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West Florissant Ave Part 2: QuikTrip to Chambers Rd

September 4, 2014 Accessibility, Featured, Ferguson, Planning & Design, St. Louis County, Walkability Comments Off on West Florissant Ave Part 2: QuikTrip to Chambers Rd

Yesterday I looked at the W. Florissant streetscape from the Ferguson Market to the QuikTrip, today I’ll continue northward making our way from Ferguson into Dellwood.

Burnt out QT at 9420 West Florissant on Monday Aug 11, 2014, 9:37am
Burnt out QT at 9420 West Florissant on Monday Aug 11, 2014, 9:37am. What will replace the QT? A new QT? A used car lot? A new commercial development? A park?
North of the QT the area changes from suburban commercial to suburban residential, W. Florissant is served by the 74 MetroBus route
North of the QT the area changes from suburban commercial to suburban residential, W. Florissant is served by the 74 MetroBus route
A woman walking her dog on Nesbit Dr
A woman walking her dog on Nesbit Dr in the Northland Hills subdivision of late 1950s ranch homes
On the east side, after Nesbit Dr, you get a long stretch with no intersecting streets, a concrete creek separates W. Florissant from backyards
On the east side, between Nesbit Dr & Highmont Dr, you get a long stretch with no intersecting streets, a concrete creek separates W. Florissant from backyards. But look, street trees!
The bus stops along W. Florissant were recently improved to be accessible, which benefits all users.
The bus stops along W. Florissant were recently improved to be accessible, which benefits all users.
Just past the bus stop is the Dellwood city limits, W. Florissant returns to being commercial.
Just past the bus stop is the Dellwood city limits, W. Florissant returns to being commercial.
Commercial starts up sooner on the west side of W. Florissant
Commercial starts up sooner on the west side of W. Florissant
In this area of W. Florissant the pedestrian experience is odd; different surfaces, different distances from the road. Very unplanned!
In this area of W. Florissant the pedestrian experience is odd; different surfaces, different distances from the road. Very unplanned!
The grass between the sidewalk and parking lot is a welcomed relief from all the paving
The grass between the sidewalk and parking lot is a welcomed relief from all the paving
The former Fox Trap club is becoming an urgent care facility.
The former Fox Trap nightclub is becoming an urgent care facility.
Like the McDonald's in Part 1, this Taco Bell fails to have the required ADA access route from the public sidewalk. This was built in 2007.
Like the McDonald’s in Part 1, this Taco Bell fails to have the required ADA access route from the public sidewalk. This was built in 2007.
Almost to Chambers Rd
Almost to Chambers Rd., here the pedestrian space blends with parking lots
Between the Taco Bell and the corner gas station is a rare vacant parcel of land.
Between the Taco Bell and the corner gas station is a rare vacant parcel of land.
This image sums up how pedestrians are treated, The bus in the background is heading WB on Chambers.
This image sums up how pedestrians are treated. The bus in the background is the #61 heading WB on Chambers Rd.

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West Florissant Ave Part 1: Ferguson Market To QuikTrip

September 3, 2014 Accessibility, Featured, Ferguson, Planning & Design, St. Louis County, Walkability 13 Comments

For 3+ weeks now I’ve been thinking about the physical environment of West Florissant from the burnt out QuikTrip location south to the elevated train tracks, just under half a mile. Let’s take a look:

The former Ponderosa was built in 1972, it closed sometime between September 2012 and August 2014. A Google Streetview camera from 9/2012 showed the business open
The former Ponderosa at 9200 W. Florissant was built in 1972, it closed sometime between September 2012 and August 2014. A Google Streetview camera from 9/2012 showed the business open
Jack in the Box built this in 1969, now it's a locally owned business
Jack in the Box built this in 1969, now it’s a locally owned business
The streetscape design is pure 1960s, lacking anything that would appeal to a pedestrian
The streetscape design is pure 1960s, lacking anything that would appeal to a pedestrian. The absence of curbs & street trees make you feel vulnerable to traffic. What is this like during heavy rains?
Drains for runoff water
Drains for runoff water
The West side of W. Florissant is very similar to the East. lots and lots of paving
The West side of W. Florissant is very similar to the East. lots and lots of paving
Very few crosswalks exist, the ones that do are poorly designed. Here the crosswalk and ramp have no relationship to each other. One of the rare spots where curbs exist.
Very few crosswalks exist, the ones that do are poorly designed. Here the crosswalk and ramp have no relationship to each other. One of the rare spots where curbs exist.
Pedestrians are many but they're subjected to narrow broken sidewalks
Pedestrians are many but they’re subjected to narrow broken sidewalks
Neither of these storefronts are accessible in a wheelchair. Why hasn't the Chesterfield-bsaed company that owns several buildings made required ADA improvements in the last 21+ years?
Neither of these storefronts are accessible in a wheelchair. Why hasn’t the Chesterfield-bsaed company that owns numerous buildings on W. Florissant made required ADA improvements in the last 21+ years?
The McDonald's was built in 1989, but recently remodeled inside & out. An ADA accessible route was forgotten in the remodeling though.
The McDonald’s was built in 1989, but recently remodeled inside & out. An ADA accessible route was forgotten in the remodeling though.
Pedestrians arriving in wheelchairs must roll into the site from the public sidewalk to nest the rear of the building before finding a ramp.
Pedestrians arriving in wheelchairs must roll into the site from the public sidewalk to nest the rear of the building before finding a ramp.

The area looks & feels tired. Ferguson, Jennings, Dellwood, St. Louis County, Emerson, etc. all need to look at updating the public streetscape along W. Florissant. The use of rain gardens on both sides would visually improve the look as well as absorbing considerable water runoff. Walk Score gives the area a low 36 (Car Dependent) rating, embarrassing for an area with so many pedestrians and frequent transit users.

In Part 2 I’ll look at similar issues a little further North, in Dellwood.

— Steve Patterson

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Ferguson’s Neighbors Dellwood & Jennings Also Impacted

August 29, 2014 Featured, Ferguson, St. Louis County Comments Off on Ferguson’s Neighbors Dellwood & Jennings Also Impacted

For nearly three weeks the focus has been on Ferguson, but residents & businesses in neighboring Jennings & Dellwood have also been impacted.

This former Walgreens, built in 1994, is in Ferguson. The credit union next door is 9mostly) in Jennings.
This former Walgreens, built in 1994, is in Ferguson, across the street from the Ferguson Market. However, the credit union next door is (mostly) in Jennings.
The credit union building next door is in Jennings, but a edge of the rear parking lot is in Ferguson.
The credit union building next door is in Jennings, but a wedge of the rear parking lot is in Ferguson.
The Ferguson Market is in the upper left corner. As you can see numerous businesses are in Jennings, not Ferguson
The Ferguson Market is in the upper left corner. As you can see numerous businesses are in Jennings, not Ferguson
Zisser Tire at 9990 W. Florissant & Chambers is located in Dellwood, not Ferguson. I like how they painted the boards where the windows used to be, very smart!
Zisser Tire at 9990 W. Florissant & Chambers is located in Dellwood, not Ferguson. I like how they painted the boards where the windows used to be, very smart!

So if you’re trying to help out by patronizing businesses be sure to include businesses up and down W. Florissant and Chambers, in Jennings, Dellwood, and Ferguson.  The locally owned businesses were the hardest hit by a decrease in sales due to rerouted traffic/buses.

— Steve Patterson

 

Poll Results On Ferguson Shooting

August 27, 2014 Crime, Featured, Ferguson, St. Louis County 5 Comments

The poll last week had two questions related to the the shooting of Michael Brown and the leadership afterwords. Many more voters than usual, but these events are known around the world so I expected higher than usual numbers.

Which of the following do you think happened in Ferguson MO on Saturday Aug 9th? (331 votes)

  1. Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, forcefully stole cigars from a convenience store a half mile away; was killed by Ferguson PO Darren Wilson who used appropriate force 153 [46.22%]
  2. Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, forcefully stole cigars from a convenience store a half mile away; was killed by Ferguson PO Darren Wilson who used excessive force 110 [33.23%]
  3. Unsure/No Opinion 38 [11.48%]
  4. Michael Brown, an innocent unarmed teenager; was murdered by Ferguson PO Darren Wilson. 30 [9.06%]

In the initial week I would’ve voted for the answer that received the least amount of votes; he was innocent and murdered. The Friday before the poll stared Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson released images of a strong-arm robbery just prior to PO Darren Wilson shooting & killing Brown. Doing so, just before releasing Wilson’s name, was a deliberate attempt to blame the victim. I was skeptical about the timing, leaving the Ferguson Market and getting to Canfield Green in such a short amount of time.  Only later we learn officer Wilson wasn’t aware Brown was a suspect. Still, I don’t think any objective person could’ve picked the last answer, as 30 people did.

The store police say Michael Brown stole a box of cigars.
The store police say Michael Brown stole a box of cigars.

The answer that got the most votes was that Wilson used appropriate force. I disagree, I voted that Wilson used excessive force.Very few reasons why an officer should shoot someone six times, walking in the street isn’t one of them.

Since the poll started I’ve been researching the use of deadly force and it’s not a pretty picture. I’ve long been aware of discrepancies between the treatment of whites vs non-whites, but the last two weeks has forced me to realized how much white privilege has benefitted me and all white males.

Much of the future legal wrangling will center on the use of deadly force by Wilson, a Grand Jury will decide if charges are warranted.

Neither the patrol car or Wilson was equipped with a camera so we don’t have video or audio, leaving many questions about that day. Was there a struggle? Did Brown surrender? Did Brown go for Wilson’s gun? Assuming Brown did try to get Wilson’s gun, isn’t six shots excessive? Did Wilson follow proper police procedure? What could both men have done differently that wouldn’t have resulted in the death of Brown?   And what if Wilson had used pepper spray, stun gun, or a taser instead of his revolver?

I don’t know what officers carry on their belt, but I’d assume circumstances dictate when you’d pick one over the other. In late 2011 ’60 Minutes’ ran a piece on taster use:

The Taser sounds like the perfect law enforcement tool. Simple, effective and generally safe, it allows officers to subdue a suspect using electricity rather than resorting to blunt or deadly force. But a recent study found that some officers may be too quick to use the popular stun guns when conventional procedures would suffice. As David Martin reports, there’s growing concern that Tasers may be inflicting unnecessary pain and, in rare cases, lead to death. (Taser: An officer’s weapon of choice)

During the poll two white police officers shot a black man holding a knife.  I’ve watched the video numerous times, this seems like a perfect situation where the use of a taser would’ve been more appropriate. St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson avoided the type of unrest that was happening in Ferguson by addressing it head on, not shutting out the media. I think those two officers also used excessive force.

Which two of the following officials has displayed the BEST leadership regarding Ferguson? (PICK 2) (290 total votes)

  1. Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson 113 [38.97%]
  2. Unsure/no opinion 51 [17.59%]
  3. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon 43 [14.83%]
  4. Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson 27 [9.31%]
  5. St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch 14 [4.83%]
  6. Missouri State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal 12 [4.14%]
  7. Ferguson Mayor James Knowles 10 [3.45%]
  8. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar 9 [3.1%]
  9. Missouri State Senator Jamilah Nasheed 8 [2.76%]
  10. St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley 3 [1.03%]

Captain Ron Johnson has earned praise from everyone, it seems. Gov Nixon, though gaining the #3 spot, after unsure, has been praised and criticized.

There have been many calling for Bob McCulloch to recuse himself, but he refuses to step aside. If the Grand Jury doesn’t indict Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown McCulloch will be blamed. McCulloch easily won the Democratic primary just four days prior to the shooting, with no challenger in the November general election he’ll win another term unless there’s an independent or write-in candidate.

Not on my list was St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, he’d been reporting up to that point. Since then we’ve seen Ald French assume a leadership role. His number of twitter followers @AntonioFrench have ballooned to more than 120,000. French now has nearly four times more Twitter followers than @MayorSlay. Of course, tweeting isn’t leadership. We’ll see if Ald French can unite factions in the city & region. If he can’t, I’m not sure anyone can.

— Steve Patterson

 

Michael Brown Tribute on Canfield Drive

August 25, 2014 Crime, Featured, Ferguson, St. Louis County Comments Off on Michael Brown Tribute on Canfield Drive

The funeral for Michael Brown, the teenager shot & killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on August 9th, will be held today. Last week I finally made it down Canfield Drive to see the makeshift memorial to him.

Heading east on Canfield Dr I spotted the line of red roses in the center of the street.
Heading east on Canfield Dr I spotted the line of red roses in the center of the street.
The roses end at the spot where his body was left for four hours the afternoon Saturday August 9t, 2014
The roses end at the spot where his body was left for four hours the afternoon Saturday August 9t, 2014
Next to the sidewalk there are more items as a tribute to Michael Brown
Next to the sidewalk there are more items as a tribute to Michael Brown

My heart goes out to family & friends.

— Steve Patterson

 

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