Finishing Ballpark Village…

Centene is out, no real surprise. What is the future of BPV?
Yes the economy is rocky but we are talking about prime real estate. This is an example of where good development standards for the larger area would guide future construction. Create a physical vision — mandate that through a zoning overlay – get streets in place to create parcels and then sell the parcels to others. Today’s mega projects make financing and such so complicated it takes forever to finish a project — if at all.  Costs get so high only big chains can afford the rents.  The entertainment district first described seemed geared to tourists — not really connected to the rest of the city.

We need to rethink the wisdom of the mega all or nothing project.

Importance of the ADA

I’ve written numerous times about the importance of the Americans with Act and how it attempts to create environments that are accessible to all. I’d also said I didn’t want to be in a wheelchair while arguing for the rights of those in chairs. Except for time I was sedated and in ICU, I’ve spent nearly two months in a wheelchair. When you cannot walk, the chair represents freedom and mobility. I know that I will walk again — slowly and likely with a cane at first. Ramps, slopes, railings and such will all be important to me for my own personal mobility even when I return to walking.

Over the last month of rehab I’ve met many people who didn’t think they’d end up in wheelchairs, using a cane or walker. Fellow patients have included those injured in car accidents, diabetics, those who fell (causing brain damage leading to mobility issues), others that had strokes, people that got nerve/muscle-damaging infections and so on. While I hope not, please understand that each of you could end up in my same position. Seriously, nobody is immune.

This is why it is so important that we build environments accessible to all. While a person in a wheelchair is unlikely to go to Lowe’s for drywall they may need a new fridge that will be delivered. Or perhaps they just need a new light bulb or a new houseplant? Being regulated to a chair or other device doesn’t reduce the need to function in society.

I prefer to push my own chair rather than have someone else. Doing for myself is very important. Environments that allow me and others to be self-sufficient is a minimum we should provide — especially for tax subsidized projects. The ADA and accessibility should not be an after thought such as at Loughborough Commons. Every new project should start with a pedestrian plan just as you would plan for the circulation of cars.

Will City waste opportunity With new shoppping center?

posted by steve from hospital bed.

The city recently purchased the old MSD HQ at Hampton & i-44 (article), map link. Combined with the city’s street dept site this will create a 26 acre site with highway appeal. The potential for something great is high but Im afraid our leadership will have such low standard. pedestrian access and internal connection should be high. New residential should be included in some form. we deserve something better than St Louis Marketplace II.now is the time to establish some good standards.

Title Loan Outfit Proposed for Former McDonald’s Location

One of the hot topics from 2006 was the proposal to relocate a McDonald’s location (w/double drive-thru) to back up to the Gravois Park neighborhood along South Grand. After a long battle, that plan was scraped. The owner shuttered the old McDonald’s at Grand & Chippewa.

The property sold last year and now a title loan company (or similar?) is proposed for the existing building and drive-thru. I’m told the same company is also interested in opening in the former Wendy’s at South Kingshighway and Tholozan. Neighbors of both properties are mobilizing to oppose what they see as loan sharks that prey on the poorest in our society.

Tomorrow morning at 8:30am, in room 208 of City Hall, a hearing will be held on conditional occupancy of the former McDonald’s location (along with other agenda items). Ald Florida (D-15th) is said to neither support nor oppose the application.

Gateway Mall: Nothin’ New to See

On December 12th I told you an announcement was coming in January for the Gateway Mall (see post). Well, Monday was the day with a press conference on the 12th Floor of the lovely Civic Courts building — between 11th and Tucker smack dab in the middle of the Gateway Mall. The big announcement? Nothing!
Despite claims of new items by Rollin Stanley, the city’s Director of Planning who is taking a new job in the DC region next month, we already knew about the 2-block sculpture garden. That would be the one announced before the city asked the public for feedback on the master plan for the too long space (see post from June 11, 2007). We also knew that The Lawrence Group was looking at doing a couple of blocks around their project, The Park Pacific.

Did the Lawrence Group get funding worked out to do those two blocks? Nope. Maybe someone else stepped up to do another area? Nope. Perhaps something new to announce around the sculpture garden? Nope. Well, Mayor Slay indicated a couple of pieces have been purchased by the Gateway Foundation but that doesn’t justify a news conference.

But I was there and took photos and video so I put together a 10-minute video which includes various speakers as well as a collection of images taken from the 12th floor promenade at Civil Courts:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSZoUEL_aCM[/youtube]

CD’s were handed out with the Master Plan on them in a single PDF file. Interestingly the cover and the file on the CD both indicate October 2007. Again, nothing new, although I don’t recall them having the full document available before. Still, I think they’ve had it for months and held onto it until now to drag this into 2008 and timed it just before Stanley’s departure. The city has the PDF available at http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/planning/gatewaymall/STLouisGatewayMallMasterPlan.pdf.

The conceptual plan still has lots of bells and whistles — lots of little activity centers strung together by a sidewalk that is supposed to draw us along the path for blocks and blocks.  These unfunded spaces will be so compelling that we will get international attention — people will come from all over the world just to see them.  Well, maybe a few blocks will get that sort of attention.  They are also supposed to draw loft residents, like myself, over to the mall.  Unfortunately, that is time where we are not over on Washington, Locust or in other places downtown spending money in shops and restaurants.

Stanley brought out the late 60s argument that we have too many streets — talking about how little space is green relative to street pavement.  Their solution is not to narrow Chestnut, as should be done, but close it entirely.  The plan also calls for the removal of short term on-street parking along the North side of Market.  Taking the place of on-street parking will be a bike lane — a two direction bike lane.  A curb will separate cars on Market from an 8ft wide bike lane.  Still, a bike lane is not something you can do two blocks at a time so I have to wonder what will become of that space along the sculpture park in the meantime?  Will they remove the parking now and do a temporary bike lane without the protection of the curb?  The big issue is creating traffic signals in such a way that permit cyclist movement that is not in conflict with turning vehicles. In such a relatively short distance, I think the 2-way bike lane will prove to be another failed experiment.

The press conference offered me a chance to get my camera to the top of the building to take advantage of some great views.  But next time guys, actually have something new to share.