepping and painting beam ends and applying corrosion protection. It is the work underneath the bridge that requires the closure. Even though workers may not be visible to motorists, there will be work going on.

The signed detour route will be on Chouteau Avenue to 18th Street to Clark Street, and vice-versa. The Gateway Multimodal Facility serving Amtrak and Greyhound will still be accessible from 18th & Clark, and signs are posted there. The eastbound off-ramp from I-64 (US 40) will generally remain open. However, it will only be possible to turn left while the bridge is closed. Note that one full ramp closure will be required to repair the expansion joint at the north end of the bridge. Informational signs will be posted.

####

Partnership CEO Maggie Campbell on Urban Review Radio 7pm-8pm tonight

Tonight is a new episode of my online radio show, Urban Review Radio.  My guest will be Maggie Campbell, President & CEO of The Partnership for Downtown St. Louis.

Maggie Campbell came to St. Louis from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, where she held a similar role. Campbell replaced Jim Cloar, who retired, in late 2009.

Topics for discussion include:

• what is The Partnership for Downtown St. Louis?
• parking/valet issues
• Downtown Next
• The City + Arch + River competition
• Gateway Mall
• The Old Post Office Plaza
• Downtown’s strengths and weaknesses
• Stalled projects: Ballpark Village & The Bottle District
• CID (Community Improvement District) renewal

The show will air live tonight between 7-8pm CST and will be available for playback about a half an hour later. You can also subscribe to the iTunes podcast via the show page.

List questions you have for Maggie Campbell in the comments below or just call in to ask her yourself.

Click here to listen

The number to call in is (877) 259-0877 (also listed on the show page).

– Steve Patterson