Readers Optimistic About The City+Arch+River Project

Readers in the poll last week responded they were optimistic about the City+Arch+River project to connect the Gateway Arch to downtown.

Q: Optimistic or Pessimistic About The City+Arch+River Project?

1. Optimistic 197 [62.54%]
2. Pessimistic 85 [26.98%]
3. Neutral 16 [5.08%]
4. Other: 9 [2.86%]
5. Unsure/No Opinion 8 [2.54%]

I’ve gone from optimistic to neutral since funding seems to be a challenge.

1. Unhappy that the project doesn’t include eliminating the depressed I-70 lanes.
2. impatient! when does construction start?! NOW!!!
3. For the better
4. Portion will get done but not sure about Metro East projects.
5. cautiously optimistic.
6. It still won’t truly connect the city to the arch grounds.
7. Pessimistic about it being completed on time.
8. disappointed with the choices 
9. Biggest waste of money. 

I think we’ll see something completed by the 50th anniversary party on October 28, 2015 but it will be significantly scaled back.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Should Archibald &/or Biondi Resign Their Positions?

Saint Louis University President Lawrence Biondi and Missouri History Museum President Robert Archibald are both under fire for unrelated reasons.

Archibald:

The museum’s purchase of the Delmar land, which was owned by former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., has drawn fire for weeks. The Zoo-Museum District board report also lambasts the compensation of the History Museum’s president, Robert Archibald, saying his newest contract should be withdrawn and his perks and vacation days re-evaluated. (stltoday.com)

Archibald, head of the museum since 1988, had signed a new three-year contract in July. The board of trustees at that time also agreed to pay him for 410 unused vacation days, due as a lump sum when he retired. Archibald used to receive eight weeks of vacation. He now is entitled to four weeks, but also gets six weeks for “historical researching and writing.” (stltoday.com)

Biondi:

The St. Louis University Faculty Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly against the leadership of the school’s president, the Rev. Lawrence Biondi.

The Senate room erupted in applause and cheers when the 51-4 no-confidence vote was announced, following nearly two hours of debate. (stltoday.com)

The Student Government Association at St. Louis University joined the push to oust the university’s president late Wednesday.

The student group by a 38-0 vote passed a “no confidence” measure against the leadership of the school’s president, the Rev. Lawrence Biondi, and the school’s vice president of academic affairs, Manoj Patankar. There was one abstention.

The vote came at the end of a six-hour meeting, student leaders who attended the meeting said. (stltoday.com)

Both men have their supporters and detractors. Will they persevere despite criticism? The poll question this week asks if they should resign, the poll is in the right sidebar.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Where Do You Read Local Blogs?

Blogs are now mainstream information sources and St. Louis is fortunate to have blogs on nearly every topic imaginable. Hopefully UrbanReviewSTL.com is among your top St. Louis blogs but even if it isn’t I’m curious where you do your reading of blogs. Is it at work? Home? School? Mobile?

Vote in the weekly poll in the right sidebar, smartphone users switch to the full layout to vote. My guess is most read at work but we will see. results will be presented on Wednesday October 31st.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Thoughts On The 2013 Race For St. Louis Mayor

The November presidential election is still more than four weeks away but already the March 2013 primary race for St. Louis mayor has begun.

On Wednesday Aldermanic President Lewis Reed announced what many had long suspected — he’s running for mayor against three-term incumbent Francis Slay.

Only one St. Louis mayor has ever run for a fourth 4-year term, that was Raymond Tucker.

In March 1965, during his bid for an unprecedented fourth term as mayor, Tucker lost to Alfonso J. Cervantes in the Democratic primary. (Wikipedia)

If Slay wins reelection next year it’ll be one for the record books. The two times Slay has been reelected (2005 & 2009) he had weak challengers, so 2013 will be different.

For the poll this week I want to know your thoughts on this competitive race. The poll is in the right sidebar, mobile users switch to the desktop layout.

I wish both men the best of luck.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Initial Reaction To The Updated Flying Saucer (Formerly Del Taco)?

Lsat year one of the big controversies was the threat of demolition of the “flying saucer” on Grand adjacent to the Saint Louis University Campus (the Del Taco tenant had just closed). In June 2011 I wrote a post trying to find justification for razing the iconic structure (see Pros & Cons of Saving the 1960s Flying Saucer at Grand & Forest Park), the following are selected quotes:

“I won’t lose any sleep if the Del Taco is razed but I will be mad as hell if some generic anti-pedestrian strip mall is built in it’s place.”

“I can picture the Del Taco structure gone, replaced with a high-design modernist structure to compliment the other buildings. But I don’t think that’s what we’ll get.”

“If I were developing this site I’d use the Del Taco building as a draw. Renovate the building and accenting it with great lighting, new pedestrian-friendly site design connecting to a new structure to the east on the existing surface parking lot. I can see the building not as a fast food joint but as a pub with a focus on great outdoor patio seating. This could become THE corner where SLU students hang out.”

“Most developers would kill to have such a widely known building to attract customers to their development! Certainly the 24 hour drive-thru is nice after you leave the bar but let’s face it, the use of the building can easily change.”

“Razing this building makes zero sense no matter how you try to look at it, believe me I tried!”

I couldn’t justify razing the building. Thankfully the developer changed his mind — or the demolition threat was just a clever way to demonstrate to prospective tenants the affection many in St. Louis have for the building. If so, well played!

To refresh your memory let’s go back a bit.

For the poll this week I want to get a sense of your initial reaction to the change to the building. The poll is in the right sidebar (mobile users switch to full layout). The poll will be open until Sunday October 7th and results will be presented on Wednesday October 10th along with my detailed take.

— Steve Patterson