Historical February 1987 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The primary task of any Alderman is to ensure that his constituents receive the best City services possible and their fair share of limited City tax dollars for neighborhood projects and institutions.
While I am also proud of my leadership and success in solving many Citywide problems, I would like to share my record with you as it directly relates to Skinker-DeBaliviere.
Street Repaving
In the last three years, most of our neighborhood streets have been repaved.
The following are scheduled to be repaved this year:
• Union from Lindell to Waterman
• Park Road from Lindell to Union
• Waterman from Belt to DeBaliviere
• Delmar from Skinker to City Limits
• McPherson, Kingsbury and Westminster from Rosedale to Des Peres
Curb Repair
Phase I of the Skinker Beautification Program was implemented in 1986.
An additional $10,000 of curb repairs are already under contract for Phase II this year.
Traffic Improvements
• Des Peres at Delmar, Clara at Delmar, and Nina Place at McPherson were closed, returning these streets to our neighborhood by forcing crosstown traffic onto Skinker. DeBaliviere and Union.
• Street constrictors were built on Westminster at Skinker and McPherson at Des Peres.
• The DeBaliviere median has been modified for improved traffic safety.
• The traffic diverter at Rosedale and Washington was removed to rejoin the 60XX block of Washington with the other residential blocks of Rosedale.
• A landscaped median will be constructed on Delmar from Union to DeBaliviere this year.
New Sidewalks
With my assistance, many residents have been funded for 50% of the cost of new sidewalks for their homes through the City’s “50/50 Program.”
Trees & Green Space
Literally hundreds of trees have been planted in Skinker-DeBaliviere during the last three years at no additional cost to residents.
The vacant lot at Des Peres and Westminster and the abandoned frame office building at Washington and Des Peres have been recently purchased by the City.
The building will be demolished and both lots will be landscaped and maintained by the Parks Department.
Lucier Park
In 1981, this new park was only a barren mud flat.
During my term of office, the park:
• Has been fenced, seeded and landscaped with flowers and trees;
• A softball diamond with backstop and a soccer field have been added:
• A children’s playground was built with a City grant matched by a fund-raising drive of neighboring block units; and
• Bleachers, benches, and a water fountain have been installed through. the gifts of “Step-Up St. Louis” and the Phillip Lucier family
Forest Park
Forest Park has been a major priority during my tenure as your Alderman.
Even though two federal grant applications to clean our lakes were not approved, and Republican Governor John Ashcroft vetoed two bills that would have restored the lakes and roads in the park, because of my efforts much progress has been made.
• After two years of hard work, I was able to have a Master Plan for the future of Forest Park adopted.
• As a result of this Plan, and with additional personal lobbying, I was successful in creating a new full-time City position in the Parks Department, whose sole responsibility is monitoring and improving Forest Park.
• A major private capital improvement fund-raising drive has been initiated starting with the $325,000 renovation of the Dwight Davis Tennis Complex scheduled this spring.
• I successfully sponsored an ordinance that prohibits the City’s Board of Estimate & Apportionment, the Board of Public Service or the Parks Director from giving away any more land in our public parks for new uses. Any new use in our parks can now only be approved by the full Board of Aldermen after formal public hearings and debate. Further. all monies derived from any such new leases must be used for park purposes.
• I also successfully sponsored an ordinance prohibiting the use of bottles in our public parks and playgrounds.
• The entire bicycle path, Lagoon Drive and our neighborhood’s access to the park, Des Peres from Lindell to Grand Drive and University Circle from Grand Drive to Skinker, have been repaved.
• The sidewalks around the Jewel Box have been restored.
• New directional signs have been erected.
• The historic Cabanne House has been restored for public use at no cost to the City.
• The Stupp Memorial Fountain at the Jefferson Memorial has been constructed, and at my insistance, the Missouri Historical Society is charged by law with its perpetual maintenance.
This is the first time the City has accepted such a gift with the assurance that it will be properly maintained in the future at no cost to our citizens.
• The Science Center reopened the Planetarium after it was closed by the City because of budget cuts.
With my help City funds were awarded to install the new state-of-the-art Digistar Projection System which had been donated to the City by the McDonnell Foundation.
• Two park bridges will be restored this year.
Neighborhood Development
Our neighborhood continues to flourish and rebuild.
The DeBaliviere Place residential project is nearing completion, and the long-delayed DeBaliviere Arcade commercial project is scheduled to begin this March.
The major rehab of apartments on Pershing at Laurel and Washington at Rosedale has been completed.
The recent renovation of residential and commercial buildings on Delmar, east of DeBaliviere, promises to spark additional investment in the Regional Hospital area to link up with Savoy Court at Union.
In the neighboring 26th Ward, the Kingsbury Square developers are again building new townhomes.
However, the appearance of large earth mounds on Laurel has caused several complaints from Washington Heights residents. 26th Ward Alderman Wayman Smith and I are negotiating with the developers to arrive at an equitable solution to this concern. I am very proud to report that my work in assisting neighborhood development includes several successful programs for long-time residents. Through the
Operation Impact
program, much of the neighborhood was targeted to take advantage of two low-interest loan programs for low- and moderate-income homeowners. Loans and grants of up to $3000 for code abatement are available through Neighborhood Housing Services and major renovation loans are administered by the Urban League.
Many local homeowners have taken advantage of these programs.
In addition, several “obsolete districts” have been established within the ward to provide tax incentives for existing homeowners to rehabilitate their homes.
While in the past the power of eminent domain and major relocation were necessary to begin the redevelopment of our area, not one building in Skinker-DeBaliviere has been obtained by eminent domain during my tenure as Alderman.
In fact, the threat of eminent domain has been used primarily against vacant property owned by real estate speculators.
The Rosedale neighborhood is finally rid of speculator Mike Beardon’s control of several vacant apartment buildings.
His financial scheme collapsed due to the combined pressures of the threat of eminent domain and code enforcement by the City, and foreclosure proceedings on his mortgage. Landmark Bank and developer Mead-McClellan have taken over these properties and have already begun to complete the rehab of 6111 Pershing and 520 Rosedale.
The other buildings are scheduled for completion this summer. Unfortunately, work in the Nina Place area has been delayed. When, in 1984, two competing neighborhood-based corporations failed to begin any plan for this area’s rehabilitation, I brought together three local groups in an attempt to finally get the project started.
The Nina Redevelopment Corporation (made up of representatives from Cornerstone, affiliated with Grace & Peace Fellowship: Piece of the Roch, controlled by Msgr. Sal Polizzi and parishioners of St. Roch Church; and Pantheon Corporation) was awarded the development rights for the project in December 1984.
No owner-occupied property was ever threatened by eminent domain.
When the financing package for the project was finally put together late in 1985, Mike Beardon’s partnership (which in addition to the Rosedale properties, owns six vacant buildings in the area, including two on the 58XX block of Westminster) reneged on their previous joint venture commitment and the entire project had to be restructured.
Because of uncertainty about the new federal tax code and a weakness in the apartment rental market in St. Louis during 1986, a new financial package has not yet been completed.
It is hoped that the remaining financing will soon be committed, or that another developer can be found quickly, so that construction on this long-overdue project can begin this building season.
Hamilton Community School
In 1983, the City’s Community School Program faced tremendous budgetary problems.
Our Hamilton Community School was scheduled to be closed, or at best severely cut back in funding. Through my efforts in the Board of Aldermen, we were not only able to support Hamilton with full funding, but to “lock in” almost $1 million a year in federal block grant funds to assist this very worthwhile Citywide program in subsequent years.
Kingsbury Library
When a devastating fire destroyed our library several years ago, the Library Board decided not to rebuild in our community. Joining forces with other neighborhood leaders, we were able to convince the Board to reconsider and provide our neighborhood with permanent daily library service at the innovative and successful Kingsbury Kiosk.
Cable Television
After leading the floor debate in the Board of Aldermen, which finally resolved the years-old controversy over awarding a Cable TV franchise in the City of St. Louis, I succeeded in including Skinker-DeBaliviere in the first area of the City to be wired for service. Additionally I led the effort to include the Arts & Entertainment Network to the “basic” pay plan at no additional cost to subscribers.
Operation Safestreet
Through my efforts, our neighborhood was included in the first phase of this highly successful crime-fighting project.
Most importantly, our homeowners were able to take advantage of the low-cost home burglary prevention package offered by the program.
The total package includes the installation of dead-bolt locks and “peep holes” in front and rear doors, basement security bars for doors and windows, first floor window locks, dusk-to-dawn light kits and smoke alarms.
These items were installed free to senior citizens and are still available for the neighborhood. Operation Impact Again, much of our neighborhood was in the first phase of this blight fighting attack, which for the first time included low-interest loans and grants to low- and moderate-income homeowners, additional building inspections, new expedited court proceedings for code violations in the area, and an emphasis on ridding the neighborhood of vacant buildings.
I have worked full-time as your Alderman to ensure that Skinker-DeBaliviere and the other neighborhoods in the 28th Ward receive their fair share of City dollars, service and programs.
I have kept the community informed and, whenever invited, met with all groups in the ‘area to listen and act on residential or business concerns.
By working together much has been accomplished … but much remains to be done. I sincerely hope I have earned your respect, your trust, and your vote in the March 3rd Democratic Primary. Paid for by Citizens to Elect Daniel J. (Dan) McGuire
• Art Perry, Treasurer
• 6185 Westminster Place, St. Louis, Missouri 63112
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1987.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1987_02.pdf, printed page(s) 8; PDF page(s) 8.
