Selling a Native American Mound

For Sale: Cozy home with two bedrooms, two baths, one fireplace and a 2-car garage. Oh yeah, it sits on the very last Native American mound in a city once known as “Mound City.” It even has a name, Sugar Loaf Mound.

This most unique property is listed by my South Side Tower co-agent, Leigh Maibes. Our office gets some pretty interesting listings but the only remaining Native American mound in St Louis has to top them all. Like many of you I’ve seen this property for years, it is highly visible from I-55. Conversely, the highway is in your front yard. But the Mississippi River is out the back door – just watch that one step as it is a long way down the cliff.

The mound, not the house on it, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of course, being listed on the National Register doesn’t prevent it’s destruction (just ask the remains of the Century Building).

St Louis used to have many such mounds, only one remains.

I’ve not visited the house except for taking the above picture from the driveway, I didn’t want to bother with the stairs. Photos reveal stunning river views.  Industrial zoning and highway adjacency reveal a major threat to the future of the mound.

As listing agents for property, our job is to get our clients the best price possible. That is not marketing hype, that is our fiduciary duty . So while some of us look at this mound and marvel that it has existed for hundreds of years, others see a place for a quick-mart. Ugh.

The current owners, whom I’ve not met, have been good stewards of the property for half a century. It is time for someone else to assume that role.

Throughout the development of the city and larger region the landscape as it existed 300 years ago has been significantly altered. Old North St Louis used to have several mounds but these were destroyed as the city grew in the 19th Century.  Our city would be very different if all these features were regarded as sacred.  But that didn’t happen.  We have one last chance to save a piece of history.

Further Reading:

• Landmarks Association of St Louis
• Ecology of Absence
• Suburban Journals
• Sugar Loaf Mound, the website & blog.
• Circa Properties & Leigh Maibes.

The list price of the property is $400,000.

Saving The U.S. Auto Industry

The U.S. Auto Industry is at a major crossroads.  The last three of the U.S. makers are all in deep.  General Motors, once a world giant, may not survive to see 2009. If GM falls it is thought that some major suppliers would also fall.  They’d all seek bankruptcy protection but what would emerge a few years down the road is anyone’s guess.  We may be witnessing the end of the U.S. Auto Industry.

Auto manufacturers from other countries operate assembly plants here, so I am speaking about American owned and managed auto manufacturing.  The UK was once big in the Auto Industry but what manufacturing it has left is mostly owned by companies outside their country.   Ford used to own Land Rover and Jaguar.  BMW still owns Mini.  For a while at least VW had a major stake in Rolls Royce or Bentley.

In May, as gas prices reached new heights, I wrote a piece called, U.S. Auto Industry Got Caught With Wrong Product Mix Again.  In there I talked about how imports got their foot in the door in the 1970s with reliable & fuel efficient vehicles.

In the 80s the government bailed out Chrysler.  They came back with the minivan and did well.  They along with Ford & GM, however, relied too heavily on trucks & SUVs.  GM had a great electric car but they ended that project just after purchasing the use of the Hummer name.

GM has shown the world the 2010 Chevy Volt, an advanced electric hybrid.  They are about a decade late to the party.  Toyota is about to introduce the 3rd generation Prius and Honda will soon have a new Insight on the market.  Chrysler, meanwhile, has announced the year-end closing of the plant that
makes the regular & hybrid versions of the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs.

President-Elect Obama and Democrats in Congress are pushing for a bailout of the auto industry in this lame-duck session before the new Congress is sworn into office in January.  As much as the bailouts disgust me, as much as I think the Auto executives are to blame for a decade or more of bad decisions, I think the bailout may be wise for the sake of keeping the world economy from completely caving in.

I’d like to see a few things in exchange for a bailout.  First, executive salaries cut to meet that of a union worker with their level of seniority.  The U.S. should get X-number of vehicles over the next decade.  These can be used by various government agencies.

Along with the bailout needs to be stricter fuel economy standards to force the U.S. makers to be competitive in the world.  If not, let them fall.  It will hurt many directly and many more indirectly but while other companies had to learn to produce efficient vehicles, companies like GM focused on the design of the side vents on the newest Escalade.  Detroit, it is time to step up and face the music.  Become competitive on the world stage or die.

Lucas Park Design Charrette Tonight, 11/17/2008; 6pm

At 6pm tonight (11/17/08) citizens will gather for a ‘design charrette‘ focusing on downtown’s Lucas Park.

In short, a charrette is an intensified design process. Teams will assemble and draw & write out what they want for Lucas Park.

The current park was created 100 years ago. It once featured elaborate plantings and had few trees. It was symmetrical in both directions. The two North-South walkways and entrances align with the rear doorways of the library to the South across Locust St. Each of these walkways has a circle at its center. A drinking fountain exists at the East circle.

I’m rather fond of the original design. I say original but that is not quite accurate. The city was deeded this block in 1857. The city bought the block where the library is now located. From 1859-1883 the two blocks contained a large park. Locust St did not go through from 13th to 14th. That would be the true original park.

That park was wiped out in 1883 for the St Louis Exhibition and Music Hall. That hall was razed in 1907 current main Library, which opened in 1912. Locust St was cut through at this time. At some point during the 5 years it took to raze the old structure and build the library, the current design for Lucas Park was realized.

So, I like the 1907-1912 design of the park. In fact, it is in very good condition. On my team tonight I will advocate more a restoration/renovation than a completely new design. But I’d like to see a team or two come up with a fresh approach. We need as many different concepts as possible.  We will have a drawing (view PDF) of the existing conditions as a starting point.

The park needs to be a reflection of today. That would include a pleasant outdoor place for people to sit and enjoy the park. That includes those that are homeless. However, while I don’t object to a homeless person enjoying the park I do object to bags of belongings surrounding trees. We need to find a way for the homeless to have a place to safely store their belongings as they search for employment, housing and treatment for any addictions or mental issues.

The Eastern end of the park was fenced off and used by a nearby daycare center for a playground. That center moved West near Jefferson last year. A prior charrette was done 5-6 years ago. At that time the children’s center was still using the playground so the thought was to mirror the design and fence the Western end for a dog park. The center, with the fountain, would have remained open to all.

But Larry Rice objected and the project stalled.

Today the neighborhood is very different than it was just six years ago. We have more residents, more dogs, and more children. The city says we have fewer homeless.

As with anything we need to strike a balance: residents, homeless, kids, dogs. Not one of these should be given so much priority in the park that it tips to being only for that one user group. The park can and must be shared by and for all.

So we’ll see what everyone comes up with tonight. We will be at Crepes in the City at 500 N. 14th (just North of the park). They are closed on Mondays so we are just using their space for the evening. The doors open at 5:30pm and we begin precisely at 6pm. I’ve got a short presentation of the history, recent conditions as well as images from other small urban parks to start the creative juices. We’ll give the teams instructions and set them to work from roughly 6:25 to 8:20pm. At 8:20pm each of the teams will present their park concept to the other teams. We will finished by 9pm.

Following the charrette we will begin incorporating the ideas from everyone into a master plan for the park, enabling us to seek public and/or private funding. The charrette is open to all who wish to participate.
Design professionals are encouraged to participate (and to bring markers & trace).

St Louis Protest of Prop 8 Vote 1,000+ Strong

On Saturday a crowd of 1,000-1,400 people stood in the cold in front of the Old Courthouse in downtown St Louis. We were on both sides of Broadway, the that runs in front of the West entrance to the Old Courthouse, the location where the slave Dred Scott was famously not granted his freedom in 1857.

It was cold but people kept coming as the event lasted from noon to 2pm. It was organized by my friend & downtown neighbor Ed Reggi. The speakers were numerous and included clergy, politicians, a famous actor, a couple of teenagers, a former bank CEO, and activists.

Among the politicians who spoke was St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. Regular readers know I’m not a big fan of the Slay Administration but I’ll give him credit — he did a great job! He spoke of being at the protest with a sister, who is a lesbian. He mentioned another lesbian sister and a gay brother. Many in St Louis also know his gay nephew. So to Mayor Slay this is personal. He and his wife can enjoy the benefits of marriage but his siblings cannot.

Lewis Reed, President of the Board of Aldermen, also spoke. Reed, who is black, mentioned his wife is white. Like the parents of our President-Elect, Reed acknowledged that 40 years ago their marriage wouldn’t have been legally recognized in many states. The prior Mayor, Clarence Harmon, did not attend the event (to my knowledge), but he too is a black man with a white wife. Once outlawed and argued as wrong, we see more and more couples from different racial backgrounds. Thankfully those who like to write discrimination into our state constitutions didn’t do so in this case.

Bill Donius, the former CEO of Pulaski Financial, addressed the gathered crowd. While Pulaski Bank never marketed themselves as the gay bank, Donius never hid in the closet. This even meant sometimes losing business to other banks. Since May 2008, Donius has been serving as Chairman of Pulaski Bank and as a Director of Pulaski Financial (Source). We are not friends but we are social acquaintances.

Chad Allen, an out star from TV’s Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, is in St Louis doing a theater production.  He spoke about being here in St Louis on election night while his partner was back in LA.

Others that I know spoke.  AJ Bockelman, Pamella Merritt,  Ed Reggi’s partner, Scott Emanuel, of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri also spoke.  I’ve known Emauel for over 15 years.  For more information on speakers and the event see the protest site at showmenohate.com.

I was very proud of St Louis yesterday.  I was also proud to see some many people I know behind the podium. When I took a spot in my wheelchair across the street in Kiener Plaza I had plenty of room to maneuver around to get different photo angles.  It didn’t take long before the size of the crowd grew to the point where I had rows of people behind me.  As vehicles passed by they’d honk as a show of support.

The comments from Friday’s post which included a notice of this event have proven interesting. One comment from “Tim” in response to someone else that suggested this protest was akin to earlier civil rights struggles:

“I believe this protest is not equal to those fights.  Those were based on uncontrollable born-with qualities… race and gender.  I believe, as it is my right to, that orientation is a PREFERENCE, not something you’re born with.  I actually believe people are born with an open sexuality.  I believe their choice is based on society, how and where they’re raised, educated, etc.”

I encourage all my readers to participate in the dialog and to state what they believe, even if I & others may disagree.  It is only through such conversations will we better understand different viewpoints. Others have addressed this comment but I think this is an important issue to cover.

Being gay is not a preference. I prefer Sprite. I’ve tried all the white sodas out there, I still like Sprite over 7-Up. But I’ll drink a 7-Up if I am thirsty and a Sprite is not available. That is a preference. I also prefer manual transmission cars, vegetarian meals, and country music. The deep emotion of whom we seek for a mate runs far deeper than any preference. There was no choice, or preference, made. It just is who I am

At 16, the age I accepted for myself that I was gay, I never made a choice. No straight person I never made a choice either. The only ones that have a choice are those that are truly bi-sexual.

Did family or society make me gay? NO! My two straight brothers are the products of the same parents
who were married for nearly 57 years when my mom passed away in 2006. Gay persons (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgendered, etc.) come from every part of our society and from every part of the world. At 21 I told my parents I was gay. They said they knew, they had known for years – longer than I knew.

Think about it, all gay persons are the result of a heterosexual union.

The only choice involved, and it is a tough one, is to accept or deny who we are as a person. Over the years many have chosen denial. Often these individuals “come out” later in life after they realize that even a loving relationship with a person of the opposite gender and the passage of several decades will not change who they are.

This is exactly like the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

So what is a marriage? Like I said, my parents were married for nearly 57 years. My mom’s parents were married about as long. But I have plenty of relatives that have been married 2-3 times. A marriage, as I see it, is a legal arrangement between two adults. Such arrangements are typically, although not always, rooted in a strong loving relationship between the two adults.

This legal arrangement affords this couple a long list of benefits. If one is injured in a car accident the other can visit them in the hospital and help make decisions about their treatment & care. In many states when one of the couple buys property it is legally considered both of theirs, unless one waives their right to claim marital property.

Say Tim is right and that we are all “born with an open sexuality.” OK, wrong, but fair enough of an assumption.  Does that justify the government determining which couples shall have numerous legal protections and which will not?  Hardly.  Government must be applied equally.

Within the next 40 years we’ll see same-sex marriages recognized in all 50 states.  Such a marriage in one state will be recognized by all the others. I hope it doesn’t take this long but it just might.  On January 20th I will see something I never thought I would, a black man being inaugurated as President of the United States.  I can now some day picture a Latino lesbian President and her wife meeting other heads of State.   I may well be in my 80s by the time all this transpires, I just hope I live to see that day.

Yesterday was one of many such past & future days on that long path.

A Busy Weekend Ahead: Art, A Park Project, Protest…

This weekend is going to be a busy one for me. Maybe for some of you too if you partake of some events this weekend.

This morning I’m doing a 2nd showing of a listing of mine to a prospective buyer. Gotta keep matching up buyers & sellers. Tonight I’m heading to ArtFix08 — a benefit for Rebuilding Together St Louis – a group that repairs the homes of low-income homeowners. ArtFix08 is being held at Mad Art, the former police station in Soulard. A good way to start the weekend.

Saturday morning I’m headed to another neighborhood working on a local park. This time Fountain Park residents are working on…Fountain Park.

From there I’m headed back downtown for a rally/protest of the California vote on their Prop 8 — the measure which constitutionally banned same sex marriage. This event will be held from noon to 2pm in front of the Old Court House. For more information see ShowMeNoHate.com. Readers here may support such bans but is it really governments place to be involved in something which many consider to be a religious institution?  If such marriages go against your beliefs, don’t have one. Part of me wonders why we are protesting California’s vote rather than similar Missouri’s ban in 2004. The difference is in California the courts recognized the inequality of forbidding two consenting adults from getting hitched. It was briefly legal and voters just took that away.

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, who is straight, had an excellent commentary on this issue. An excellent use of six and a half minutes:

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

After the rally I’m going to be finishing up preparations for Monday’s Lucas Park design charrette. That event, open to anyone interested in participating, will be Monday the 17th at 500 N. 14th (Crepes in the City) from 6pm sharp to 9pm. This excellent restaurant is closed on Mondays, we are just using their space (thank you Jose & Mary). So eat before attending. If you are a design professional please consider attending, If you do bring a roll of trace with you. We’ll be trying to visually collect what the community sees for the future of Lucas Park.

I look forward to seeing all of you at these varied events.