15thWardSTL.org

So this blog is still here. It is still active. I swear.

I know I have been remiss in stepping up to my role as new co-editor. I know many of you probably have assumed that the 15th ward blog swan song has been sung. I know that it will probably take awhile to rebuild the readership that was....

But take heart! I am recommitting to finding my groove here and letting it go.

I could talk and talk and talk about my good intentions. What impresses people, of course, is actual posts.

SO keep checking back. I am going to make my best run at it.

-Adam

Our St. Louis house closed a couple weeks ago and we moved into an early 1900's craftsman style 2-1/2 story "four-square" in Des Moines' Drake neighborhood. Most of the boxes are unpacked. I've settled into my new job as real estate development manager at a local non-profit. With a couple months of Des Moines living under my belt, I have new perspective on St. Louis living. It's time to put down in words what I miss about St. Louis.

Hi folks, Adam here.

So I wanted to update, post *something*, just so ya'll don't think all of Steve's hard work has gone the way of the dodo. This blog continues, my tiny feet trying to grow into Steve's large shoes.

It's been a little daunting, knowing where to pick up. Steve has a great voice, and a great understanding of community development issues. He had a clear idea about this blog, it's purpose, and his angle on it.

I've got a whole mess of opinions, and some itchy fingers.

For those of you who don't already tune in to DJ Wilson and Fred Hessel's show, Collateral Damage, every Monday at 7:00 pm on 88.1 KDHX, do it tonight - August 20! (I usually listen to the podcast when it is posted a week later). I'll be a guest on tonight's show with Steve Patterson of Urban Review.

We will probably cover some of the items on my recent "50 Things I Won't Miss About St. Louis" post, and perhaps some previews of the upcoming "Things I Will Miss" list.

In preparation for my move, I'm paring down my large collection of St. Louis planning-related memorabilia and some other design items.

This is also a fundraiser for the Marti Frumhoff Memorial Garden. Each item is free with a minimum $1 donation, unless noted otherwise. All proceeds will go towards the garden.

To claim an item (or multiple), simply e-mail me at swilkeshapiro@gmail.com - when something is claimed, I'll cross it off this list. I'll e-mail instructions for picking up your items on an individual basis.

This offer closes on, August 9, 2007, at 11:59pm - anything left after this time will be immediately recycled.

Here is a list of what's available on a first come first served basis:

After I move, 15thWardSTL will continue discussion of politics, development, and community with a new group of "contributing editors". I will be introducing them over the next few weeks as I gradually shift writing responsibility to this new group of volunteers.

It is my hope that these people will institute some positive changes on this blog:

1. With three or four contributing editors, there will be more to read! With more writing comes more discussion and a greater variety of viewpoints.
   
2. Each of the new contributing editors will have a particular set of interests, but will be posting on whatever the feel is relevant to the 15th Ward.
   
3. With more people working on this project, fewer items will slip under the radar. Perhaps one of them will get to a Grand Oak Hill meeting, even - but don't count on it!

If any 15th Ward residents are interested in joining the 15thWardSTL team, please contact me directly at swilkeshapiro(at)gmail.com - I look forward to hearing from you.

After some brief technical issues, 15thWardSTL.org is back up and running. The last article I posted, "50 Things I Won't Miss About St. Louis" is available now.

Don't worry. I'm not going to end on a negative note. My last post will be a list of 50 things I'll miss about this great City.

In no particular order, here are 50 things I won't miss when I pack up and move:

1. Rolling stops - You're not that important. If you don't like all the stop signs do some work and get some of them removed. Until then, just follow the damn rules.

2. License tags - Gone in 60 seconds. I've purchased so many duplicate stickers, I'm on a first name basis with the fine folks at the AAA on Lindell.

3. Earnings tax - In general it's a bad PR idea to be one of the only municipalities with an earnings tax, but I certainly wouldn't expect the Board of Aldermen to take up this issue an time soon (see #4).

I am a visually oriented person - I love writing and discussions, but it often takes seeing something firsthand for me to really grasp it. Accordingly, I took a couple minutes to create the following graph of subjects I have touched on here at 15thWardSTL.org over the past few months.

Each issue is rated in three categories: buildings and place (squares), community (circles), and environment (triangles). The size of the icon indicates my perception of the relative "buzz" on that particular issue. Some issues might have more buzz relating to their community component compared to their environmental component, for example. It is interesting to see how the environmental components of these issues appear to be further back in our minds and discussions while the buildings and places seem to be receiving a lot more attention.

The vertical axis rates issues on whether they will impact urban living in St. Louis positively or negatively. The middle line is neutral. Issues that appear towards either the top (positive) or bottom (negative) of the graph are in my opinion going to have a big impact on urban living in St. Louis.

The horizontal axis rates issues on their "disruption factor", or whether the impact will cause us to actually change the way we live or understand urban living.

I'm interested in your comments!

Read up on the most interesting topics covered on 15thWardSTL! This list represents the topics that are most active, most timely, and/or just plain fun.

• Recent Articles and Comments - A listing of all the most recent posts and blog comments
  

• Trader Joe's - Discussion on why Trader Joe's should consider a new store in South St. Louis
  

• Pyramid Senior Housing - Pyramid's proposed senior housing development at Keystone Place
  

• 15th Ward Alderwoman Jennifer Florida - Jennifer Florida represents the 15th Ward