15thWardSTL.org

I received word last night that Steve Patterson of Urban Review has been hospitalized. Without his personal approval, I won\'t discuss the details here. However, at this point his prognosis is good. I\'m sure he would appreciate well wishes either e-mailed directly to steve@urbanreviewstl.com or posted here.

I would like to extend my personal support and hope for a speedy recovery.

Tower Grove South (10th Ward) resident Christian Herman continues to steam full speed ahead on the Marti Frumhoff Memorial Garden.

http://fundraisers4marti.blogspot.com/2007/12/blog-post.html

If you haven't donated or attended a fundraiser for this memorial, please do so. Marti had a huge impact on Tower Grove South and the City as a whole... there is still a long way to go.

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:

Maurice commented:

Steve, you raise some very valid points but one of the most important things that needs to be addressed, in my opinion and if it even can be, is the competition that comes from the neighboring towns for the development dollars.

...Why would a company spend thousands of extra dollars if our neighbors to the west are going to give them thousands in incentives and such.....it is a quandry of which I don't think there will ever be a true, best answer.

The "intercity competition" argument is exactly why St. Louis negative self image is such a problem! This belief underpins the Board of Aldermen's resistance to change.

Here's the kicker. Visionaries are already rejecting this argument and making massive investments in City development based on the principles of dense, walkable, mixed-use districts: the Loop, Central West End, Commerce condos, Automobile Row (Locust), Downtown lofts, Lafayette Square, South Side Tower, the list goes on and on.

For those of you interested in the 2002 South Grand Parking Study results, the full text can be found at

http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/planning/southgrand/

I just received notice that Washington University professor Jacqueline Tatom recently lost her longtime struggle against cancer. In the absence of a better forum for memorializing her many contributions to the urban intellectual community, please indulge me for a few moments.

In addition to being a dedicated teacher, Jacqueline was an accomplished and traveled academic. Her time at Washington University was marked by her organization of several international conferences, her leadership in the transforming of the Masters of Urban Design program, and several ground-breaking research projects.

A conditional use hearing will be held in Room 208 City Hall at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2007.

3115-19 S. Grand - #AB-393460-07 – Erect 9 Cell Antennas Per Plans – “H” Area Commercial District

A conditional use is not allowed on a piece of property "by right" - it is allowed only if approved by the Board of Public Service and/or Board of Adjustment. Citizens may voice their opinions in public during a conditional use hearing.

3115 South Grand is located at the corner of Grand and Arsenal.

On January 22, 2007, almost exactly one year after applying for the permit to build a McDonald's drive thru at Keystone Place, Pyramid applied for a "zoning only" permit to start the official permitting process for their senior housing building.

A "zoning only" permit is needed to trigger a review by the Board of Public Service and Zoning Board of Adjustment when some piece of the proposed project falls outside the existing zoning designation (or requires a zoning change). This allows the developer to get zoning approval prior to applying and paying for their building permit.

The ordinance for rezoning of the Commerce Bank site to “D” Multiple-Family Dwelling District and “H” Area Commercial District was submitted for its second reading at the Board of Aldermen on January 26.

From the Board of Aldermen web site:

BOARD BILL NO. 347 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN STEPHEN CONWAY An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission on January 3, 2007, to change the zoning of property as indicated on the District Map, from “B” Two-Family Dwelling District and “H” Area Commercial District to “D” Multiple-Family Dwelling District and “H” Area Commercial District in City Block 1463, so as to include the described parcels of land in City Block 1463; and containing an emergency clause.

I frequently write about the general negative long-term impacts of St. Louis' lack of a comprehensive plan, closed-door development process, and antiquated zoning ordinance. I recently ran across a specific consequence that relates directly to South Grand - we are denied access to specific pots of federal planning money!

The EPA has a technical assistance grant for communities looking to implement "smart growth" development practices that deal with environmental issues such as reducing air emissions by increasing transportation choices, and encouraging clean-up and sustainable redevelopment of brownfields. Sounds good, right? Here's where it gets troublesome. St. Louis has failed to lay the essential groundwork for several of the grant's evaluation points.