Dog owners are already using the wedge of grass between 8th St & the MetroLink tracks, Busch stadium is on the right.The site isn’t flat — which might be a problem or an advantageWith Busch Stadium & MetroLink the visibility would be excellent
The grassy area and adjacent parking is divided into many separate parcels of land, some owned by the State of Missouri. Most would agree, because of the small size, this isn’t a desirable site for a new building. The location is convenient to those living in the nearby Cupples warehouses. The Cardinals might be able to help out with finding a permanent dog park at this location.
In 2011 St. Louis experienced a rash a car break-ins at various downtown surface parking lots, to restore the public confidence City Hall made a big deal about a new rule to make sure they’re secure. From a September 2011 press release about the new rules:
The City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), worked together to create new public parking lot rules. The highlights are: • Parking lots shall be attended by an employee when in operation; and • Parking lot attendants shall be educated by the SLMPD; and • Parking lots shall be secured when not in operation.
The City of St. Louis Building Division will grant waivers to parking lots that have demonstrated they are safe and secure. These waivers will be reviewed periodically.
On April 30, 2014 I emailed various city officials, including Building Commissioner Frank Oswald, about the surface parking lots adjacent to the east & north of my building, asking if they were exempt from this rule. I also mentioned the poor condition of the one to the East (1601 Locust).
I included this May 2013 image of the rough paving with my email
Mr. Oswald replied the next day:
Steve, These lots are not exempt. It sounds that you are telling me the one lot is used for ballpark pay parking? I will copy my staff to put this on there list to check on for compliance with order 1001. I am not sure but it sounds if you are concerned that one or both lots are in poor condition, I would appreciate you putting in a c.s.b. complaint so we have a record. 622-4800 and we can then do a property maintenance inspection.
I contacted the Citizens Service Bureau (CSB) and the next day replied to all with their report number — SR #601609.
This email I included a current pic of a car parked in the one disabled spot with the disabled marking barely visibleAnd a pic of the sign for $5/day
One staff person replied to all:
Frank,
We have looked at lots in this area very recently and have found many lots don’t appear to have an actual physical person attending the lot. One of the big problems in enforcing Rule # 1001 is the difficulty in determining if an attendant is within 1 (one) mile of the lot. For example, an attendant for the lot at 1200 Washington could actually be at the Casino Queen in Illinois and still be considered in compliance according to the “Rule”!
Huh? How can an attendant watch a lot that’s one mile away? This lot used a metal collection box for parkers to self pay — no attendant unless during a special event. Oswald replied to all:
Ok but if we look at it 3 times in 10 days and no one is there each time I think we can conclude they are not monitoring in accordance to the policy and we should tell them they are in violation.
That was the last I heard from them on this issue. Here are some more photos:
May 2, 2014June 13, 2014June 22, 2014 — cars frequently pull up and block the sidewalkJune 13, 2014
Things only got worse as the months passed by, nothing changed — until November 25th — the old metal cash box was gone.
November 25, 2014 — a new concrete padDecember 2, 2014 — a worker finishes set up of the new electronic payment box,The new electronic collection station
The other change is the parking fee dropped from $5/day to $3/day to compete with the lot to the north of our building.
Recent photo of what used to be pavement collecting waterThe blue Hyundai is parked in the one disabled spot — without plates or hangtagNow a Cadillac is parked in the disabled spot without disabled plates/placardNot really the fault of those drivers, the pavement marking is almost gone and the space lacks the required vertically-mounted sighThe recent pic from a neighbor’s balcony shows the poor condition of the pavement, the disabled spot (far right) is vacant in this shot
Recap: poor physical condition, not secured, cars able to overhang the sidewalk, only one disabled space — not properly marked, no attendant.
This lot is owned by PHAM LLC of Wood River, Il., the tax records are mailed to a residence. The resident is Peter Heinz, principal at Cardinal Investments, Inc., of the same address. The lot is managed by Central Parking. Time to follow up with Frank Oswald and perhaps mail a letter to Mr, Heinz in Wood River IL.
Many thought we’d never get a bike station — a place to shower, change clothes, and store your bike. After it opened the question became how long would it remain open? Today marks four years, in that time Trailnet moved their offices from a storefront space at 16th & Washington to an upper floor of the same building as the bike station. Also, local retailer Big Shark Bicycle Co opened Urban Shark in a connected space — offering service & sales.
A large crowd of supporters gathered for the ribbon cutting on Thursday April 28, 2011
For more information on daily, monthly, & annual memberships click here. I know when I commuted to work by bike in the late 90s I was glad my employer had a locker & shower I could use, this is an important asset for downtown as not all employers have such facilities.
Between the Arch grounds and the Gateway Mall downtown has an excess of public park land — land unlikely to ever see new buildings again. Still, some want to make more park lmd nearby — a dog park where the Cupples 7 warehouse once stood. See Temporary Dog Park On Former Cupples 7 Site Would Be Too Costly.
Meanwhile most blocks of the Gateway Mall go unloved. For a few years now I’ve been trying to build support for updating the block West of Citygarden — the block containing Richard Serra’s ‘Twain’.
Once you pass through one of the narrow openings the inside is spacious.
Why turn a developable site into a dog & sculpture park when you can just fence in an existing sculpture? It’s already parkland, it needs more activity, it has a great location next to Citygarden. As a dog park a fence would be installed just inside new perimeter sidewalks, with at least two vestibule entry/exit points. Access would be limited to dog park members.
I still want to see a public restroom on one corner at 10th so the porta-potties at Citygarden can be retired. The restroom structure could be accessed from outside the dog park, with water for dogs on the inside.
The garage at Tucker & Pine in December 2014Condemnation notices went up last week, I noticed them on Friday 4/10.
My assumption is the repairs were becoming a blank check project the owners finally halted. Now what? I’m concerned the out of state owner will just walk away. Ideally I’d like to see a new building constructed on this corner, if the St. Louis Streetcar project gets funded a new building would be feasible. I’m sure some would like to see this garage repaired or replaced with a new garage. I suppose that would be marginally acceptable.
What wouldn’t be acceptable, however, is a surface parking lot, this intersection needs the massing.
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