Nineteen year ago I started this blog as a distraction from my father’s heart attack and slow recovery. It was late 2004 and social media & video streaming apps didn’t exist yet — or at least not widely available to the general public. Blogs were the newest means of …
The new NGA West campus , Jefferson & Cass, has been under construction for a few years now. Next NGA West is a large-scale construction project that will build a new facility for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis, Missouri.This $1.7B project is managed by the U.S. Army …
Book publisher Island Press always impresses me with thoughtful new books written by people working to solve current problems — the subjects are important ones for urbanists and policy makers to be familiar and actively discussing. These four books are presented in the order I received them. ‘Justice and …
This post is about two indirectly related topics: the new Siteman Cancer Center building under construction on the Washington University School of Medicine/BJC campus and an update on my stage 4 kidney cancer. Let’s deal with the latter first. You may have noticed I’ve not posted in three months, …
Nearly 85% of those who voted in the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll disagreed with the statement that Gov Greitens should sign the bill that would strip St. Louis of setting its own minimum wow higher than that of the state. More than half picked the “strongly disagree” option.
Here’s the final breakdown:
Q: Agree or disagree: Gov Grietens should sign the bill limiting the minimum wage to the same $7.70/hr statewide.
Strongly agree 2 [6.25%]
Agree 1 [3.13%]
Somewhat agree 1 [3.13%]
Neither agree or disagree 0 [0%]
Somewhat disagree 3 [9.38%]
Disagree 7 [21.88%]
Strongly disagree 17 [53.13%]
Unsure/No Answer 1 [3.13%]
A thriving economy has goods/services being exchanged at good pace. Those with minimum wage jobs spend every dollar they get:
Those in the bottom 30% of the income scale make an average of $14,000 a year, including the value of many government benefits like food stamps or disability payments. But they spend more than $25,000, or 182%, of their annual income mostly on basic needs like housing, food and transportation, according to a CNNMoney analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Worth noting is that this group includes senior citizens, who supplement their income from Social Security with savings, and students, who turn to mom and dad for help. Also, research shows that some underestimate how much aid they receive from the government.
But the data also includes many low-income families and individuals who just don’t make enough to get by. Often, they have to decide what bills to pay or they turn to payday lenders or credit cards. (CNN/Money)
This is 182% of their income, while the rich only spend 61% of their income. For the middle class it’s 89%. If we pay those at the bottom a little more the money will circulate through the economy — not sit in accounts here and abroad. Foe nearly 40 policies of both Republicans & Democrats have eroded the middle class and condemned the poor to a life of struggling to stay afloat.
St. Louis needs an improved economy — paying workers more is the best way to do so. Please contact Gov Greitens immediately and let him know he should veto the minimum wage bill.
May 22, 2017Downtown, Featured, ParksComments Off on A Look At The New Kiener Plaza (Photos & Videos)
A week ago I posted many photos of the old Kiener Plaza, see Remembering The Old Kiener Plaza. Today we take a close look at the new Kiener Plaza that opened over the weekend.
The first three images were taken the afternoon of May 8, 2017 from the SE corner of the Kiener West parking garage.
The Eastern half
The central portion, occupied by 6th Street until the West block was added in the early 1980s
The Western half
Also taken on the 8th
With the old median removed from Market St, there is now room for back-in diagonal parking. Unlike Citygarden, some parking for us disabled folks was planned from the beginning.
These next images were taken Monday 5/15 during a media preview.
The “hallway” along the South side
Looking South from 6th & Chestnut.
Looking SE from the center
Olympic Runner by William Zorach (1887-1966) was completed in 1965 It was funded by a stipulation in the will of businessmen Henry J. Kiener. Click image for more information
The new fountain basin is smaller than the original 1960s version, LED lighting will be used to change colors of the water — replacing dyes used in the past.
Looking East toward the Old Courthouse and Arch
Looking toward 6th & Chestnut. These parking garages desperately need new facades.
Looking toward the NW corner, Louis Sullivan’s Wainwright bolding is in the background
Looking West
Looking East
Looking East. some of the many movable tables & chairs
A drinking fountain is located near the center. It’s frost free so you have to hols down the button fir a little bit before water will make it above the frost line. Be patient.
There’s also a frost-free bottle filler faucet.
There is lots of seating all over the 2-block park
In the NE corner is a spot for something arriving in a couple of months. Presumably a sculpture…
The East of the playground is for the youngest kids. The bright surface is rubberized for safety.
AS you move West the activities change
This timber jungle gym should be popular
Ans finally a …bungee/swing?
The next group of images were taken before and after the ribbon cutting on Friday May 19, 2017:
On the 15th I asked if the Downtown Trolley stop would return to Broadway @ Market. By opening day it had.
Sadly, St. Louis’ anti-pedestrian habits are on full display at 6th & Chestnut. The pedestrian signal to cross 6th switches tp a countdown and then to a stop based on some traffic engineer’s standard — long before vehicle traffic on EB Chestnut get a yellow/red light. Pedestrian-friemdly cities give the walk signal until it’s time for the vehicle signals to change.
A few spots of bright green illustrate St. Louis’ only protected bike lane. Cyclists get a signal too, so they know to stop when pedestrians have a walk signal yo cross Chestnut. A person leaving TGI Friday’s is supposed to cross 6th on the limited signal, then cross Chestnut, to reach Kiener Plaza — because a direct pedestrian crossing would slow down motorists turning left from 6th into Chestnut — this is how this intersection has been since 6th was closed in the early 80s. Motorists are more important than pedestrians in St. Louis.
Another view, the one crosswalk to cross Chestnut at 6th in the background.
Like Citygarden, a 20-block long “hallway” runs parallel to Market. Also like Citygarden, there is no public restroom.
In another similarity to Citygarden, if the food truck window lines up correctly then access isn’t too bad — but when not lined up those of using mobility devices can forget about access.
Ons of my favorite areas is paved in crushed granite, allowing storm water to be absorbed. There are also moveable tables & chairs in this area and “festival lighting” at night — evening photo below.
As before, the money shot is the runner statue with Old Courthouse and Arch in the background. A very popular spot on the first day.
Slowly the crowd for the ribbon cutting began to thin out.
The new fountain was turned on just as the ribbon was cut. LED lights under the water can change color so dye won’t be used in the future. to color the water.
The planting areas all act to collect water from the impervious patterned paving. Here another stye of bench is provided.
Kids enjoying the nee splash fountain that encloses four squares. Night photo later.
East end with people.While on the ground I got one of the free frisbees being handed out, stood from my chair, and tossed it onto the expansive lawn. Loved it.
The center not long after the ribbon was cut. Compared to the old Kiener Plaza, the space is much better suited to large crowds & festivals.
The West end.
This next batch of images were taken the evening of opening day, May 18th.
When I arrived just before 8pm this was the only artificial lighting that was on. I felt a few sprinkles so I quickly snapped this shot in case it began raining harder.
Later I got closet and focused on the water.
The “festival lights” over the crushed granite area is nice. Unfortunately the cafe tables & chairs were folded up — not inviting. I didn’t check to see if they were locked to the polls — hopefully not.
When I first heard there would be a splash fountain I thought we already have one just two blocks West in Citygarden. More compact, this one is very different. They’re complimentary.
Besides the fountain lighting, I also like the tree lighting and the fixtures in the center. Very nice glow without any glare. The taller spots, seem in the upper right, are obnoxious, however.
A couple strolls through Kiener Plaza
A woman was photographing her dogs all over the park while I was there.
One thing often mentioned by City-ArchRiver folks is the “moonlighting” of the lawn and East end. I had early cataracts so I get annoying glare from most lighting. Still. I liked this area better when the lighting was off. I could see just fine because of so much other artificial lighting downtown.
The moonlighting is located way on top of the Met Square building.
Unlike the actual moon, this produces lots pf glare and consumes enormous amounts of electricity. I save lean pff the spots and moonlighting — save those for use during special evening events only. If ever.
Yesterday my husband and I had a picnic at Kiener Plaza — I moved the table and chairs several times to stay in the shade.
Having a table to use made this possible, much harder on a bench
Here’s a great time-lapse video included on the media’s thumb drive. I uploaded it to my channel because it wasn’t on CityArchRiver’s.
And a video I made from clips from opening day.
Overall I think they’ve done an outstanding job, but the previous space was so awful it was hard to not do better. Accessibly is excellent, as is the amount of seating. The trees are a good size and will provide good shade within just a few years. Very glad to have the Olympic Runner statue back –the original plan for the new Kiener Plaza didn’t include it.
The misses are few:
No good place for accessible food truck lines
No power supply for food trucks, so each must run noisy & polluting generators.
No public restrooms.
Excessive artificial lighting.
Same mistake as Citygarden — no plan to extend “hallway” East & West of borders. Shortsighted.
City’s auto-centric pedestrian crossing time limit regardless of time vehicle signal is green.
On Friday May 12th, in the final minutes of the session, the Missouri legislature sent a bill to Governor Greitens that would nullify St. Louis’ recent increase in the minimum wage.
The House failed to adopt an emergency clause on the bill, meaning it won’t immediately take effect should Gov. Eric Greitens sign it, which sponsoring House Rep. Jason Chipman said he had promised to do. The new minimum wage in St. Louis would instead be nullified in August if the measure becomes law.
Speaking to reporters after session’s end, Greitens said he’d have to take a close look at the bill before making a final decision. (Post-Dispatch)
Missouri’s minimum wage is $7,70/hr while St. Louis’ new minimum wage is $10/hr.
May 19, 2017Board of Aldermen, FeaturedComments Off on St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills 5/19/2017 (#35-#36), Update On Board Bill #34 From Prior Week
B.B.#35 – Vaccaro – An ordinance protecting victims of automobile theft from paying storing, towing and administrative fees directly related to recovery of a stolen automobile by amending Ordinance 64668, approved June 11, 1999 and containing a severability clause.
B.B.#36 – Vaccaro – An ordinance mandating that the Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry shall cause the construction of four well?lit basketball courts in Forest Park by October 1, 2017.
As of 5:30am the pages with the full bill language are not posted online, I’ll update this post once these are available. [UPDATED @10AM]
Today’s agenda can be viewed here. The meeting begins at 10am, it can be watched online here.
An update on last week’s meeting. Just before 7am on Thursday May 11th I downloaded the Week #4 agenda (view on Scribd). I then copied and pasted the list of new bills (#25-#34) into the post for the next morning. That night I updated the post with links to the bill pages. The Week 4 agenda currently posted online (Scribd) doesn’t include Bill #34 — 25 through 33 all match The video of the meeting shows no #34 was introduced — BB#33 was introduced at 28:53 in the video. However, a Board Bill #34 creating a buffer zone at abortion clinics is listed, though it shows no legislative action taken. Perhaps #34 will be formally introduced at a later date? I’ve downloaded copies in case it disappears.
May 17, 2017Featured, STL RegionComments Off on Readers: Lawsuit Against NFL Won’t Be Successful
In 2012 the Rams proposed expanding the EJD across Broadway and Baer Plaza
On Friday we learned about the legal team coming to St. Louis to defend the NFL & Rams against the lawsuit filed by St. Louis:
To no one’s surprise, the NFL is sending in its “A-team” in the St. Louis breach of contract lawsuit over the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles.
The Washington-based law firm of Covington & Burling will represent the NFL and 31 of its 32 teams, according to court records and sources familiar with the case.
The exception is the Rams, who are represented by Kirkland & Ellis, also a nationally prominent law firm but headquartered in Chicago.
Also representing the NFL and the 31 other teams locally is Jerry Carmody of Clayton-based Carmody MacDonald. (Post-Dispatch)
The case is filed in St. Louis Circuit Court (22nd): 1722-CC00976 – STL REGIONAL CONV ET AL V NATL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ET. (find on CaseNet)
In the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll a slim majority of those who voted don’t think the lawsuit will be successful.
Q: Agree or disagree: St. Louis’ lawsuit against the Rams/NFL will recoup millions spent trying to keep the team here.
Strongly agree 9 [16.67%]
Agree 5 [9.26%]
Somewhat agree 7 [12.96%]
Neither agree or disagree 3 [5.56%]
Somewhat disagree 1 [1.85%]
Disagree 8 [14.81%]
Strongly disagree 20 [37.04%]
Unsure/No Answer 1 [1.85%]
The home field advantage for the plaintiffs certainly helps, but the local jurors will need to be convinced. I’m not going to say either way because it is hard to predict outcomes of lawsuits. I’m tracking the case through CaseNet — the jury trial is currently scheduled to start at 9am on Monday October 2, 2017. The case is currently assigned to Judge Michael K Mullen.
I hope they’re successful, but I can’t help but think of Metro’s 2007 court loss. Not an apples to apples comparison — but it comes to mind as an embarrassing loss.
AARP Livibility Index
The Livability Index scores neighborhoods and communities across the U.S. for the services and amenities that impact your life the most
Built St. Louis
historic architecture of St. Louis, Missouri – mourning the losses, celebrating the survivors.
Geo St. Louis
a guide to geospatial data about the City of St. Louis
