Sidewalk In Front Of Convention Center Now Just For Pedestrians

Nearly four years ago, January 12,2007, I first blogged about the situation with cabs at our convention center: Taxi Cabs Block Sidewalk at Convention Center, Exit Via Crosswalk.  More than a year prior to the stroke that disabled me, I was fighting for space for all pedestrians.

The headline, first picture (above) and post wording all communicated the issue was the placement on the stand within the sidewalk space. However, I included a video of a cab exiting via the pedestrian crosswalk.

So rather than relocate the stand so it wasn’t on the sidewalk, the convention center added bollards to prevent the cabs from using the crosswalks when exiting.

The main issue — the blocked sidewalk remained a problem. That is, until last month.  First, the back story.

Kitty Ratchliffe came to St. Louis from New Orleans to serve as the President of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission.

“The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) is the sales and marketing organization responsible for selling St. Louis City and St. Louis County as a convention and meeting site and as a leisure travel destination. In addition, the CVC manages and operates the America’s Center® convention complex which includes 502,000 square feet of prime exhibit space, 80 meeting rooms, the Edward Jones Dome at America’s Center, the 1,411-seat Ferrara Theatre, a 28,000 square-foot ballroom and the St. Louis Executive Conference Center.”

Ratcliffe had worked at the CVC in the 80s but when I brought up this taxi stand issue she was only months back into St. Louis, and their offices were blocks away in the Metropolitan Square building.  A staff person told her about the issue and and that he had a solution — the bollards.

Finally this summer I stopped by the CVC offices, now on the 3rd floor of the convention center, and left my card for Ratcliffe and got the email address for her assistant.  That prompted some emails and phone conversations.  I was finally able to communicate the main issue was walking along the sidewalk (east-west) not crossing Washington Ave.

I know in the big picture this is a minor issue but it will make a difference for the quality of life of residents and visitors. Persistence pays!

– Steve Patterson

Adaptive Reuse Not Just For Historic Buildings

My downtown loft condo is within a 7-story building constructed in 1919 and used for decades by a printing firm.  It now contains 38 lofts and one commercial space.  The adjacent 9-story building in our condo association includes another commercial space and 40 lofts.  Throughout downtown this story is repeated over and over, old structures re-imagined for different uses than when originally constructed decades ago.

But what about buildings that are less than charming? St. Louis Centre comes to mind.  When it opened in 1985 it was the “largest urban shopping mall” [WikiPedia]  in the country.  When I arrived in St. Louis just five years later I could see the mall was in a death spiral.

Being a mall, it turned inwards putting large blank walls the street. Not what we want downtown now (we never should have wanted this…).  To many the answer to these buildings that no longer serve our current needs is the same as it been for decades — tear it down to the ground and build something new.  But we know the old historic buildings can be adapted to new uses.  In those cases, reuse usually requires stripping away decades of attempts to modernize the building.

With newer buildings the process involves stripping away those blank walls and reorienting the structure to embrace the sidewalk and surroundings.

Work continues on the former St. Louis Centre.  The first part was to strip away the interior walls from the old mall as well as the blank walls.  Along Washington Ave an entire bay of the building was removed to uncover the sidewalk.

Most of the three upper floors will be parking for 750 cars — to serve the attached 600 Washington tower (formally One City Centre) and the U.S. Bank tower across 7th Street.  The 2nd & 3rd floor of the Washington Ave side will contain a movie theater.

I recently got a glimpse inside the construction site on a private tour with Matt O’Leary.  O’Leary, a former VP of Pyramid Construction, has been working on this project for years.  The reuse concept has changed dramatically over the years, but the goal of opening the building to the sidewalk hasn’t changed.

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This parking will have the best natural lighting.  In my tour I learned that Macy’s, in the Railway Exchange building across Locust, has receiving and customer pickup in the ground floor of this structure.  Trucks unload here and merchandise is taken down elevators to a tunnel under Locust. Who knew?

The following are some images from the developer, click to view larger size.

Once complete I will do a review of the finished project.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Is St. Louis Really The Most Dangerous City?

There it was in news reports from coast to coast — St. Louis is the most dangerous city:

“St. Louis has replaced Camden, New Jersey as the most dangerous U.S. city, according to a study based on FBI crime data and released Monday. St. Louis had 2,070 violent crimes per 100,000 residents last year, well over the national average of 429, according to the report issued by social science publisher CQ Press. Camden ranked second this year, with Detroit, Michigan; Flint, Michigan; and Oakland, California rounding out the top five most crime-ridden cities, according to the report.” (Reuters)

And like clockwork the validity of the study is questioned:

Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents. Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction. The data user is, therefore, cautioned against comparing statistical data of individual reporting units from cities, metropolitan areas, states, or colleges or universities solely on the basis of their population coverage or student enrollment. (FBI)

At the same time violent crime has spiked:

“(KMOV) – With 25 homicides, November is one of the most deadly months St. Louis has ever seen. It’s also the worst month St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom says he’s seen in his 23 years as a police officer.”

In 2007 St.. Louis was ranked #2 most dangerous by the same group.  In November 2007 I wrote:

“Do I feel unsafe in the city? No. Are there places where I might feel unsafe at 1am, you bet! But there are likely places I’d feel unsafe in the safest city? Absolutely.”

The poll this week asks your thoughts on this #1 ranking.

– Steve Patterson

Tuck-Under Garages On Delmar

I’m not a fan of front facing garages, especially on lots served by a rear alley.   The “tuck-under” garage makers the front garage less objectionable.  However, the white garage door stands out in contrast the dark materials of the rest of the facade — drawing attention to the door.  Although I doubt many walking by on the sidewalk will notice the townhouse on the right because of what they will see on the left.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again.  The only properties that should be permitted to have a curb cut out to the street are those that do not have a rear alley.

– Steve Patterson

Follow-up On Halliday

In June 2007 a huge controversy began in the Tower Grove East neighborhood, on Halliday at Grand.  A developer paved a front yard for condo parking (see Developer paves front yard for condo parking, hearing on the 6th).

The Parking Nightmare on Halliday Continues! was a headline in April 2008 when the concrete paving had been removed, leaving only gravel.

While I don’t object to angled parking on this street I hope the city didn’t give away part of the right-of-way to help this developer save face. Alderman Conway (D-8), who  supported the developer in having parking between the sidewalk and building, is up for re-election next Spring.

– Steve Patterson