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1701 Locust Street To Become Apartments

In April I posted a list of buildings I’d like to see rehabbed. Then in July Ald Hubbard introduced a Redevelopment plan for 1701 Locust, one of the buildings on my list.

1701 Locust is a handsome 4-story building built in 1926. It has had several owners in the last decade. 
1701 Locust is a handsome 4-story building built in 1926. It has had several owners in the last decade.
The facades facing Locust & 17th have double-hung windows on the upper floors, the North facade has steel factory/warehouse windows.
The facades facing Locust & 17th have double-hung windows on the upper floors, the North facade has steel factory/warehouse windows.

The building, in the block West of my loft, will be divided into apartments. Looking forward to seeing this long-vacant building come back to life!

— Steve Patterson

 

Parking On Clark Still Police-Only A Year After Old Headquarters Vacated

A year ago the St. Louis Metropolitan Police moved from their old headquarters at Tucker & Clark to their new HQ on Olive, between 19th-20th. Back in April 2011 I wondered what would become of police-only parking on Clark between Tucker & 14th once the move happened. It seems nothing would happen.

Privately-owned vehicles now park where police vehicles used to park. July 23, 2015
Privately-owned vehicles now park where police vehicles used to park. July 23, 2015

The old police headquarters is, presumably, vacant. So who’s parking on Clark in spaces marked for “police vehicles only”? My guess is the police academy at Tucker & Spruce, just south of the old police HQ.

When the police left their old building the on-street parking on Clark should’ve become metered parking for the general public.

— Steve Patterson

 

Tucker & Chouteau: Pedestrian Button Far From Curb Ramp

Yesterday’s post was about the bike lanes on Chouteau that aren’t there…yet. While I was photographing the absence of bike lanes late last month I noticed something else as I crossed Chouteau at Tucker. The annoying pedestrian crosswalk buttons aren’t next to the curb ramp where they should be.

I'm at the ramp to cross Chouteau going South, the pedestrian button is on the back side of the silver pole! The visible button the side of the pole to cross Tucker heading East. 
I’m at the ramp to cross Chouteau going South, the pedestrian button is on the back side of the silver pole! The visible button the side of the pole to cross Tucker heading East.
Looking back North you can see the pole and the ramp at the corner.
Looking back North you can see the pole and the ramp at the corner.

Pedestrian buttons should be reachable from the ramp, not 20 feet away! Personally I don’t think pedestrians should have to seek out and press button to get a walk signal — they should be automatic.  Imagine driving and having to know just where to stop at a red light to give you a green light.

Pedestrian buttons are great for the sight-impaired. If done properly, once activated, it’ll verbally announce to the user when the walk sign is on and that it’s ok to cross. The rest of us shouldn’t have to press a button to get a walk signal.

Chouteau is maintained by MoDOT, I’ll alert them and the city about this.

— Steve Patterson

 

More Than Six Years Later Mapped Chouteau Bike Lane Still Doesn’t Exist

Last Monday I posted a detailed look at the new semi-protected bike lane on Chestnut Street, today a follow up to a January 2009 post on the narrowest bike lane. As was the case six+ years ago, the latest Bike St. Louis map (web | Scribd) shows bike lanes on both sides of Chouteau. Some say it had bike lanes at one time, but MoDOT restriped Chouteau and did away with them. What I saw in January 2009 was two solid white lines in the Westbound direction — they remained when I visited again on July 23rd.

These lanes aren't about bikes, they're a way to narrow the outside drive lane from excess pavement.
These lanes aren’t about bikes, they’re a way to narrow the outside drive lane from excess pavement.
On the South side of Chouteau, also looking West from Tucker, we see a wide outside lane -- no bike lane.
On the South side of Chouteau, also looking West from Tucker, we see a wide outside lane — no bike lane.

What

The map's legend shows a solid red line as dedicated bike lanes in both directions, dotted red as shared lanes..
The map’s legend shows a solid red line as dedicated bike lanes in both directions, dotted red as shared lanes..
This section of the map shows Chouteau in solid red.
This section of the map shows Chouteau in solid red.

Todd Antoine, from Great Rivers Greenway, told me MoDOT is starting now to resurface Chouteau, when finished it’ll be striped with dedicated bike lanes. The map available in January 2009 also showed dedicated bike lanes, I don’t know what maps in between indicated.

Given the road width I expect to see a reduction in the number of travel lanes from four to two, which shouldn’t be a problem given our light traffic.  Still, it’ll likely upset those who want lots of wide lanes for cars.

— Steve Patterson

 

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Sunday Poll: What Should Happen When The Small Bar Smoking Ban Exemption Expires In January?

On January 2, 2016 the 5-year smoking ban exemption some small bars have claimed will expire. Now that the exemptions are nearing their expiration date some want to amend the 2009 law.

This is the basis for today’s poll question.

Please vote above and discuss in the comments below.

– Steve Patterson

 

 

 

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