Four Concepts on the Riverfront To Be Presented on October 11th

The next public meeting on the Riverfront Master Plan is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11th. Four concepts will be presented by the design team.

The location is the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor & Education Center (aka the Lindell Pavilion in Forest Park). 5595 Grand Drive, 63112. [map]

The schedule is an informal open house between 5pm and 6:30pm with presentation of the design concepts between 6:30pm and 7:30pm. The next 45 minutes is audience questions and then 15 minutes of “next steps.”

The postcard that was mailed refers to “driving directions” to go to www.greatrivers.info. Thankfully when I got there the first thing they mention is the location of bike racks. Excellent! The second thing is how to arrive via MetroLink. Good job! Then they mention by car. At least they have their priorities correct.

– Steve

What Became of…

I’ve got a couple of things that I was wondering about.

First, I attended a public meeting back on August 2nd regarding the proposed Mississippi River Bridge. The followup meeting was supposed to be in September but I’ve not heard a word. Did I miss an announcement? I have no doubt it will be argued we need the bridge to help evacuate the city. Whatever it takes to justify a massive public works project right guys?

Second on my list is the downtown traffic study. It has been nearly six weeks since the surveys were collected but I’ve not seen any data or conclusions. This really shouldn’t take this long since the conclusion portion was most likely written prior to sending out the surveys!

– Steve

Green Drinks On The Loop September 14, 2005

Green Drinks is not a new wheat grass beverage place but “is a monthly opportunity for folks interested in environmental and sustainability issues to come together for
drinks.”

The next Green Drinks is happening in just two weeks – Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Riddles Penultimate Café, 6307 Delmar. Come at 6:30 to hang out meet some new folks and order something local, organic and delicious off Andy’s great menu. All ages are welcome.

From 7-8, we’ll be discussing local renewable energy initiatives. What’s up with that big wind turbine on 170? How can you buy green power for your
apartment, house, business, or campus? Is our state doing anything to promote renewable energy? You’ll have to come to Green Drinks to find out.
Panelists include:
* Dan Sammartano, Alberici’s Sustainable Design Manager
* Bill Barbieri heads up Ameren’s Renewables effort
* Pat Justis is Mo-DNR’s Missouri Schools Going Solar Project Manager

* (plus a Biofuel panelist TBA)

We do ask for a suggested donation of $3 at the door, just to keep the events self-sustaining.

For more information on Green Drinks click here.

– Steve

Reflections on New Orleans, Gulf Coast

Watching the news this morning I’m saddened by the loss of life and property in the Gulf Coast. It will be days and weeks before we get the full picture of the extent of damage. While we can replace property we cannot replace those who were lost to Katrina.

The reports of rescue crews unable to continue into the night are deeply disturbing. The cries of people and pets must have been horrific for rescue crews. I have the greatest admiration for those people risking their lives to save others.

Mobile, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana along with numerous other cities have all been devastated by high winds, walls and water and flood waters. A levee breach in New Orleans is allowing the city to flood — 80% of the city is under water at this point. As a child I have visited the three cities listed above. In April 2004 I visited New Orleans for the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

The beauty of New Orleans was overwhelming to me. Block after block of well proportioned frame & masonry structures. The city was very walkable and the streetcars made it easy to get to areas too far to walk to.

I’ve selected a few pictures of the hundreds I took.

I hope New Orleans can repair the broken levee soon and get the water pumped out of the city. The longer these buildings sit in the contaminated waters the harder it will be to repair and rebuild.

The proportions and details of New Orleans’ architecture is quite unique. I loved the use of the shutters to keep out the hot Southern sun.

It was the tiny shotgun houses that captivated me. While not as valuable as the large homes of the Garden District they are still worth saving. I fear these more modest homes will not be saved to the extent of those in more affluent areas.

This French Quarter building was in a state of disrepair in 2004. Not sure how well it survived the wind and water.

Beyond the lives and property lost is the aftermath. At least tens of thousands of people are suddenly unemployed as their workplaces were destroyed. Oil production has been halted sending gas prices upward. Power is out for hundreds of thousands. Roads and highways were ruined which will created challenges to rebuilding. Tornados and flash flooding are now affecting other parts of the South. Groups such as the Red Cross are ready to help.

The big lesson in all of this it that we, as humans, are not invincible. Natural will always prevail.

– Steve

Is the City of Sunset Hills Violating Missouri Sunshine Laws?

I received the following notice via email today:

The Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen called a special meeting today to consider giving Novus Corporation an extra 20 million in TIF funds in addition to the 42 million it has already voted. This meeting is in direct violation of the Missouri Sunshine Law and the Attorney General’s office should be notified. It was posted yesterday afternoon which is not in in accord with the Law. All those throughout the metro area are encouraged to come at 4:00PM to the Sunset Hills Municipal Building at 3939 S. Lindbergh. The announcement can be found on Page 14 of today’s Post-Dispatch.

The applicable section of the Sunshine Law is ” 610.020 #2″ related to notice of meetings. “Notice …shall be given at least 24 hours ,exclusive of weekends and holidays when the facility is closed, prior to the commencement of any meeting of a governmental body unless for good cause such notice is impossible or impractical….”

What municipalities won’t do for big developers…

– Steve