Making A Setback Less Objectionable

In urbanized areas I like buildings to “hug” the public sidewalk, with active facades.  By active I mean numerous doors & windows, like you’d get with storefronts.  But not every area can support that many storefront spaces.  In the past buildings were often set back behind large blank plazas or surface parking.

The Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College is an example of new thinking about how to build in an urban context where storefront spaces just don’t work and where some public outdoor space may be desirable.  Just a block from the busiest MetroLink station in our system, pedestrians are a sure thing.

The building is open at the corner of Taylor & Duncan but it does extend to both sidewalks away from the corner.  Parking is placed on the back sides, not between the building & sidewalk.

Pedestrians approaching this building have several options on where to enter.  None require the pedestrian to walk in a driveway designed for automobiles.

To recap how to make a setback less objectionable:

1. Extend part of the building to each public sidewalk
2. Extend building line with a low fence
3. Do not place parking or driveways between the public sidewalk and building
4. Provide multiple routes for pedestrians to enter the building

– Steve Patterson

Warning Smoking Allowed Here (Updated)

I view compliance with the sign requirements of the new smoke-free ordinance as a sign the business owner is aware of the change that began on Sunday 1/2/2011. The last thing I want is to argue with a proprietor about the law, I want them to know the law so that if a fellow customer lights up inside the owner knows they need to ask them to take it outside or face fines.  Entering an establishment lacking the required n0-smoking sign or exemption warning gives me pause, especially if that business had allowed smoking prior to 1/2/2011.

Saturday I thought I’d check out the compliance of a few places that had allowed smoking, I decided to start with establishments owned by two aldermen.

The Cat’s Meow at 2600 S. 11th in Soulard.   With only 1,173sf on the ground floor of the building there is no question that it falls under the 2,000sf necessary to claim an exemption.

Above the entry is the required sign: “WARNING SMOKING ALLOWED HERE.”  The Cat’s Meow website makes no mention of food, clearly it is a bar.  A sign at the bottom of the door indicates patrons must be at least 21 to enter. It appears the Ortmann family is in compliance.  The Cat’s Meow, however, will need to go smoke-free by January 2, 2016.

Next, to Milo’s on the Hill owned by 10th ward alderman Joe Vollmer.

Milo’s is located at 5201 Wilson. No point beating around the bush, Ald. Vollmer is in violation of the new smoke-free ordinance.

The warning sign is posted to the left of the entry door, but no way does Milo’s meet the criteria for an exemption.  What criteria you ask?

Bars in existence on the effective date of this ordinance in which only persons aged twenty one (21) years old or older are permitted to enter the premises, the square footage of the entire floor area of the level of the building on which the bar establishment is located is two thousand (2000) square feet or less. The square footage shall not include kitchen areas, storage areas and bathrooms. The bar shall prominently displays outside of the premises at each entrance and above the bar the following sign in lettering that is black bold Arial font at (ninety-eight) 98 point size: “WARNING : SMOKING ALLOWED HERE”. This exemption for bars shall expire five (5) years after the effective date of this ordinance.

A bar is defined by the ordinance as:

“Bar” means an establishment that is devoted to the serving of alcoholic beverages for consumption by guests on the premises and in which the serving of food is only incidental to the consumption of those beverages, including but not limited to, taverns, nightclubs, cocktail lounges, and cabarets.

But in the case of Milo’s:

1. Persons under 21 are permitted inside
2. The ground floor of the building is 2,532sf which makes the under 2,000sf size questionable, at best.
3. The website describes Milo’s as a “Restaurant, Bar, Bocce Garden” and has a complete menu.  Restaurants are not exempt.
4. Food specials were advertised on a chalkboard out front.

My phone call to Ald. Vollmer was not returned.  He is up for reelection this year, he faces Republican Jessee Irwin in the April 5, 2011 general election.  I have filed a complaint with the Citizens Service Bureau (CSB).

– Steve Patterson

UPDATE 1/10/2011 @ 5:30pm

I had a very nice message from Ald. Vollmer today.  He explained the Health Dept visited his business and determined it was under 2,000sf as defined by the ordinance.  The Health Dept also defined “incidental” food as up to 25% of sales, which he says he meets.  Before January 2nd Milo’s allowed all ages to enter but now, to comply with the law, he is turning away groups that include persons under 21.  He’d like to change the law to remove the under 21 requirement but is now considering going smoke-free.

Poll: What Will St. Louis’ Population Be In The 2010 Census?

The 1940 Census showed a loss of population in the City of St. Louis for the first time in it’s history, a drop from the 1930 Census.  The 1947 Comprehensive Plan ignored this loss and predicted continued growth, albeit slower than in prior decades:

The City of St. Louis can anticipate a population of 900,000 persons by 1970, based on these assumptions:

1. That the population of the St. Louis Metropolitan District continues to maintain its present proportion to total urban population of the United States.
2. That an attractive environment for living will be developed throughout the city to counteract current decentralization trends.
3. That the city is, nevertheless, a maturing urban center that can never expect to attain the tremendous past growth of certain earlier periods.

Planner Harland Bartholomew clearly made the wrong assumptions but, as many know, the 1950 Census was showed a population increase — the peak.  Each subsequent Census since has shown a drop in population.  The biggest drop was in 1980 when the population dropped more than 27% from 1970.

Each year between the decennial Census an estimate of population is produced. In recent years St. Louis successfully challenged the estimated figures. The 2009 estimate showed a population of 356,587, a slight but important increase over the 2000 Census figure of 348,189.  The poll is located in the upper right of the blog, it will be there until the morning of Sunday January 16, 2011.  But here is the question and provided answers:

Q: The 2000 Census had St. Louis’ population at 348,189, the 2009 estimate at 356,587. Where will the 2010 count be?

• Less than 348,198
• Between 348,189 and 356,587
• More than 356,587
• who knows, will just have to wait for the results

As always, you can provide your own answer if you don’t like the ones provided. Results will be published on Wednesday 19, 2011.

– Steve Patterson

Vacant Fast Food Structure at Chippewa & Morgan Ford Razed

Since 1964 the building shown above has sat on the SE corner of Chippewa & Morgan Ford (4298 Chippewa) in South St. Louis.  The first 40 years it was a Steak & Shake location, until a larger location to the west at 4644 Chippewa opened in 2004. The old location has been vacant the last six years.

The old building was 2,098 square feet on a 22,1887sf lot whereas the 2004 location is 3,840sf on a 38,246sf parcel, substantially larger in both the building size and total land area.

Curious about future plans for the site I contacted the property owner, Ryann Spencer Group, in High Ridge MO, but my calls were not returned.

– Steve Patterson

Last Day To File For March Partisan Primary, Independents Have More Time For General

Today is the last day to file to be on the March primary ballot. Here are important dates from the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners:

March 8, 2011 Primary Municipal Election:
a. November 29, 2010 – Opening of filing.
b. January 7, 2011 – Close of filing.
c. January 27, 2011 – Last day to withdraw as a candidate.
d. January 25, 2011 – Start of absentee voting.
e. February 9, 2011 – Close of registration.

April 5, 2011 General Municipal Election:
a. December 14, 2010 – School Board Candidate Filing Opens
b. January 18, 2011 – School Board Candidate Filing Closes
c. March 9, 2011 – Start of absentee voting (or as soon after March 8 as possible).
d. March 9, 2011 – Close of registration.

Not mentioned above is how to bypass the partisan primary on March 8th but be on the April 5th general ballot.  Independent candidates for the (14) even numbered aldermanic seats or for president of the board of aldermen need to collect signatures from registered voters:

Independent Candidates. A person who desires to run for municipal office as a non-partisan or independent candidate must pay the applicable filing fee to the Office of the City Treasurer, obtain a receipt therefor, and file the receipt with the Election Board at the same time he/she files his/her declaration papers. A non-partisan/independent candidate must also file with the Election Board a nominating petition signed by registered voters equal in number to at least two percent (2%) of the votes cast at the last preceding mayoral election. The deadline to file such a petition is the eighth Monday prior to the applicable General Municipal Election.

The filing fee for alderman is $333.33.  The deadline is February 14, 2011.  Using the 6th ward as an example, “the number of voters in April 2009 was 1,626; 2% of that number is 33 signatures, rounded up” says Deputy Democratic Director Matthew Potter.  Thirty-three signatures isn’t bad, the number may be more or less in your ward.  The number would be substantial to run for a citywide office as an independent.

As of the most recent candidate list, a number of offices only have one candidate.  It is hard to let “voters decide” with only a single candidate.  I’d love to see a bunch of independent candidates this year, making the April general election not seem so useless.

– Steve Patterson