Sunday Poll: Would Tearing Down Vacant Buildings More Quickly Help St. Louis?

Vacant buildings are often in the news in St. Louis, here’s two recent examples.

• June 2017: Forum addresses dangers of St. Louis city’s abandoned buildings
• July 2017; Tests confirm presence of asbestos in Clemens House fire debris

The morning the historic James Clemens house burned two other vacant properties also had fires. Few disagree vacant buildings can be an eyesore or even be a hangout for unsavory elements, but there’s less agreement as to the solution. Some want to see the vacant structures stabilized and held until they can be rehabbed and occupied again. Others argue they should be razed quickly before they cause other buildings to be abandoned.

Today’s poll aims to see where readers fall on this topic.

This poll will close at 8pm tonight.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Does The World Naked Bike Ride Encourage Indecent Exposure?

The annual World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) rolled through St. Louis last night.  Organizers use the phrase “bare as you dare.” Some riders were completely nude, except for shoes.

Although you can be as bare as you dare during the ride, the City of St. Louis requests that we cover our privates at the pre/post party. (WNBRSTL.org)

The St. Louis police allow privates to be exposed in public during the ride.

In most states around the country, there are indecent exposure laws which may prevent men and women from legally exposing their genitals in public.

Some states, however, only apply their indecency laws to those who show their man or lady parts for the purpose of sexual arousal or to shock others, allowing well-intentioned nudists to avoid prosecution. (FindLaw)

The above source indicates topless is ok in most states thanks to lawsuits on the equality of indecent exposure laws. For today’s poll you get to weigh in on the subject.

The poll will close at 8pm tonight.

– Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Is New CWE Project Too Much Density?

The 1-story storefront/warehouse at 4534 Olive St has stood for nearly a century. From March 2015:

Every resident will get a balcony or a deck at a four-story apartment building to be constructed on piers over an 89-year-old Central West End warehouse.

Planned are 22 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom apartments in the new building at 4534 Olive Street and an adjoining structure built in 1900. The warehouse will provide garage parking for residents. (Post-Dispatch)

City records show both buildings were built in 1926, the adjacent building has 2-floors.

The warehouse occupies the entire lot — 100 foot of street frontage and all the way to the alley. The 1-story street facade was retained but a new tower contains 29-30 apartments.

Today’s poll is about the resulting density of this project. Is it too much?

This poll will close at 8pm tonight, The results and my thoughts & photos of the finished project on Wednesday.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Should Forest Park Ave & Grand Become An At-Grade Intersection?

In late May Chris Naffziger advocated in a St. Louis Magazine piece that the intersection of Forest Park Ave & Grand Blvd should be changed — returned to a conventional at-grsde intersection.This is currently happening to the West at Forest Park & Kingshighway. See in Google Streetview if you’re unfamiliar.

I thought this was an interesting idea so I saved the article. I’m not going to quote from it because I don’t want to sway your vote in today’s poll.

This poll will close at 8pm. my thoughts & results on Wednesday

. — Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Who Owns The Confederate Monument In Forest Park?

In the recent past I’ve voiced opposition to the removal of the Confederate monument in Forest Park — it’s a good reminder of our ugly history. If a Confederate flag was flying at city hall I’d, of course, favor removing it. The monument, in my eyes, is different. It will eventually be moved, I accept that.

Now the question is who will remove and store it?

The Missouri Civil War Museum in Jefferson Barracks is claiming ownership of the controversial Confederate statue in Forest Park, but city officials maintain they have control over both the structure and its removal.

Citing a 1912 city ordinance giving the United Daughters of the Confederacy the green light to erect and maintain the monument in the city’s largest public park, museum executive director Mark Trout said the organization signed over the rights to the museum on Tuesday. (Post-Dispatch)

Last week a judge ordered the monument to stay in place until after ownership & control is determined. The court will decide but I’m curious what readers think on this issue.

The poll will close at 8pm

— Steve Patterson