Low Enrollment at Webster University’s Old Post Office Campus

Webster University’s main campus is in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, but they’ve had a downtown campus for years.  For a long time they had classeroom space in the Lammert Building at 911 Washington Ave.

Webster was a driving force behind the latest renovation of the Old Post Office and the razing of the historic Century Building across 9th Street for a parking garage.  Back in 2003 the predictions were big & bold:

Webster plans to duplicate the programs offered on its Webster Groves campus when it opens in the Old Post Office building in 2005. Initially, about 1,200 students will attend classes at the Old Post Office, a number university President Richard Meyers expects to mushroom to 1,700 by 2007 or 2008.

That could create enough demand to justify building dormitories downtown — especially since the university’s latest dormitory project on its 47-acre Webster Groves campus will leave no space to develop more student housing. (St. Louis Business Journal)

Current enrollment? Only about 600, far from 1,700!  Don’t look for any new downtown dormitories anytime soon, unless they can convince the state to pay for the construction and lease them to the university below market. Webster’s Old Post Office website.

I visited the Webster University space in the Old Post Office last week.  Despite being a block from the 8th & Pine MetroLink light rail station, driving & parking is what is encouraged.  I found two versions of a “campus parking” guide.  These similar flyers give detailed driving & parking directions and barely mention taking transit.

And as you can see above, the map doesn’t show where the MetroLink station is located.  A tri-fold brochure on the downtown campus did have a small map indicating the station.  The state of Missouri owns both the Old Post Office and the 9th Street Garage — I think we need to be concerned about the financial liabilities here.

– Steve Patterson

Readers Will Shop the Updated Downtown Macy’s More Than Before

Last week the poll was about the recently reopened downtown Macy’s store:

Q:  Will you shop at the downtown Macy’s more than you used to?

1. I didn’t shop there before and still won’t 26 [24.07%]
2. I’ve shopped there before, will continue to do so 24 [22.22%]
3. I didn’t shop there before, will check it out though 19 [17.59%]
4. I’ve shopped there before, will do more thanks to improved selection 19 [[17.59%]
5. I’ve shopped there before, will do less now that it is smaller 5 [4.63%]
6. I don’t live in the St. Louis region 5 [4.63%]
7. Other answer… 5 4.63%]
8. I didn’t shop there before but will start now 3 [2.78%]
9. Unsure/no opinion 2 [1.85%]

Some indicated they will shop less because the store is small, a good number indicated they will shop more or will at least check out the store. The five other answers were:

1. Will certainly give it a look, as it is closer than other dept. stores
2. Yes. But I won’t eat there more. Ba dum bump!
3. Ate there often, shopped a little. Less reason to go now.
4. Didn’t know there is a Macy’s downtown.
5. I won’t shop at any Macy’s. Famous-Barr 4-eva!

I will probably shop there less often because I won’t be there once per month for a lunch meeting anymore.

– Steve Patterson

Groups Raising Money for Memorial Honoring Soldiers Killed During Recent Wars

Memorial Day is a somber day for many who’ve lost loved ones to war:

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to honor the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. (History.com)

St. Louis’ war memorials stop at the Vietnam war but we’ve clearly been involved in more wars since so we have more men & women to honor.  The Missouri Military Memorial Foundation is working to raise money for  a memorial to honor Missouri soldiers who have lost their lives during recent wars:

We consist of a group of dedicated volunteers (family & friends of fallen military personnel) raising money to build a memorial for our fallen heroes of Missouri. This will be in downtown St. Louis, Missouri in front of Soldiers Memorial (location has been approved). Join us in creating something beautiful to remember our fallen soldiers, of Missouri, who were Killed in Action or a casualty of War during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or the Desert Storm/Desert Shield Wars.

The MMMF is working in conjunction with the American Gold Star Mothers to raise the funds for the memorial.  Veteren’s Day is November 11th.

– Steve Patterson

Wish Smokers Would Be Neater

We are almost at the end of five months of St. Louis’ smoke-free ordinance for most establishments.  The other morning I snapped the above pic on Washington Ave.  Really? Can’t smokers be a bit neater and properly dispose of their butts? Opponents of the smoke-free law will likely try to say this wouldn’t be a problem if they could smoke indoors but the health risks of that are worse than this unsightly mess.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Will you shop at the downtown Macy’s more than you used to?

A few days ago the downtown Macy’s store in the Railway Exchange building had a reopening event:

The store is shrinking to three floors from seven at the Railway Exchange but will carry more clothing for office workers and more housewares targeted at residents of downtown lofts and apartments. Gone are the store’s furniture department and two restaurants. All 134 store employees remain. (Source)

The store was packed on Thursday! Looking around the housewares department it is clear a car-free downtown resident could get everything needed to stock a loft kitchen, including a stock pot. I’m more likely to buy clothing at a thrift store than a department store so I can’t speak to the selection of men’s clothing.

My poll question this week asks “Will you shop at the downtown Macy’s more than you used to?” I hopefully have covered all the possible answers but if not supply your own.  The poll is in the upper right of the blog.

– Steve Patterson