SLU Garage Keeps Sidewalk at Olive & Compton Dead
One hundred years ago the block at SW corner of Olive & Compton contained about a hundred buildings — flats and houses mostly. But also a very large indoor skating rink, complete with electric lights! Â Those buildings, and the life they gave to the sidewalks, are long gone.
In 1998 Saint Louis University constructed a massive parking garage on this corner — over 180,000 square feet on the ground floor. It’s impossible to have a vibrant (and safe) street life with such a lifeless structure consuming so much length of the sidewalk.
Of course we must stop building in such a way that kills sidewalks. But what do we do here? What we aren’t going to do is recreate the structures that existed 100 years ago, time marches on. Â The massive garage isn’t going anywhere due to remaining debt and need.
But rarely is anyone parked on Olive. Why would they? There are no businesses or residences  to visit.
That’s the solution — squeezing in occupied structures between the garage and sidewalk. The garage would likely require mechanical ventilation since a structure(s) would cut off natural cross-ventilation. Small storefront spaces would occupy the sidewalk level, excellent incubator spaces. Apartments on the 2nd & 3rd floors, an elevator & stair would be in the middle.
Yes, you can point out all sorts of issues but I challenge you to instead think of how to make it work because I’m not satisfied this sidewalk will remain lifeless.
– Steve Patterson
They did that in Denver, http://www.museumresidences.com/ (includes a video), but it was pricey. The best option here would likely be student housing if it weren’t so far from the rest of the academic part of SLU’s campus. My guess is that this sidewalk “died” long before SLU built their parking structure, it died when the original structures were vacated. And while this doesn’t help, the entire south side of this stretch of Olive, between 20th and Grand, has evolved into something pretty bleak, consisting of parking lots, vacant lots and ballfields, interspersed with a few large academic and office structures, for the most part lacking any real sort of street level presence. Add in that you have what feels like an eight-lane freeway out front, and your dream has some significant hurdles to overcome, the biggest one being why make an investment, at all? Yes, I get it, there’s potential, but a block to the east has better potential, and has already seen several “incubators” (The U, Adobe Red’s) open and fail in succession, as well as one spectacular success (Pappy’s). Until the existing properties have a better track record of success, it’s going to be hard justifying building new.
They did that in Denver, http://www.museumresidences.com/ (includes a video), but it was pricey. The best option here would likely be student housing if it weren’t so far from the rest of the academic part of SLU’s campus. My guess is that this sidewalk “died” long before SLU built their parking structure, it died when the original structures were vacated. And while this doesn’t help, the entire south side of this stretch of Olive, between 20th and Grand, has evolved into something pretty bleak, consisting of parking lots, vacant lots and ballfields, interspersed with a few large academic and office structures, for the most part lacking any real sort of street level presence. Add in that you have what feels like an eight-lane freeway out front, and your dream has some significant hurdles to overcome, the biggest one being why make an investment, at all? Yes, I get it, there’s potential, but a block to the east has better potential, and has already seen several “incubators” (The U, Adobe Red’s) open and fail in succession, as well as one spectacular success (Pappy’s). Until the existing properties have a better track record of success, it’s going to be hard justifying building new.
^ the justification is that if we don’t physically connect the disparate neighborhoods in saint louis so that people can actually walk between them (in this case midtown and downtown), saint louis will continue to languish. name a single vibrant, healthy city in which there isn’t significant sidewalk traffic, especially people walking to work, to the grocery store, etc. what’s amazing to me is that people like biondi and the majority of our aldermen can’t seem to grasp the simple concept that good urban design that encourages walking will, in a matter of a couple decades, benefit the city a thousand times more (i.e. increased population) than the revenue generated by a new gas station.
^ the justification is that if we don’t physically connect the disparate neighborhoods in saint louis so that people can actually walk between them (in this case midtown and downtown), saint louis will continue to languish. name a single vibrant, healthy city in which there isn’t significant sidewalk traffic, especially people walking to work, to the grocery store, etc. what’s amazing to me is that people like biondi and the majority of our aldermen can’t seem to grasp the simple concept that good urban design that encourages walking will, in a matter of a couple decades, benefit the city a thousand times more (i.e. increased population) than the revenue generated by a new gas station.
I agree, but focusing on the middle is not the best choice. Most growth is organic, so focusing on more street level activity immediately east of Grand and west of Tucker will prove more successful, with this part eventually being redeveloped. I do agree that the street is way too wide
also, considering that lindell is absurdly wide there, narrowing the street would free up extra space for development between the curb and the parking garage.
also, considering that lindell is absurdly wide there, narrowing the street would free up extra space for development between the curb and the parking garage.
Excellent points.
Excellent points.
I agree, but focusing on the middle is not the best choice. Most growth is organic, so focusing on more street level activity immediately east of Grand and west of Tucker will prove more successful, with this part eventually being redeveloped. I do agree that the street is way too wide
this lot is for SLU use and not for the general public. it is there land, they can do what they want. news flash: colleges and universities need parking garages.
this lot is for SLU use and not for the general public. it is there land, they can do what they want. news flash: colleges and universities need parking garages.
News flash: institutions shouldn’t be allowed to prevent their surroundings from coming to life.
News flash: institutions shouldn’t be allowed to prevent their surroundings from coming to life.
JZ71, please note that well over 50 businesses have moved into this area (one block east) over the past 5 years, While the U and Adobe failed, Hamburger Mary;s is opening, Fountain on Locust, The Good Pie, Buffalo Brew, Vito’s, Triumph Grill and Fieldhouse are all open and as noted Pappy’s is well.. Pappy’s…most have been for over 3 years now.Â
I would think a good plan could be made to add to the front of the garage and given Father Biondi’s weight @ city hall, maybe Olive could be narrowed too.It sure would be nice to see.
JZ71, please note that well over 50 businesses have moved into this area (one block east) over the past 5 years, While the U and Adobe failed, Hamburger Mary;s is opening, Fountain on Locust, The Good Pie, Buffalo Brew, Vito’s, Triumph Grill and Fieldhouse are all open and as noted Pappy’s is well.. Pappy’s…most have been for over 3 years now.
I would think a good plan could be made to add to the front of the garage and given Father Biondi’s weight @ city hall, maybe Olive could be narrowed too.It sure would be nice to see.