Comprehensive Planning Process for Soulard Neighborhood on Sept 26th

From Ald. Phyllis Young:

Soulard has changed significantly through the 30+ years I’ve lived here. The changes that have occurred have taken place without a thorough planning process, but they generally have been positive for the neighborhood. The efforts of small groups of concerned and committed individuals have paid off, resulting in changes such as the historic code revision. The code revision group spent much time and effort writing a thoughtful and sensitive document that has guided development on a case-by-case basis. The Soulard Housing Corporation made up of neighborhood residents, initiated a plan for the renovation and infill of the 800 block of Allen many years ago when that block was the eyesore of the neighborhood. Their vision is reality today, and their efforts continue. Each group has established a goal and worked to achieve it. All these have made Soulard the neighborhood that it is today.
A much larger planning process is in the works. In 2005 the City of St. Louis Planning Commission adopted the Strategic Land Use Plan for the entire city. This was the first time since 1947 that the city had taken a look at the uses of property, the areas where opportunities were available for redevelopment, those areas that should be preserved, and which areas should be commercial/retail or business/ industrial. You can check out this plan at stlcin.missouri.org/landuse. Of course Soulard was included in the plan.

Now it is time to take the next step and look at a comprehensive planning process focusing on the future of each neighborhood, including Soulard. Through this effort I hope that we can establish our goals for the future of our neighborhood and devise a plan of action to achieve those goals. We’ll also need to prioritize the goals and identify the resources needed to achieve them. We’ll need to look at zoning issues that exist in the neighborhood and address those. Parking is always an issue that must be addressed if there’s a need/desire for more retail. There are urban design issues in our neighborhood such as signage, public art, streetscaping, lighting, and many others I’m sure you’ll add.

The planning process will be led by the City of St. Louis’ Planning Department. Rollin Stanley, a Soulard resident, directs this department and has led many of these efforts throughout the city. He and his staff are gathering data that will be used to help make decisions during our sessions. The initial planning meeting will be Tuesday, September 26th. It will be held at St. Peter and Paul’s hall located at 816 Allen (the entrance is from the parking lot at 8th and Allen). The meeting will start at 6:30 PM so come and participate in planning the guidelines that will be followed in the next phase of our neighborhood’s development.

Soulard represents one of the 12 neighborhoods that is at least partially in the 7th Ward. While I am glad to see Ald. Young working with our city’s talented planning staff I wonder when we will see it spread to other areas. I know many in the downtown section of the 7th ward feel a bit ignored by their alderwoman.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 26th at 6:30pm. I’ll be there after class to check it out.

– Steve

50th Anniversary of Buses on Broadway

Buses on Broadway is not a long running transit themed musical but the #40 Route in St. Louis. Yesterday, the 19th of August, marked fifty years since the line switched from streetcars to bus service.

While I cannot, as this time, prove a correlation between the change from streetcars to buses and the dramatic reduction in residents in the city during the same time period I am convinced this was at least a contributing factor. Transit was and will remain important to central cities and we cannot underestimate the importance of this relationship to perception, population trends general health of the community.

Citizens for Modern Transit Executive Director Thomas Shrout, Metro’s Walking tour guide Melanie Harvey, follow urbanist blogger Joe Frank and myself discussed organizing an event to commemorate (mourn?) the switch from streetcars to bus service bus our busy schedules simply didn’t allow us to get anything organized. Besides, we had doubt that anyone would ride the #40 simply for the purpose of noting the anniversary.

– Steve

Thoughts on the Primary Election – UPDATED!

The polls have closed so now we wait to see how the new election devices performed. Hopefully the results will come in much sooner than in past elections and we can all get to bed at a decent hour. Here are some thoughts on a few of the races from today:

Update #1 at 10pm on 8/8/06 – 63% of city precincts reporting, 24% of St. Louis County. Update #2; 11:30pm – 200 of 203 precincts in the city reporting.

License Collector:

In November Republican Patrick L. Herod will attempt to defeat wildly popular Democratic Alderman Mike McMillan in a city that seldom votes for Republicans. I did not vote for McMillan today simply because he didn’t need my vote. I’m curious to see what percentage of voters checked off his name even though he is the only candidate.

Update #1 – 85% of the Democratic voters voter for McMillan with the other 15% perhaps drawing the same conclusion I did, why vote “for” someone that is not opposed.

Collector of Revenue:

Two Democrats are facing off in this race, current License Collector Gregory F.X. Daly and Cate Sauve. The winner will overwhelmingly be Daly who will face Green candidate Audrey M. Ruiz-Smith in November. I voted for Sauve today simply because Daly is so favored to win. I was actually surprised by the high number of Sauve signs I saw today.

Update #1 – Daly is walking away with this with over 81% of the votes.

Recorder of Deeds:

Sharon Quigley Carpenter is unopposed in the Democratic primary but will face Green Jerry S. McCaleb in November.

Update #1 – Just over 81% of those voting did so for this unopposed candidate.

Court Clerk:

Mariano V. Favazza is unopposed in the primary and the general in November. Four more years of Favazza while he tries to figure out a way to get elected to a higher office. I don’t see him getting elected to anything other than this office and not even then if someone actually challenges him.

Update #1 – Less than 79% of those voting so far gave Favazza the thumbs up.

State Senator 4th District

This has to be the most closely watched race of the day for our area. Most are predicting a win for either Yaphett El-Amin or Jeff Smith. Everyone agrees former Alderman Kenneth Jones will place last. The question will be how it all shakes out with two current state reps (Yaphett El-Amin & Amber Holly Boykins) and a former state rep (Derio Gambaro) with never before elected Jeff Smith. Two are black females with two being white males. This race is just too close to call but I will agree with others it will be either El-Amin or Smith. The winner today is the winner for the seat as no Republican, Green or Libertarian is running.

Update #1 – In the city Smith is taking the lead with El-Amin in close second and Gambaro in third. Update #2 – Jeff Smith is the clear winner with over 36% of the vote. Congratulations to Jeff Smith.

Today I stopped by Fanning School in the 15th ward where a volunteer was collecting signatures for the recall effort against 15th Ward Alderwoman Jennifer Florida. Last week I reported she was seen and heard plotting to get Gambaro elected in this race. Florida was at the polling place as well today and she made a point to show me she was standing next to a Jeff Smith volunteer and that she made no endorsements. Sounds to me like Florida was doing damage control on several fronts today. I will say her dress and hair did look quite nice…

State Representative 57th District

I have not followed closely this 3-way race with Joseph “Joe” Palm, Talibdin “TD” El-Amin, and Karla May. Like so many other races, no other parties have filed to challenge the Democratic candidate in November. Given that El-Amin’s wife is the current Rep. that should give TD the advantage but I hear strong support for Joe Palm.

Update #2 – Talibdin El-Amin has successfully won the seat being vacated by his wife, Yahphatt, due to term limits. She came in a strong second to Jeff Smith in the race for state senate.

State Representative 58th District

Professional candidate and two-term school board member William C. “Bill” Haas is attempting to unseat incumbent Rodney R. Hubbard. I don’t have an opinion on which candidate is the lesser of two evils but it is a moot point because Haas has about as much chance of winning as I do being appointed dog catcher by Mayor Slay.

Update #2 – Hubbard easily won re-election over challenger Haas.

State Representative 59th District

Mark Rice is once again trying to defeat Jeanette Mott Oxford. This time JMO is an incumbent with a strong base of support. JMO is the only candidate I have endorsed in this election cycle. She is my rep and I think she has done an outstanding job representing me in Jefferson City. She has continually informed constituents of issues through email and now through her website. Tonight’s winner will face-off with Libertarian Kevin C. Bobcock in November.

Update #1 – Looks like Rice was undercooked, JMO has over 80% of the vote within the city.

State representative 60th District

This 4-way race is another that I have not followed closely to make any informed commentary. I’ve seen Jamilah Nasheed at a number of meetings including mundane things like the Planning Commission. I’ve also seen her bright car all over town. Shaun A. Simms is the husband of the current Rep. Amber Boykins and Sharon Tyus is the former Alderwoman that got her ward moved across town in the last redistricting. If I had to venture a guess I’d say Nasheed is going to win this race but not by much.

Update #1 – As predicted earlier Nasheed is taking a strong lead so far with Tyus in close second. The others are out of the running.
Update #2 – Nasheed has won this race with 43.72% of the vote, 100% reporting.

City of St. Louis Proposition:

A city-wide proposition to raise the business license fee, defeated earlier this year, is back. I’m not holding my breath for the 60% needed to be approved.

Update #2 – With nearly all precincts in this proposition has failed to get the required 60% for passage.

St. Louis County Executive

Incumbent Charlie A. Dooley has two challengers; Charlotte Meshell and Carl Johnson. At 58 Dooley is the youngest in the race. I don’t think he’ll be staying up late worrying about the results.

Update #1 – Dooley has a commanding lead with around 79% of the vote with 24% of the precincts reporting.

City of Clayton:

A referendum on Eminent Domain; “Should it be the future policy of the city of Clayton that eminent domain should be significantly limited in conjunction with any economic development or redevelopment project?” Earlier this year Clayton blighted an entire city block and granted the right of eminent domain to Centene so they could expand their headquarters. I think the absurdity of blighting a block simply because it is not being used the way a corporation wants it to be used will cause a backlash among voters who will pass the referendum.

Update #1 – With 2 out of 6 precincts reporting the measuring has received over 70% approval. I do not know the percentage required for passage.

City of University City:

Voters in University City are considering a 1/4-cent sales tax to improve the Loop and Olive Blvd. From the information on STLtoday.com it looks like most of the annual revenue of $550,000 is intended for sidewalk replacement. Sales tax increases are difficult but most people can relate to sidewalks so this may pass. Also, many U-City residents know lots of sales tax is paid by people visiting their municipality so they’d probably rather approve a sales tax increase than a property tax increase.

Update #1 – Nearly 80% of the precincts reporting show this tax being approved with 62% so far, however, I do not know the percentage required for passage.

St. Charles County:

Voters are considering a charter amendment to require the district attorney to get the approval of the County Council prior to suing any municipalities. This may be stemming from litigation between the City of St. Peters and St. Charles County over the blighting of farm land and granting of TIFs in flood zones by St. Peters.

City of Lake St. Louis:

This municipality in St. Charles County has several bond issues on the ballot. This bedroom community is beginning to show its age and lack of sales tax revenue. Still, I don’t think voters will support the bond measures.

Jefferson County:

The City of Hillsboro is looking for passage of a bond issue for water and sewer improvements while the Town of Pevely is seeking a half-cent sales tax for capital improvements. I think in a small town like Pevely the sales tax might be an uphill battle but what do I know, I seldom get to Jefferson County.

Lincoln County:

Voters will decide on a sales tax in the Troy Transportation District. Don’t start thinking Troy is going to build a light rail system to get from the Piggly Wiggly to the Wal-Mart. This sales tax is for road improvements. According to the Post-Dispatch, “Voters formed the district in 2004, but last August they repealed the district’s authority to levy the sales tax. The district’s directors put the tax on Tuesday’s ballot. It only applies to stores within the district.” I’m just guessing that if voters last August repealed the authority to levy the tax they may not be so included as to reinstate the authority a year later, unless the pot holes have gotten considerably bigger in the last year…

I want to thank the folks at the Post-Dispatch for having an excellent voter guide on STLToday.com, I used their guide to aid in listing the above races.

– Steve

Patterson to Speak on Convergence in Journalism

Today I will be participating in a panel discussing the convergence of technology in journalism at a luncheon of the Society of Professional Journalists. Despite protests saying I’m not a journalist, much less professional, I was asked to participate. I have been paid for writing so perhaps I am a professional writer? The other panelists are the real deal, Dale Singer of the Post-Dispatch and Bill Raack, KWMU’s News Director. The moderator will be David Nicklaus of the Post-Dispatch.

I was introduced to the term “Convergence Journalism” in a way typical of blogging — through a comment on a post. Regular readers my recall this comment from “Megan” from earlier this year:

I am a Journalism student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I heard about your blog through various sources and I decided to check it out.

Recently, in one of my Journalism classes we discussed the dangers of blogging to the field of Convergence Journalism. The Convergence field of Journalism is a newly recognized (it is the first year this sequence has been offered at MIZZOU) sequence that focuses mostly on Online Publishing and Online Periodicals (CBSNews.com, etc). The problem of blogging is that in creating a blog and deeming it a title so decidedly journalistically inclined as the “Urban Review” you are lending a false credibility to yourself and, in essence, misleading those who may misinterpret your articles as truth instead of simply your opinion. I am sure that you think that you are very unbiased but the truth is that as a Journalism student I am horrified at what blogs like yours will mean for the future of Convergence Journalism. I can see that you have been praised by several in my future chosen field, but I am simply horrified and insulted by your irresponsible use of a blog for your own ulterior motives.

While accepting my role in local media I have never once called myself a journalist. The various roles are certainly melding together and technology changes. Nearly everyone reading my site gets that I am espousing my own opinion, not presenting an unbiased look at the built environment.

Naturally I contacted Mizzou’s School of Journalism to see what it is they are teaching that got Megan so upset as to call me “irresponsible.” Here is a response from one of the professors in Convergence Journalism:

While I can’t speak on behalf of the entire Convergence faculty, the student’s views as expressed on your blog comments do not reflect my views and I suspect they are not at all representative of the views of my colleagues on the Convergence faculty. I don’t think Megan is actually a student in the Convergence sequence as she seems to have an unclear idea of what our program is all about.

It wouldn’t shock me if there were some journalism faculty who shared her views, but I hope her notions of blogging are a result of youth and inexperience and not something she was told in class. When I was her age I thought I knew everything too.

Convergence is all around us. The Post-Dispatch is beginning to incorporate video on stltoday.com, TV stations have written stories on their websites, and radio stations are including written stories as well as having podcasts available for download. Video, audio and the written word are all coming together from formerly separate sources. Everyone is learning as major newspapers now find themselves competing not only with TV, Radio and weekly papers but with small papers such as the Arch City Chronicle. TV stations, limited by time, are competing with more detailed video from sources such as PubDef. I have no stats to prove my theory but I believe as people continue to read sites such as this they are reducing their use of more traditional media.

On a side note, today’s luncheon will be held in a blighted area. Yes, those brave journalists are making their way to a blighted area awaiting redevelopment. Don’t worry for them, however, as the luncheon is in Clayton at the upscale Bar Napoli. Centene corporation plans to raze most of the block to expand their headquarters.

– Steve

MetroLink’s 8-Mile Cross County Extension To Open August 28th

Metro, the St. Louis regional transit agency, is expected to announce today the ribbon cutting for the 8-mile ‘Cross County’ will be held on Saturday August 26, 2006 with regular service commencing on Monday, August 28, 2006. Limited, but free, sample rides are expected on the 26th & 27th.

The 28th is a big day of changes as new bus routes will take affect to coincide with the new light rail. New fares for bus and rail service will also make their debut on the 28th. Regular bus fare will increase from $1.65 to $1.75. A one-way ticket on MetroLink will increase from $1.75 to $2.00.

For more information on schedules and fares see Metro.

– Steve