Former Western Bowl Listed with Cushman & Wakefield for $975,000

As most of know the AMF Western Bowl closed its doors at the end of January. What we don’t know is what will become of the property. Dorothy Kirner has mentioned in recent meetings 3 potential buyers to meet with the owner in June. I had heard from other sources the lanes were being ripped up. I wanted to find out for myself what was going on.

Map of
4041 Bingham Ave
St Louis, MO 63116-3506

I spoke to workers from AMF that were removing the equipment from the building. All the seating, scoring tables and ball return equipment has already been removed.

The pin equipment is all being dismantled as well. AMF is gutting the structure of all bowling equipment with the exception of the wood lanes.

As you can see the wood lanes are split by the former runs of the ball return equipment.

Conveniently the listing agent, Joseph Porcelli, was on site and I was able to gather more information from him:
• Listed with Cushman & Wakefield of Missouri, 314-514-0600
• List price is $975,000

City property records indicate the property has 2.229 acres and the building was built in 1962 and has 34,301sf. I don’t have any more detail on the building at this point but clearly the owner is actively removing all the bowling equipment.

Public infrastructure such as this sewer cover and the sidewalks need to be addressed. I would like the opportunity to, as Alderman, work with buyers/developers to make this property an asset to the Ward.

– Steve

Veronica O’Brien for St. Louis School Board

I want to take a minute out of my own campaign to advocate the re-election of Veronica O’Brien to the St. Louis School Board. She was appoint by Mayor Slay last May and she has proven to be an independent thinker.

I have personally known Veronica for all 14 years that I have lived in St. Louis as she is my insurance agent. I can say she is responsive and professional. She is also a smart businesswoman. I have every confidence she is what the School Board needs to elevate our schools to an acceptable level.

Click here for the Veronica O’Brien website.

Latest Flyer Available Online – “The Numbers Tell The Story”

Our latest campaign flyer is available in PDF format. This flyer, the second in a series, addresses how the 25th ward came in dead last among all city wards in bricks & mortar investment over the last four years. Click here for previous post on this subject.

Click here to see the flyer. Feel free to print it out or email to friends & neighbors.

– Steve

St. Louis’ Scooter Ordinance Behind the Times

St. Louis’ ordinance on the scooters kids are riding around is seriously outdated. Signed into law in January 2001 the ordinance addressed a very specific type of scooter on the market at that time.

We’ve seen a whole new breed of mini scooters come onto the market since then. We must keep up with changes in the market and technology or we find our legislation is out of touch with current times.

From the ordinance:

The key phase in the definition is “designed to be stood upon by the operator.” The picture below is the type of scooter that meets the definition of the ordinance.

But in the four years since this ordinance was passed scooters have changed. First, makers have added seats to this skateboard type of scooter. With the seat added they no longer meet the definition listed above:

Mini motorcycles or “pocket bikes” as they are known on the street have become the new trend. These pose even more danger as the operator sits on the small bikes and is even less visible than someone standing on the type above.

These also seem to have more power than earlier models. Maintaining control, due to the seated position, is even harder. This is a case where someone smaller and younger is actually better suited to the device. But, it is the older juveniles and young adults that we see riding these pocket bikes.

We need to address these new dangers on our streets. Also, we need to make sure City Hall stays in touch with current technology and changing markets.

Click here to read the full ordinance.

– Steve

Fountain Park is Fabulous

Too many folks ignore the treasures that can be found North of Delmar. This a shame because some of the most compelling urban neighborhoods in the entire city are found on the North side. One of the best is Fountain Park.

Located on Euclid just a couple of blocks North of Delmar is this simple yet elegantly designed neighborhood around a park. You regular readers know I hate breaks in the street grid. But, every rule is meant to be broken — if done right. The oval shaped Fountain Park interrupts Euclid – drivers must go around the park to continue on Euclid. Pedestrians and bicyclists — as should be the case — are allowed to cut through the center. Fountain Park breaks the grid and in doing so it creates one of the most appealing spaces in the city. Seriously folks, if you have not seen this little gem just North of the West End you are indeed missing out.

As I said the park is oval shaped. The houses facing the park follow the oval so the facades are nicely stepped back from one to the next. These homes are quite grand without being too big. I saw only one vacant lot – an opportunity for a nice appropriately scaled modern infill. I took some pictures but I’m not sharing — I want you to see this in person.

People get all excited about buildings such as the Moolah (yes, I love it) but what I really love are neighborhood commercial buildings. At the East end of Fountain Park is one of the most spectacular:

First, the building curves to follow the street pattern. This is a lost art — most people just build square buildings these days. The composition of this building is one of the finest I’ve ever seen — anywhere. Seattle has nothing like it. Vancouver has great buildings downtown but their residential neighborhoods are a bit dull architecturally. Same for San Francisco, D.C., and most others. Scale, proportion, materials. All come together in a way that most newer buildings just don’t. This building just belongs – feeling perfectly at home with the adjacent houses. Rarely is a commercial building such a fit in a residential area.

Obviously I can see past the current condition. Hopefully you can too. The surrounding residences are being rehabbed and if someone is smart they’ll snap up this building and do a coffee house/deli/cafe/market on the ground floor. The sidewalk facing Fountain Park is just begging for outdoor dining. The old upstairs apartments would make great condos.

Only after we see past old racial lines and boards on windows will we fully realize the potential of our city. Good urbanity is colorblind.

– Steve