With Columbia School, there are now three separate gifted schools in the SLPS. It’s good to see new ideas taking place, especially in North City where there are currently no gifted/accelerated learning programs.
Charleville Brewing Company Opens First St. Louis Location
Yeah, we are the Brick City. We are also becoming the Beer City of the Midwest. The history is certainly there, but the influx of microbreweries since Schlafly broke the mold in 1991 has been amazing to witness.
1991, the year STL malt broke!
Usually we look back at our past and pine for the good old days (World's Fair and Riverboats, I'm looking at you). Fact is, when it comes to beer, the past was indeed great...but the present and future is better.
St. Louis' beer scene is on the rise and getting more and more diverse. I thought we could only sustain maybe five breweries in St. Louis (a city of ~310,000). Boy was I wrong.
Infrastructure Updates - Wells Drive In Forest Park
Forest Park continues to assert itself as the premier park in the region. Of St. Louis' 108 parks, and Tower Grove Park, it is the crown jewel. Largely due to the successful public/private partnership that is Forest Park Forever...
The investment and transformation of this park has been nothing short of stunning. This park was in much need of upgrades and leadership...a master plan.
As the years have passed, we've seen high profile projects transform the park including the Grand Basin at the foot of Art Hill, the meandering creeks, the golf courses, the Spanish Pavilion, the way finding, the landscape...all fantastic upgrades.
The results have exceeded by expectations on nearly every level.
How Did St. Louis Arrive at 79 Neighborhoods?
One of the questions I've been asked over the years is who named and plotted out the 79 neighborhoods of St. Louis.
Through a recent Twitter conversation with someone trying to understand how old the name of their neighborhood is, the topic is once again top of mind.
You know, it would be kind of cool to have a born on date for neighborhoods in the current vernacular.
"Fox Park, Established 1885" something like that...you catch my drift?
Earliest Memories of St. Louis
Residency Requirements and Preference for Citizen Hiring - A Change Of Mind
I'm writing this blog to share some thoughts on the future of hiring civil servants and searching for candidates to fill important city offices and positions.
This issue became top of mind when a recent ballot initiative in April, 2017 came up called Proposition C; it's goal was to provide hiring preference for citizens of St. Louis for public jobs.
The topic sprang up again just this week when our new Mayor took office. On her first day she accepted the retirement/resignation of the acting Chief of Police, Sam Dotson.
That is a big, important position to fill.
A New Mayor For St. Louis!
While I'll hold who I voted for in the primary and general elections close to my chest, I will say that I'm really happy to have Lyda Krewson as our next Mayor.
The first woman Mayor of St. Louis! That's history right there!
Whew, it's time for some fresh faces, no?
Now, I realize a Mayor doesn't really do a whole lot in St. Louis' weak-mayoral system, the Aldermen/women have that larger responsibility; heck sometimes I feel like the Comptroller and the director of the STL Development Corporation play more of a crucial role in our immediate future.
That said, I am really happy to see what she can do, and a Mayor really does set the tone for a city government and is the face to the region and beyond.
The Sunshine Makers, LSD and a St. Louis Connection
Netflix recently made "The Sunshine Makers" available for streaming.
This 2015 documentary chronicles the life and times of two men, Nicholas Sand and Tim Scully, who together set in motion the psychedelic revolution of the late 1960's. Both men were idealists who thought that if everyone would just drop a little acid, the world would be a better place. People would be kinder to each other and the planet, have a larger awareness outside of one's own selfish desires, etc, etc.
Scully was a sharp scientist who knew the formula to make lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and had a method to produce and tablet it for distribution. Sand was driven by idealism and spiritualism and bent on bringing the psychedelic experience to the masses. The two became underground chemists who made the drug and did indeed change the world...for a little while anyway. They made massive amounts of LSD and got it in the hands of an entire generation, globally.
Follow Up Post RE: The Evening Whirl
So I recently stumbled across a St. Louis original, the Evening Whirl. The story is all right here.
Happenstance and the Whirl made it's way into my afternoon today when I picked up two Sprites and a bag of Skittles (don't judge me) and asked the gas station attendant for the Whirl.
I wanted to read another issue to follow up with a little extra observation to make sure I fairly wrote up a summary of my firsthand experience reading the publication. Multiple replications make for good science and sound statistics (and better blogs).
She pointed me to a stack of the Whirls, rang up the bill and gave me a weird look. "It's three sixes (666)", she said.
Sure enough my bill was $6.66.
We both kind of chuckled, and I said something like "yeah, three of a kind is good but not with sixes."
She kinda shook off that awkward rebuttal and said, "no you asked for the Whirl, then you got 666."
Read: a) not good luck for you or b) "don't let me see you in the Whirl."
Historic Codes, an Empty Lot and a Proposed Mosque In McKinley Heights
I attended the Fox Park neighborhood association meeting this past January and was pleased to find an agenda jam packed with topics and speakers. It was exciting to just sit back and listen to all that is going on in my neck of the woods. There were politicians running for offices, not-for-profits speaking to new and exciting projects, and volunteers working their tails off to make Fox Park a nice place to live.
One of the guest speakers at the meeting was Rocco Danna, the McKinley Heights Neighborhood Association Chair of Development. McKinley Heights is the neighborhood directly to the east of Fox Park. The neighborhoods are very similar, especially in that they are both historic districts. We both have the same challenges and assets. We are good neighbors.
Danna came bearing good news...at first, followed by a plea for help in honoring the historic codes of the neighborhood.
The Evening Whirl - My Path To Discovery
Seems with many things, I'm late to the party. And just discovering the nearly 80 year old African American owned and operated Evening Whirl is the latest example.
Here's how I stumbled upon this local newspaper.
My drive time to and from work has recently been filled with podcasts to pass the time and keep the brain stimulated.
Charless Village Update - McKinley Heights Neighborhood
Some Quick Thoughts On An MLS Stadium
Today the local newspaper reported that: "A circuit court judge has paved the way for St. Louis to vote on funding a soccer stadium, bolstering hopes of attracting a Major League Soccer franchise to the city."
Well, I guess the electorate of STL is all of a sudden respected. If you recall, we were decidedly not thought to be worthy of voting on the Rams stadium debacle (check the record on the aldermen who voted for that mess...and who are running for office).
Now remember, if you live a couple feet west of Skinker Boulevard, a few feet south of the River Des Peres, a few feet west of Cement land or a few feet east of the halfway point on the Stan Span, you don't matter in this conversation.
3801 Hampton Avenue - In Danger of Suburbanization
Man, I recently got a slap in the face when I went to get some Christmas shopping done at a place I have a long history with: FYE at 3801 Hampton Avenue just north of Chippewa in the Lindenwood Park Neighborhood.
As I was entering, there was a posting on the front door urging people who don't want a fast food joint to buy out this store, demo the building and put up a typical suburban drive thru to contact the city leaders and FYE's corporate HQ:
Cole Chemical Building - 3721 Laclede Avenue in the Midtown Neighborhood
The following is an example of how a building can pique one's curiosity and desire to learn about your surroundings and place in history. Conservation and preservation of places and buildings is such a valuable asset toward historical understanding and providing context within a city.
I was having lunch across the street from a building that caught my eye. There was a blue placard affixed to the building with a cool font that said "Cole's"; I had to cross the street to get some photos and take a closer look.
Happy New Year And Thanks For Reading
I just wanted to check in and give thanks to folks who've followed this blog or who've stumbled upon it over the years. I have been at this website for over eight years and I had a blog called South St. Louis City Talk before that, so I've held this as a hobby for almost 25% of my life.
I never expected anyone to read this, but once I figured out that people do, I had to change my writing style to be responsible and not just shooting my mouth off like I can do in person with friends/acquaintances.
One Hundred Kingshighway - 2016 St. Louis City Talk Favorite
Last but certainly not least on my list of twenty favorites from 2016, the skyscraper proposal at One Hundred Kingshighway Boulevard between West Pine and Lindell in the Central West End Neighborhood.
This one was announced in December, so I had already assembled my list of top twenty projects when this one came in. That list had to change when I saw this rendering for a 36-story residential tower on a current surface parking lot, overlooking the jewel of the Midwest-Forest Park I was blown away.
The City Foundry - 2016 St. Louis City Talk Favorite
Continuing with my top twenty development announcements or under-construction projects of 2016, the City Foundry makes the list.
This ~$340M proposal is billed as a public market that will bring office, retail, creative space and a food hall to a 17 acre former industrial site, the Federal-Mogul foundry. From the City Foundry's promotional video: "we are a new center for food, fashion, creativity and innovative thinkers".
Former Praxair Site in Lafayette Square - 2016 St. Louis City Talk Favorite
Continuing with my top twenty announced or under-construction projects from 2016, we move to Lafayette Square with a development announcement for the former Praxair site along Chouteau Avenue.
I'm amazed at how long this property has sat vacant in such a desirable neighborhood (2005).
We've seen plans floated before
as far back as 2007. But, maybe the economy is back on its feet and the time is right to make the development work.
I'm confident the people in Lafayette Square will demand quality and will be very involved in the process. They have worked so hard in this neighborhood, and I expect that will continue here.
So what are we talking?
NextSTL reported in November that a developer has plans for 64 townhomes
:
Now Pulte Homes has a plan to build 64 townhomes on the Praxair site bounded by Chouteau, Missouri Avenue, MacKay Place and a separate parcel fronting Hickory Street to the south. The developer is planning to meet next week with neighborhood residents living adjacent to the site. A larger Lafayette Square community meeting is planned to follow before the end of the year. No images or site plans have been made available.
Pulte Homes? Not a name I've heard before,
they've never done a project in St. Louis, but they've done many in the suburbs
. And it shows, but this site is unique. I don't think the suburban stuff will work here and I don't think the neighbors will let it. Pulte have done some decent work in other parts of the country including the following:
Pulte project in Alexandria, Virginia
Pulte project in Washington State
This is a dead stretch of Chouteau that needs some love. The south side of the property abuts the fully intact part of the neighborhood and the northern edge has much room for improvement. People have been living around this vacant site for over ten years and they (and people who live near here) are ready for positive change.
This will be a fun one to watch in 2017.
Better Family Life 100 Home Renovation Project - 2016 St. Louis City Talk Favorite
Continuing with my twenty 'Best of 2016' development announcements and under-construction projects, we have an exciting project in North City.
Better Family Life would like to renovate 100 homes around Page Boulevard, the project has a potential to reach $20M in investment in some areas that haven't seen much investment recently.
I have to apologize for not having more information, I've reached out to Better Family Life via email, but have not made the time to reach out with calls or schedule a visit to get the full story. I hope to follow up on this development in 2017 and report back here.
The local media discussed the work they are doing in several venues.
Per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a November, 2016 article
:
“This is a new beginning for Better Family Life because this project will be a major redevelopment of Page Boulevard, which could spark a renaissance in North St. Louis and eliminate the Delmar Divide by helping the existing community and attracting new residents,” Malik Ahmed, Better Family Life's chief executive, said in a statement.
He said he envisions the project will attract millennials and others who want affordable housing in the Page Boulevard area.
Renovation costs for each house will total $200,000, Better Family Life said. Each house will sell for about $130,000, providing owners $60,000 to $70,000 in equity when they move in, the organization said.
Work has begun on three homes. Two of the rehabs are funded by the St. Louis Community Development Agency with gap financing by Midwest Bank, Better Family Life said.
KMOV Channel 4 did an interview with Mr. Ahmed who spoke about the project
.
Do yourself a favor and listen to the following
KPLR Channel 11 story with Better Family Life and a representative from the city
. If that doesn't get you excited, than what will?
Better Family Life has been active in the 26th Ward of St. Louis and they've been buying properties along Belt, Maple, Vernon, etc in several neighborhoods since the 1990's.
They are gaining momentum and one of their goals is to get African Americans who left the city for the county to move back...especially young people who will be civically involved. They call this stretch of Page "The Vibe" because this part of town feels right and is on the verge of gaining fresh blood and investment.
I can't wait to learn more from this group. I will definitely make the time to interview them if they'll have me.
My humble opinion is that if we are going to subsidize growth, this area/project is ripe for it. We need more people rooting down who want to live here. We can subsidize things that benefit visitors and tourists next.
This would be a huge deal for North City! Congrats Better Family Life, keep up the good work. Hope to talk in 2017.
