OKC Bombing Memorial Good Place for a cry

Following my father’s burial in early January I needed to be alone and have a nice cry — it happens that I was passing by the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial so I figured that was an appropriate place for a grown man to openly cry in public.

The calmness of the water stands in stark contrast to the horror of that morning 13 years ago today. The simplicity of the design is powerful and moving. I’d been there numerous times over the years but this time it proved a more personal place to grieve.

Rumor: Pyramid Ceasing Operations

If the rumor is true developer Pyramid Cos.will cease operations today. With numerous projects on the books, this is a challenging time to be a developer. Even harder to be a developer in debt. From a Business Journal article from the start of the month:

Development firm Pyramid Cos. is weathering the turmoil in the housing and credit markets through staff cuts and a cash infusion from its main financial partner, Connecticut-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners LLC.

Meanwhile, Spinnaker, led by Clayton Fowler, has doubled its financial commitment in Pyramid’s planned downtown redevelopment projects, said Amos Harris, principal of St. Louis-based Brady Capital and a partner in Spinnaker’s local development entity. Spinnaker originally committed about $8 million to four projects: the former St. Louis Centre mall, the former Dillard’s building, the Mercantile Library building and the Jefferson Arms. That figure has now doubled to an estimated $16 million, although neither Harris nor Steffen would divulge the exact dollar figure.

Pyramid has done some fine projects over the years but also some that are questionable like the Sullivan Place senior apartments. I spent quite a bit of time in 2006 fighting Pyramid’s plans to swap land that would have resulted in a relocated Mcdonald’s drive-thru on South Grand.

Remember this is just an unverified rumor at this point. Take with a hefty grain of salt at this point.

[UPDATE 4/18/08 @ 3:35PM — Confirmed. Employees were, I’m told, given final paychecks and told to cash them quickly.

UPDATE 4/24/8  4pm  — Finally this story makes it to traditional media — from kmox “St. Louis (KMOX)  — “The developer of major St. Louis projects…St. Louis Centre and the former Dillard’s building, in the Mercantile exchange project…is getting out of the development business. Pyramid Construction’s John Steffen made the announcement through Steffen’s attorney Attorney Steven Goldstein… Problems in the real estate lending market are the main reason. Goldstein says Pyramid is currently working with other developers, investors, lenders and the city to make a transition for its development projects…but will continue to operate it’s property management division…which oversees a thousand apartment units in the city and surrounding area.” ]

Missouri’s Helmet Law a Good Thing

Once again there is chatter about repealing Missouri’s helmet law. To do so would be foolish. Like seatbelt laws for adults, I get the freedom of choice argument.

However, in these last few months I’ve also been around so many people with severe head injuries and therefore I know more clearly than others how devastating such an injury can be. It doesn’t take much of an impact to cause brain damage which can result in the loss of speech, ability to walk, etc…

The question is if the government has a compelling enough case to mandate the use of a helmet. First, the use of the road is not a right. In the interest of safety for all, the government mandates safety equipment such as lights. A motorcycle helmet is a natural extension of this.

So why should the government care if you split your head open for not wearing a helmet? Well when you are dead or a vegetable you are no longer contributing to society.

When I can return to my scooter I will wear a helmet regardless of the law — it is simple common sense. Still many motorcycle advocacy groups are working hard to remove helmet requirements in Missouri and 19 other states that require helmets for all riders regardless of age. Another 19 states require riders up to a certain age (18 to 21 depending upon the state) to wear helmets (see list).

There are many types oh helmets on the market and critics of these laws correctly point out that the laws don’t define what constitutes a helmet per the law. Fine, let’s work on a definition but not toss out the requirement all together.

If you are bicycling or riding a scooter.motorcycle please wear a helmet regardless of the law.

Copia the same Nearly Four Months After Fire

On the morning of December 29th Copia Urban Winery went up in flames — ruled arson by investigators. The following message was posted on their website within days after the fire:

We regret to inform you that Copia Urban Winery and Market will be closed temporarily due to an unfortunate fire. The Copia family would like to extend their gratitude to all of you for your dedicated loyalty and support. We apologize for any inconveniences this occurrence may have caused. Plans to rebuild are already in motion, and updates will be posted regularly. We look forward to seeing you very soon.

Nearly four months later the Washington Ave restaurant remains boarded up with no signs of rebuilding taking place. The website is the same. To my knowledge there have been no arrests either. With so much good stuff happening on Washington Ave it is unfortunate to not see something happening here.

San Luis Apartments Not A Good Urban Building

The St. Louis Archdiocese wants to raze the San Luis Apartments next door to The New Cathedral for a 150-car surface parking lot. Local efforts to save the building from the wrecking ball give it more urban credit than it deserves. Yes, it is far more urban than any surface parking lot would ever hope to be.

From a recent West End Word article:

A statement issued by Landmarks’ Board of Directors argued that, “Through curvilinear forms and differentiation of wall materials, the hotel possesses a striking geometric presence. With covered parking placed in the rear away from Lindell Boulevard, the Hotel de Ville promotes the pedestrian-friendly quality of the Lindell streetscape.

This building does nothing to promote pedestrian anything. Parking is actually close to the sidewalk —- the fact the building hovers over the parking doesn’t improve the pedestrian experience in the least. Walk along the sidewalk in front of the building — as you would expect from a structure that started life as a 1960’s motor hotel, the pedestrian is not really considered. You look under the building at parking and the entry is set back behind an auto drive.

The best I can say is that the mass of the building does help anchor that corner — a surface parking lot would simply create a big hole in an area lacking holes in the urban fabric. The forms of the building are pleasant enough but I would not lose any sleep over its demolition.

Asked if the proposal on Lindell Boulevard is an example of the Central West End going backward, Thomas Richter, the archdiocese’s director of buildings and real estate, said, “We don’t think it is a step backward.”

The proposed parking lot “represents an investment in the Central West End” because it shows that Rosati-Kain intends to be in the CWE for the long haul, he said.

A surface parking lot is not an investment! To use such valuable real estate to store cars is such a waste. To spend the kind of dough it will take to buy out the HUD contract, raze and pave the land just for parking is shameful. Is this really the best use of the church’s resources?

There was a time not that long ago when churches were an important part of building the physical community and now all over this city we see church leaders worshiping the automobile by razing structures for parking. How much transportation could the church provide by not razing this structure and instead selling the land. If anything they should seek a developer to build low-income housing to help diversify the neighborhood and provided needed affordable housing.