In July one modest house in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson got the attention of many:
A Ferguson resident has won a battle with city officials that could be considered a matter of taste.
The resident, Karl Tricamo, had been feuding with the city for months over the vegetable garden he had planted in front of his house in the 300 block of Louisa Avenue.
The city saw the garden as a blot on the landscape and issued Tricamo a citation demanding he uproot the corn, tomatoes, sorghum, peppers and other crops sprouting there and, instead, seed the yard for grass. The garden measures 35 feet by 25 feet. (stltoday.com)
Numerous pictures were circulated on Facebook & Twitter as front yard gardening advocates celebrated this victory. But all the pictures concentrated tightly on the garden, I wanted to understand the context. I went to Google Maps but no streetview was available just an aerial.
The 45 degree view of the house in Ferguson, before the lawn was replaced with the garden. Click image to view in Google Maps.
I knew I wanted to see the garden and street in person but it’s a 12+ mile drive — and I don’t have a car. So I caught a bus at the North Hanley MetroLink station and I was within blocks.
ABOVE: The MetroBus dropped me off at Suburban Ave and S. Clark Ave, this is looking north on ClarkABOVE: Looking west on Louisa St from Clark., nice but well-maintained homes. No manicured lawns.ABOVE: Continuing on Louisa looking for the house & garden on the right.ABOVE: I’m visiting on Monday August 20, 2012. The garden looks good to my eye given how dry it has been and how late in the growing season it is.ABOVE: Lawn remains between the sidewalk and drivewayABOVE: Another view
In an older neighborhood with mature trees locations for a vegetable garden are often limited, most vegetables need full sun. I applaud Tricamo for fighting the City of Ferguson so he could grow food for his family.
In April I posted about the Wellston MetroLink Station and again yesterday. After attending three days of events with Dan Burden of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute I’m convinced we can make improvements at low cost that deliver a big impact. I’d like to see the following happen between the MetroLink line and the MET Center some 300 feet to the east:
Allow on-street parking on at least the north side of Plymouth Ave
Replace the existing sidewalk with a much wider walkway, perhaps to the current fence line.
Plant street trees to provide shade
Remove fence to vacant industrial park
Remove earth berm on north side of fence
Construct liner buildings 15-22 feet deep where the fence and berm were located. The length to fill is roughly 240 feet to the industrial drive and another 100+ feet on the other side. These would be one story in height, although higher would be fine. The storefronts would provide retail/restaurant/office incubator space.
Build new sidewalks to actually connect the sidewalk to the entry to the MET Center so transit riders aren’t subjected to walking through grass and driveways and parking.
What’s a “liner building” you ask?
Liner Building Description: A building specifically designed to mask and enliven the edge of a parking lot, parking garage, public assembly or large retail facility (big box) along a public frontage.
Placement and Massing: Minimum frontage build-out is 60%. Minimum liner building depth is 16 feet. The façade along the ground floor on a Public Frontage must change visibly at an average of at least forty feet (40’) in height, setback, materials, or colors along the street frontage and with no module exceeding 75 feet in length. An entryway must be provided on the ground floor every 40 feet at a minimum. Courtyards or forecourts shall not exceed 10% of the street frontage. (City of Albuquerque North Fourth Street Rank III Corridor Plan)
There are many examples of liner buildings online but the basic idea is to construct inexpensive buildings (temporary or permanent) to either conceal something and/or to create a pleasing streetscape. Let’s take a quick look at the area.
ABOVE: Looking east on Plymouth Ave after crossing the tracks, on the left is the MET Center. The sidewalk should be much wider. The fence and earth berm would be replaced by a 1-story building(s). On-street parking would be allowed on at least this side of Plymouth Ave. Street trees would provide shade and make the walk more pleasant.ABOVE: The MET Center doesn’t have any route for pedestrians arriving on foot, the facility was designed to be driven to. I’d create a straight path from this point and another directly from Plymouth Ave.
The vacant industrial park is owned by St. Louis County. My idea would create roughly 7,000-7,500 of new retail space immediately adjacent to the Wellston MetroLink Station. Rather than be one small box this could be 7-10 incubator spaces. The wide sidewalk would be more inviting to pedestrians and could provide space for cafe seating in front of a small restaurant.
ABOVE: Rough diagram of the idea. The green circles are trees, blue rectangles the liner buildings and the gray new sidewalks.
Locals that live and work in the area know the needs best. Based on what I heard last week a small grocer would be good. This might be a co-op model like the Old North Grocery Co-Op. A small cafe, possibly part of the grocery co-op would also be nice. Passengers on MetroLink passing by the Wellston Station would do a double-take to see a tree-lined retail street with sidewalk tables and bright umbrellas.
I’d love to see local food production in the industrial park but past contamination means growing food in the soil is unlikely. An industrial building with an indoor hydroponic farm is a possibility though.
Other businesses might include a small bike shop modeled after St. Louis BicycleWorks, a newsstand, coffee shop, etc . I’m sure there are local residents that have a concept for a business, they just need help getting started and a place to operate.
I’m going to conclude with the same words I used yesterday: “I’m sure many of you can list numerous reasons why my list can’t/shouldn’t happen. I’m not interested. I’m interested in thoughts on how the type of connection that should have been built 19 years ago can finally get done.”
For both I made my observations from each station and seeing a lack of connection in various directions. Last week I found myself 9/10ths of a mile from the Wellston station so I got to experience the problems area residents face in reaching that particular station. Before I get into the problems I want to explain why I was nearly a mile from that station.
Walkability expert Dan Burden was in St. Louis for a few days last week. Thursday morning a group met at the MET Center near the Wellston station and did a “walking audit” of problems we observed.
ABOVE: Looking west from the MET Center toward the Wellston MetroLink station. Parking is a barrier between the entrance and the station.ABOVE: Dan Burden of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, click image for more info
The next afternoon a group met at the University City Library on Delmar at Kingsland (map) to discuss safe routes to schools. I’d arrived by MetroBus (#97). After the presentation we walking north to the new Pershing school. Well, it was very hot so everyone else drove and I made my way the 8/10th of a mile to the school.
ABOVE: Dan Burden and the group start to form a human traffic circle at Bartmer Ave & Ferguson Ave, the SW corner of Pershing Elementary School. Click image for map.
It was over 100 degrees and when we finished here the sessions were over, we were all on our own. A bus route was close but the sidewalk to reach it was blocked by construction at the school. I decided to “walk” to the Wellston Station in my power chair. I’m not sure when I left University City and entered Wellston.
ABOVE: Habitat is building new houses on Bartmer Ave. This is looking east at Kingsland Ave, one block east of Pershing School. The police car is from University City.ABOVE: Looking east on Etzel Ave from 66th Street
The housing stock in Wellston appears older and not as nice even when new as the housing in nearby University City. Though modest, I didn’t feel unsafe in what many would consider a “bad area.” I encountered no one, probably because of the excessive heat. The sidewalks were all complete and passable until I got out of the residential area and into the industrial area near the station. Sixty-sixth street only had fragments of sidewalks, I ended up in the roadway.
The last part of my trip would take me through Robert L. Powell Park.
ABOVE: The last part of the journey would take me through Powell Park
I’d seen the park on map before and got up to it back in April to see the sign facing Metro’s largely empty parking lot.
The park was dedicated to Wellston Mayor Powell in 1993. In 1998 Mayor Powell resigned after being sentenced to a year in jail for using tax dollars to fund his reelection campaign and celebration party. Click image for more info.
The park is appropriately named because it’s a disgrace.
ABOVE: Powell Park is a giant square of grass with zero improvements.ABOVE: Over the last 19 years residents have worn a clear path across the open field…ur, parkABOVE: I went as far as I could but the grade dropped off. I had to go west to get to a point where I could get onto Metro’s parking lot.ABOVE: For 19 years people have been walking up/down this steep & dirty incline to reach transit.ABOVE: After the shortcut through the park the residents still have to walk through a parking lot. Pedestrians shouldn’t have to walk through a parking lot, they’re among the least appealing places to walk.
Once I reached the station I didn’t catch the train, instead I got on the #94 (Page) MetroBus since that’d drop me off only a block from my loft. It’s clear to me that in the last two decades nobody has done anything to make it easier for Wellston residents to get to transit. What can/should be done?
Replace sidewalks along 66th Street.
Pave path through Powell Park, plant shade trees along path and have a few benches and a water fountain. Will require a ramp to navigate the grade change.
Rename the park something besides a disgraced former mayor.
Develop the parking lot, provide a nice sidewalk to reach the light rail platforms and bus stops.
I’m sure many of you can list numerous reasons why my list can’t/shouldn’t happen. I’m not interested. I’m interested in thoughts on how the type of connection that should have been built 19 years ago can finally get done.
Considerable attention is being given to redeveloping Natural Bridge and the UMSL South MetroLink Station.
On Friday, [UMSL Chancellor] George announced that Normandy collaborators hit their $14 million goal last week to transform a portion of Natural Bridge Road between Lucas and Hunt Road and the inner belt of I-170 into a more pedestrian-friendly street.
The plan is part of the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative, a program through the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, designed to encourage community leaders to use their streets to enhance economic development and social activities in their communities. (St. Louis American)
The initial phase would be between Florissant and Hanley. In the middle is the UMSL campus and the UMSL South MetroLink station just to the south of Natural Bridge.
CMT in partnership with Metro charged a group of local experts from the ULI St. Louis Chapter called a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to look at the possibilities for development at the UMSL South Station. This is the second TAP that CMT and Metro have commissioned – the first at the Belleville MetroLink Station. Thanks to the AGC St. Louis for underwriting this event.
One idea presented was the possibility of rebranding the area around the station as a retail/commercial/event space as Plank Street Station. There would be a new access road that would run from Natural Bridge to the Station. The City of Normandy is willing to move their City Hall location to another area within this possible development or a different area all together. The panel suggested that Metro’s role could include building a pedestrian bridge as well as additional parking structure on the west side of the station to feed both the system and the development. (CMT-STL)
With all this interest I needed to see the area again to be able evaluate the proposals. The easiest way would’ve been to drive down Natural Bridge, but I no longer have a car. Besides, evaluating an area for a walkable district by driving is like evaluating a restaurant’s food based on internet pictures.
So on May 10th I caught the #4 (Natural Bridge) MetroBus on 18th at Clark and got off at Lucas and Hunt (aerial). I then “walked” in my power chair west along the north side of Natural Bridge to Hanley, crossed to the south side and returned. It was a 3.4 mile “walk” per Google Maps. I added a bit more distance by dropping down to the south UMSL MetroLink Station along the way.
During my four hour trip (end to end, with lunch) I took 382 photos, I’ll share just some here.
ABOVE: Intersection of Natural Bridge and Florissant has potential with mostly-urban buildingsABOVE: Sidewalks are narrow and many are adjacent to residential neighborhoods.ABOVE: On the north side of Natural Bridge Rd the only sense light rail exists is if you see the power lines and/or train belowABOVE: Two Normandy schools sit side by side west of the MetroLink right-of-way but there's no connection to it or the streetABOVE: Far from a walker's paradiseABOVE: Numerous lanes for autos reduces the pedestrian experienceABOVE: Very attractive glass bus shelter just east of Hanley, would make a nice greenhouseABOVE: Commerce takes place but this isn't a pedestrian-friendly commercial districtABOVE: A man crosses Hanley heading east along Natural BridgeABOVE: Same man waiting for the bus a block east of HanleyABOVE: Pedestrian crossing at the bus stops, lack curb ramps and getting traffic to stop is nearly impossibleABOVE: One of the worst areas I encountered was in front of the place I'd hoped to have lunch, but it doesn't have an accessible entrance...22 years after Pres. Bush signed the ADAABOVE: Pedestrian walks westbound toward Spiro'sABOVE: Some of the houses facing Natural Bridge are used for UMSL studentsABOVE: The north end of the St. Vincent Greenway, click image for more informationABOVE: Like most areas, MetroBus is the primary mode of public transitABOVE: A huge area of undeveloped land along the south side of Natural Bridge is part of UMSL's campus and is very close to the UMSL South MetroLink stationABOVE: The sidewalk on the east side of UMSL's South Drive will lead you to the light rail station, eventually. Click image for aerialABOVE: Once visible the most direct path is through an unfriendly park-n-ride lotABOVE: The pedestrian route takes an unpleasant circuitous pathABOVE: Back on Natural Bridge we can see the station if we squintABOVE: Normandy City Hall is on the east side of the tracks, it has agreed to relocate to allow developmentABOVE: A convent is pretty but unwelcomingABOVE: A St. Louis Library branch is set back behind a parking lot, an access route is provided for pedestriansABOVE: Almost to Florissant now we see buildings up to the sidewalk
Amazingly I was able to travel more than 3 miles with only a few barriers along the way. A lack of barriers for the disabled is a good start but this is a long way from being “pedestrian-friendly” corridor. One article I read said the goal was to be more like the Delmar Loop. My guess that was more about the writer’s ignorance on the subject than a stated goal. You can make a suburban corridor attractive to pedestrians but that’s not the same as a dense commercial district.
A detailed look at Natural Bridge was done as part of the East-West Gateway’sGreat Streets Initiative, see the report here. It prescribes different treatments for different areas of the corridor. The Urban Land Institute, working with Citizens for Modern Transit, took a detailed look at the existing UMSL South MetroLink station and immediate surroundings, see that report here.
I’m not yet sure the proposed ideas are the best solutions but I do know the pedestrian experience can, and should, be improved.
One year ago today St. Louis Cardinals Care dedicated the Yadier Molina Field in Wellson, Missouri — located on the NW corner of Plymouth Ave & Stephen Jones Ave (aerial). I passed by the field on April 9th on the #94 (Page) MetroBus so after getting off the bus I went to have a closer look.
ABOVE: Sign notes the fieldABOVE: the field is well-equippedABOVE: A year later the field shows a lack of maintenance and useABOVE: View from the east looking west across the field
How can anyone use the field with high grass and weeds between bases? The field looked much different a year ago when dedicated (see KMOX images). Wellston’s population is over 90% African-American, don’t they love baseball? Last Sunday marked the anniversary of Jackie Robinson integrating the game.
The African-American population in baseball this season has plummeted to 8.05%, less than half the 17.25% in 1959 when the Boston Red Sox became the last team to integrate their roster, 12 years after Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
It’s a dramatic decline from 1975, when 27% of rosters were African-American. In 1995, the percentage was 19%. (USA Today)
Just building a nice new baseball field may not be enough to get today’s African-American youth interested in the game.
I thought it was possible since my visit on the 9th that Cardinals Care arrived to get the field ready for play in 2012 so I went back out two days ago on Tuesday the 17th to check the status.
ABOVE: The Yadier Molina Field was in the same condition on the 17th as it was on the 9th
I should point out I have no idea who is responsible for maintaing the field in playable condition, my presumption is Cardinals Care. The City of Wellston doesn’t have the money.
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