Police post emergency no-parking signs in no-parking zone

For some reason one block of 8th Street (Locust to Olive) is a no-parking zone on one side of the street.  But someone felt it was necessary to place “emergency no-parking” signs.

Perhaps someone in one of the cars parked in the no-parking zone had the signs put up to ensure nobody parked on the street so it would be empty so they could park there?  Downtown’s on-street parking policies are truly a clusterf*ck. The block should have metered parking just like most blocks.  Having these cars parked there reduced the travel lanes to two and afforded some separation between pedestrians and passing vehicles.

– Steve Patterson

Readers want the SS Admiral riverboat to remain on the St. Louis riverfront

By a huge margin the readers who voted in the poll last week want to see the SS Admiral remain on the St. Louis Riverfront:

Q: The SS Admiral’s days on the river may be numbered with the closing of the casino next month. Which best describes your view?

1. The Admiral is a key part of the riverfront, I’d like to see it retained somehow. 79 [62.2%]
2. The Admirals’ day is past, it should be removed from the riverfront. 36 [28.35%]
3. Unsure/no opinion. 6 [4.72%]
4. Other answer… 6 [4.72%]

Clearly though a large group is ready to let it go.  The following were the six “other” answers:

1. I’d like to see it retained as, say, a museum for St. Louis’ riverboat
2. It’s not “key” to the riverfront – but it seems like an opportuni
3. glad to see a casino go but would like the iconic boat to stay
4. It’s structure is in poor condition and should be removed for safety reason
5. Dry-dock it somewhere in the city as a restaurant/entertainment complex
6. Turn it into a floating hotel, restaurant or possibly a floating movie theater.

I personally would like to see the boat remain.  I’ve never stepped foot onto the boat so I have no sentimental attachment to the former riverboat turned fixed casino.  It has always brought a smile to my face.  Now hidden behind casino entrance, the design brings a smile to my face.  But how do we save it?

– Steve Patterson

Stimulus funds helped with renovation of building in Marine Villa neighborhood

Yesterday afternoon the ribbon was cut on a newly renovated property in south St. Louis. The handsome 4,932sf building at 3500 Illinois Ave was renovated with the help of federal stimulus funds.

I couldn’t check out the 2nd & 3rd floors but the first floor was nice.  The building was in very poor condition when the project started.  This was the 8th renovation project on this block where the city helped out to get the project done.

I saw a number of the contractors and suppliers who were present.  The stimulus was about jobs and getting money flowing.  Using the money to continue to target a once run down block is a good strategy.  The house has already sold — it closed last week. This is a key difference from what we might see in other areas.  Alderman Ortmann (D-9th Ward) and Alderman Craig Schmid  of the adjacent 20th Ward both focus on owner-occupied single-family homes. So what had contained 2-3 units is now a massive single family property.

Their bias against multiple units and rentals means buildings wait for renovation until a pile of money is available to make a project work as a single house.  I question the wisdom of creating such massive single-family homes.  How will such homes do when resold? Wouldn’t more units help support local businesses?

I did like that the rear entry to the home was level — no steps at all from the new sidewalk to inside.  The bathroom on the first floor featured a small shower without a step — another good touch for the accessibility. The many residents from the Marine Villa neighborhood were pleased to see the building finally renovated.

– Steve Patterson

A mom sets bad example for her kids

Even before I was a teenager I’d tell the librarians at my local branch when someone would park in a disabled parking space without the proper permit.  This was a good 15 years before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as well as before I became disabled in 2008.  These days most drivers seldom park in a disabled parking spot without a permit.

But the loading space next to the disabled parking spot is another story. On Friday I was in the St. Louis suburb of Warson Woods Missouri (Manchester & Sappington).  When I left the store I was visiting I see a mom unloading two kids from her car.  One was a baby in a stroller and they other maybe 4-5 years old.  My car was parked not in the disabled space to the left of her car but in the regular space to the right. I parked to the right of the loading zone because getting in and out of my car requires me to open my driver’s door fully.

As I made my way to my car I had to pass right by her.  I said something like, “You know that is not a parking space?” She replied, “Oh, yeah.” I then told her that space is very helpful for those using wheelchairs and that she was setting a bad example for her kids.  I  was very upset.  Perhaps I should get stickers printed to slap on a window — one of those that is hard to remove? But that would probably be considered an act of property damage or something.

The loading zone is critical for a ramp from a van but also a must when helping a passenger to get in and out of a manual wheelchair or even using a walker. As the Baby Boomers age we will see more and more people who need a bit of assistance — and space.

What really upsets me is she had the choice of two space nearly as close — the one in front of her car and the one in front of the disabled space.  There was no shortage of parking, she just felt that she was entitled.  I think when someone parks as she did they don’t expect to get called out by some who is disabled.  Hopefully she will remember me.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Now what is downtown’s biggest eyesore?

When St. Louis Centre opened in 1985 it was a success, albeit briefly.  But even then the 4-level pedestrian bridge over Washington St between 6th and 7th was been considered an eyesore – downtown’s biggest in fact.  But the pedestrian bridge is nearly gone and soon it’s twin over Locust St will also be gone.  So that begs the question, what takes on the role of downtown’s biggest eyesore?

I’ve listed some you might consider to be eyesores in the poll on the right. These include a few of my top eyesores such as the I-70 depressed lanes by the Arch, the elevated lanes that will soon be more visible, US Bank’s 1975 parking garage and so on.  This week I’ve given you the option to select one or two answers.

– Steve Patterson