Grand MetroLink Station Getting Complete Makeover

As part of the replacement of the Grand bridge, Metro will be redesigning the Grand MetroLink station.  Below the bridge will be the new Grand MetroLink Station Transit Plaza:

The new transit plaza will be constructed underneath the new bridge where the current bridge piers are located. Because it will be under the bridge structure, the new plaza will be protected from weather. The new plaza will include:

• Seating;
• A vending area;
• Landscaping and new lighting, including lit paving stones and lit artwork;
• A new bus turnout area between the MetroLink Station and the new plaza;
• New elevator and stair tower structures that connect the plaza below to the bridge bus stops above.

The elevator/stair towers will be removed from the MetroLink platform and relocated north so that they touch down in the new plaza, which will open up the MetroLink platform and provide better visibility for MetroLink operators as they approach the station. The new parking lot will accommodate approximately 60 cars.

I’m not totally convinced all the changes are a good thing — such as moving the elevators — but I will withhold judgment until complete.  The project is going forward regardless of my opinion so I might as well wait.

– Steve Patterson

Grand Bridge Now Closed For Replacement

The Grand bridge over the train & MetroLink tracks was closed earlier this morning. Last June I spent some on and under the bridge, looking at the poor condition. From a press release issued by Mayor Slay’s office on February 28th:

“The Grand Bridge project is expected to take 18-24 months; Grand Boulevard is expected to be closed for about 14 months. The new Grand Bridge will feature improvements that benefit transit riders, pedestrians, and drivers. While the City of St. Louis replaces the Grand Bridge, Metro will redesign the Grand MetroLink Station and create a Scott Avenue Transit Plaza, which will feature seating, vending, attractive landscaping, improved lighting and a new park-ride lot.”

The current bridge dates to the early 1960s.

Replacement long overdue!

– Steve Patterson

Reaching My Polling Place

My polling place is just under a mile west of my loft, just west of Jefferson at the Heritage House senior housing building located at 2800 Olive.  In the past few elections I have driven my car but I decided to use transit for yesterday’s election.  The bus ride was direct and short.

Exiting the bus at Leffingwell Ave & Olive St. I noticed the first problem, I couldn’t cross Leffingwell due to no curb ramp on the other side of the street. I needed to cross Olive St. anyway so I did that first.

Unfortunately, the same problem existed when trying to cross Leffingwell on this side of Olive.  Since I needed  to cross the street to vote I had to look for alternate places to cross.

Halfway down the block I found a place to cross, on the east side of Leffingwell was a drive from an alley and the other side was a driveway for my destination.  My first preference to cross a street is a signalized intersection.  Second is a 4-way stop and the least desirable is mid-block. I was well aware that

I have reported this lack of curb ramps to St. Louis’ Citizens Service Bureau via Twitter (@csbSTL).

– Steve Patterson

Shallow Liner Building Needed To Mask Parking Garage

The University Heights Loft Apartments faces Laclede Ave.  The associated parking garage, located behind, faces Forest Park Ave.

I’m not sure if this was part of the plan, but there is room to build a shallow liner building between the garage structure and the public sidewalk.

Most liner buildings are around 12 meters (40 feet) in depth. Liner buildings are typically simple and work well with “loft” or “industrial” architectural expression. Liner buildings may be up to five stories tall, but should be as tall as is required to serve their purpose of screening. Liner buildings must be constructed at grade if the ground floor is designed for commercial use. They should be slightly elevated above grade if the ground floor is designed for residential uses.(Source: PlanningWiki)

I’d like to see storefront spaces on the main level with residential above. With many students in the immediate area there would be a demand for nearby businesses.

Realistically only one large or two small businesses could fit into the space. The number of residential units would obviously depend upon the size of the units and the number of floors.

The improvement to Forest Park Ave would be immediate, reinforcing the other establishments at Spring Ave.  Hopefully this was the plan when the garage was set back from the property line.  Even a single story structure with storefronts would do great things for this area.  align the front with the loft building and have a wider sidewalk with cafe seating.  New trees in the tree-lawn between the sidewalk & curb would shade patrons.

With so many students, faculty & staff in the area the available on-street parking is more than adequate.

– Steve Patterson

Street Fest In Midtown Friday 8/20/2010 4-11pm

Tomorrow afternoon, Friday August 20, 2010, a couple of blocks of Locust (Garrison to Compton) will be closed to traffic for the Midtown Alley Street Fest.

“The Happy Hour of the summer takes place on Locust Street in the heart of Midtown Alley. Free to the public, Locust will be closed from Garrison to Compton to celebrate the neighborhood with food and drinks from Pappy’s Smokehouse, The U, The Good Pie, The Fountain on Locust, Buffalo Brewing Company, Triumph Grill, Vito’s Sicilian Pizzeria, El Borracho and more. Six bands will perform at the Grand Music Sage at Garrison and Locust: Sleepy Kitty, Murder City Players, Humdrum, Via Dove, Fundamental Elements and Tilts.”

For more information see midtownalley.com.  I’m a huge fan of the scale of the buildings as well as a fan of many of the establishments in the area.

– Steve Patterson