UrbanReviewSTL.com Turns Eight Today

Eight years ago today I began writing UrbanReviewSTL.com, St. Louis’ oldest urban blog. The archives in the right sidebar show the entire history dating back to eight years ago today.

It’s hard to believe that eight years has passed? Time really does fly by when you’re having fun! I can’t imagine how I’d spend my time if I wasn’t blogging. Each day I look forward to photographing and writing.

I’ve not researched to see how St. Louis stacks up to other cities, but we’ve got lots of great blog on the built environment (see blogroll in right sidebar). In the poll last week I sought to know where these blogs are read:

Q: Where do you read local blogs? (check all that apply)

1. At home 78 [47.27%]
2. At work 48 [29.09%]
3. On my smartphone/tablet on the go 27 [16.36%]
4. At school 7 [4.24%]
5. via users: 3 [1.82%]
6. “Other” 2 [1.21%]

Home is the top answer but nearly a third read at work. The three answers supplied by readers:

1. On Metro
2. Since I have a home office, home and office get mixed.
3. who cares?

As for the last one, I care that’s why I asked the question!

Since it’s halloween here are two great costumes for kids that use wheelchairs:

Happy Halloween and thank you so much for reading!

— Steve Patterson

Vote Yes On Proposition R To Reduce The Board Of Aldermen From Twenty-Eight To Fourteen

A week from today voters in the City of St. Louis will go to the polls in large numbers to make their choice for president, US senate, etc. The last item on the ballot is Proposition R, the measure to reduce the size of the board of aldermen from 28 to 14.

The change wouldn’t take place for a decade though, after the 2020 Census figures are released in 2021 only 14 wards would be drawn. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

Many of you may not think it’d make a difference or the reduction would be negative, reducing your access. The problem with that way of thinking is we’re paying 28 people to legislate but we go to them for tasks better solved by an empowered city staff.

Our aldermen can’t look at the big picture needs of the city because they are fielding calls about pot holes, stop signs and replacement dumpsters. This is partly their fault, it worked great for making voters feel like they help. But this is no way to run a city. See video here.

So how did your current alderman vote?  The following voted “Yes” to place this on the ballot, ward number after the name.

1. Flowers/2
2. Triplett /6
3. Young/7
4. Conway/8
5. Ortmann/9
6. Arnowitz/12
7. Wessels/13
8. Howard/14
9. Florida/15
10. Baringer/16
11. Roddy/17
12. Davis/19
13. Schmid/20
14. French/21
15. Boyd/22
16. Vaccaro/23
17. Ogilvie/24
18. Cohn/25
19. Carter/27
20. Krewson/28
21. Reed/President

The following voted “No” to place this on the ballot, ward number after the name.

1. Troupe/1
2. Bosley/3
3. Moore/4
4. Hubbard/5
5. Villa/11
6. Kennedy/18
7. Williamson/26

Ald Vollmer (10th ward) didn’t vote as he was out due to injury.

OFFICIAL BALLOT – SPECIAL ELECTION

PROPOSITION R – CHARTER AMENDMENT

(Board of Aldermen Amendment)

Shall the Charter of the City of St. Louis be amended in accordance with the Board of Aldermen Amendment Ordinance?

This Amendment restructures the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis as a body of fourteen Aldermen representing fourteen wards, provides for a transition schedule to implement the restructuring, and other related matters, all as set forth in the “Board of Aldermen Amendment Ordinance,” a copy of which is available at all polling places. [Board Bill 31 Committee Substitute]

Please vote yes.

— Steve Patterson

History Museum Applied For Demolition Permit Less A Month After Buying Delmar Property

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has been looking into the Missouri History Museum’s 2006 purchase of property on Delmar from former mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., here is the issue:

The Zoo-Museum District board has questioned the museum’s 2006 purchase of a one-acre parcel on Delmar Boulevard from former St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. The museum spent $875,000 to buy the land and at least $100,000 more in additional expenses. (stltoday.com)

In most of their stories they refer to land but rarely mention the existing building, a former McDonald’s, was razed after purchase.

In a few stories I did find a reference to the building being razed after being purchased by the museum, but no concern about the loss in value as a result.  When you buy an occupied commercial property that had numerous big investments in the past few years that is part of what you are buying. Raze the building and you destroy some of the value.

But the boards must have taken that into consideration as they studied the options behind their new acquisition, right? Probably not. The Post-Dispatch says they closed on the property on Thursday November 9th, 2006. City records online say the sales date was the following Tuesday the 14th, maybe the actual recording date into city records.

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving, Bellon Wrecking Co applied for a demolition permit, estimating the cost at $10,000.   Permit #387069 was issued on January 23, 2007 and by February 27, 2007 the building was gone.

What was the rush? Couldn’t they have leased the restaurant to someone else while they raised funds for the community center? We know from the Post-Dispatch investigations there was little oversight into the purchase so the decision to quickly discard a functional building was also made in the same manner.

I’m curious how the improvements could be assessed at $67,800 in 1997-98, $60,200 in 1999-2000, -$2,800 in 2001-02, and $100 for the years 2003 through 2010. The other question I have is why the Missouri History Museum felt it was in their role to build a community center in the first place? Is a community center what is needed in the area? My guess is something generating property taxes, sales taxes and jobs for the community would be a better fit.

This site will be on the new Loop Trolley route, it needs density.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Optimistic or Pessimistic About The City+Arch+River Project?

By now work was to be underway remaking Kiener Plaza, but you may have noticed nothing is happening there. Work on designs and trying to secure funding has been ongoing though.

So far, around $57 million (the bulk of it is federal and state money) has been set aside to construct the lid in time for the Arch’s 50th anniversary in 2015. (KMOV)

We should see this “lid” work begin next year.

Three years from today a big party will be held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Arch, but the question in many minds is how much of the ambitious plans will be completed?

The poll question this week is are you optimistic or pessimistic about the project? This might mean are you optimistic it’ll get funded, that most will get built?     The poll is in the right sidebar, mobile readers need to switch to the full layout to see the sidebar.

— Steve Patterson

Reading: To The Top! A Gateway Arch Story By Amanda E. Doyle, Illustrated By Tony Waters

Everyone loves the Arch, right? But kids especially seem curious about the monument, now there’s a book to help them understand it:

Take the children in your life on their own journey of discovery: tag along with Ella, her impatient little brother Jake, and their Grandpa as they explore the outside, inside, and very, very top of the Gateway Arch, on the Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis, Missouri. While Jake just wants to get to the top as fast as possible, Ella is intent on impressing Grandpa with everything she has learned about the landmark and its history. Together, the family discovers fascinating artifacts-a bison, a great grizzly bear, a tall statue of Thomas Jefferson-while Grandpa spins tales of his own memories, as a young man, of watching the Arch being built. More than just an architectural feat, the Arch embodies the history, culture, and spirit of westward expansion, exploration, and individual dignity. Don’t worry, they ?nally make it to the top . . . and what Jake wants then will resonate with your own young explorers! Amanda E. Doyle is an ardent St. Louis transplant, writes about the city for visitors and locals, and spends lots of time looking up with her own intrepid family. She is the author of the popular St. Louis title “Finally, a Locally Produced Guidebook to St. Louis, by and for St. Louisans, Neighborhood by Neighborhood.” (Reedy Press)

The book doesn’t address  the 40 city blocks that were cleared to make room for a monument before a competition was even held. That’s best left for a different book I suppose. This hardcover book is $16.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the final piece of the Arch going into place in 1965.

— Steve Patterson