What Happened to Downtown Now!?

Downtown Now!, the organization which continues to ask the question, “What’s Happening in 2004?” has managed to do something in the current year, namely, vacate their Washington Avenue storefront space.

From their site:

The Downtown Now! Marketing Center is located at 1533 Washington Avenue, and it serves as a resource for the public to gain knowledge about Downtown development. If you are interested in more information, stop by Downtown Now! or call at 314-588-0458.

Since they are no longer on Washington Ave we have one more thing out of date on the site. I do like their tag line:

Our goal is to create a vibrant, 24-hour Downtown with shops, cafes, restaurants, residential life and people.

I’m actually glad they’ve left the prominent storefront space on Washington Avenue as that is better occupied by a shop, cafe or restaurant rather than a downtown prop with limited hours.

I called the phone number above to ask where they’ve moved. Answer: 906 Olive, Suite 225. Well, they will be in good company since the Downtown St. Louis Partnership is in Suite 220. Many, myself included, think of these two organizations as one in the same. Simply by having more organizations you can have more salaried positions and you can also give each other awards.

How many cooks do we need in the kitchen? Also, can we get a european chef rather than the hometown buffet line cooks we have now?

– Steve

Gravois Park Neighborhood Files Appeal in McDonald’s Drive-Thru

Gravois Park, the neighborhood to be impacted by a relocated McDonald’s on south Grand, has filed an appeal with the City of St. Louis over zoning approval of the drive-thru. Residents indicate this is against the wishes of the neighborhood and does not conform to the development plan for the area. At this point a hearing date has not been set.

The Gravois Park Neighborhood Association is meeting tonight at 6pm at St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 2613 Potomac St. at Jefferson Avenue. The McDonald’s will be discussed but it is only a part of the agenda.

Meanwhile residents in Florida’s backyard of Tower Grove Heights are talking about organizing to support Gravois Park in opposing the McDonald”s relocation. Sounds to me like the only one out of step is Ald. Florida herself. Makes you wonder what she has to gain by supporting something nobody wants?

– Steve

Urbanists Need to Stand Up To Ald. Florida on Future of Grand

It seems 15th Ward Alderwoman Jennifer Florida is upset a committee of the Dutchtown South Community Corporation opposed her new pet project, the relocation of a McDonald’s fast food restaurant. Her letter to the DSCC President Brian Bast and copied to the board:

I think it inappropriate for a subcommittee to oppose or support commercial development no South Grand, an area outside of your neighborhood association.

Appropriate process would prescribe a subcommittee making a recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors would vote to make comment of support or opposition regarding development projects in your area. I assume you did not have the support of your Board. I question your process.

I disagree with your reasoning for opposing the overall development of South Grand. I am enclosing my testimony from the conditional use hearing regarding McDonald’s, February 16, 2006.

Oh, Bravo Ms. Florida. This all sounds good except you are in no position to question anyone’s process. As I reported earlier, Ald. Florida shows up at the committee meeting two days before the hearing on the subject without a site plan on the project. She instead attempts to divert attention to the glorious Southside National Bank project already underway. All the while she actually has a copy of the site plan with her but she doesn’t want to show it because she realizes nobody would be happy. And yet she questions the process of this committee?

The fact is the project was submitted to the city more than a month earlier and she had possession of the drawings. She had sufficient time to present full information to the Dutchtown board, but didn’t. The Board was aware the information would be presented to the committee just two days prior to the public hearing.

As far as being outside the neighborhood association that is technically true — by one city block. Dutchtown’s northern boundary is Chippewa, directly across the street from the current McDonald’s and just one block from the proposed site. The DSCC also serves part of the neighborhood known as Gravois Park — the neighborhood where the new McDonald’s is to be located. This is highly appropriate for Dutchtown to speak up.

What is questionable is the Grand-Oak Hill’s support of the relocated McDonald’s. You see, they’ll end up losing the current problem McDonald’s from their area. Also, one has to wonder how influenced they were in their support since they are heavily reliant on Ald. Florida for their operating funds. We also have to question the testimony of 25th Ward Committeewoman Maggie Lampe. She testified at the hearing about questioning Dutchtown’s process but failed to mention her job is funded by Ald. Florida.

Supporting Documents (PDF) for your review:

Dutchtown’s Letter

Ald. Florida’s Letter to Dutchtown

Ald. Florida’s Testimony at Hearing

For a counterpoint to Florida’s testimony please read Ald. Craig Schmid’s testimony from the same hearing.

The residents in the area oppose a drive-thru restaurant on the site of the old Sears. They are part of the 15th Ward (Florida) and 20th Ward (Schmid). Remember that Schmid’s ward is a mere two blocks from the site and only a block from Dutchtown. Ald. Florida is pushing hard for this project over the objections of her constituents. The fact most of her constituents are near Tower Grove Park and probably are not that involved with this far edge of the ward is often overlooked.

I ask that everyone reading this site email Jennifer Florida and tell her what you think of a low-density fast-food drive-thru in an urban area. If Florida is not your alderman I suggest you contact your alderman as well and tell them you don’t want them deferring to her on this subject. I also ask that everyone email Aldermanic President James Shrewsbury and Mayor Francis Slay. Until these officials hear from us they will continue with business as usual. Feel free to post the text of your emails in the comments section below for all to read.

– Steve

Election Day for Even Numbered Wards One Year Away

[CORRECTION on 3/13/06 @ 8pm – Turns out I was off by a week. The Primary election will be March 6, 2007. It is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March If you really want to be pro-active you can mark your calendars for March 3, 2009 for the odd numbered wards].

One year from today, March 613, 2007, voters in the City of St. Louis will go to the polls to elect aldermen in the even numbered wards. Will it be like years past where many incumbents go unchallenged? Or will we urbanists rise up and challenge the status quo?

I want to see all 14 incumbents challenged for their races. Not that all should be sent packing but our democracy is healthier when more citizens participate. None should be given a free ride for another four years.

Urbanism should be a major focus in this election. Talking points should include:

Here are the folks up for election next year:

Ward 2 – Dionne Flowers

Ward 4 – O.L. Shelton

Ward 6 – Lewis E. Reed

Ward 8 – Stephen Conway

Ward 10 – Joseph Vollmer (the guy responsible for the upcoming demolition of St. Aloysius)

Ward 12 – Fred Heitert

Ward 14 – Stephen Gregali

Ward 16 – Donna Baringer

Ward 18 – Terry Kennedy

Ward 20 – Craig Schmid

Ward 22 – Jeffrey Boyd

Ward 24 – William Waterhouse (only recently elected to replace Tom Bauer)

Ward 26 – Frank Williamson

Ward 28 – Lyda Krewson

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

– Steve

Vollmer & Deferring Colleagues Vote to Raze St. Aloysius

I’m not sure what feeling is the strongest: anger, disappointment, sadness. In truth it is all of these. According to the Post-Dispatch the Board of Aldermen passed legislation to bypass the Preservation Board and allow the demolition of the former St. Aloysius Gonzaga complex. Keep in mind the Preservation Board is a volunteer citizen board appointed by the Mayor — the very ones who are supposed to give a balanced view of demolition requests as they relate to the development potential.

On December 19, 2005 the Preservation Board gave the property owner a very clear message: no you can’t tear down these buildings. It was a preliminary review and the owner could have come back another time with more documentation as to why he couldn’t save the buildings.

But instead he relied on the area’s Alderman which delivered the required legislation to snub the city’s 1999 Preservation Review ordinance. Basically the legislation stands to protect our neighborhoods and building stock unless one person, the area’s alderman, decides otherwise. Why even bother having a Cultural Resources Staff and a Preservation Board? Why not streamline the careless destruction of those very buildings and urban settings which make our city unique.

In the end Ald. Vollmer make a horrible decision not only for the immediate area but for the city. As expected, the other 27 “legislators” deferred to his judgement. I guess we have 28 cities within a city.

In place of this unique setting we’ll have some very ordinary houses — maybe. I’m not holding by breath. Based on what I’ve seen to date this developer he won’t get very far beyond razing the historic structures. My prediction is he’ll get no more than 5 houses completed and sold this calendar year with another 5 in 2007. More than half the sites will remain vacant eyesores.

This is if he does the project at all. Some have suggested he is busy shopping the building lots to other builders. This might be a good thing as ugly suburban looking homes are better than vacant lots with weeds and debris.

Neighbors will be hugely disappointed by the end result of all this. Of course, at that point it will be too late. As with so much of what we’ve lost, we don’t miss it until it is gone.

Perhaps the most disappointing thing about all of this is we’ve failed to learn from past mistakes. Mistakes around razing great old buildings. Mistakes around electing the same types of folks.

You can express your feelings on this project in the comments below, to the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor.

– Steve