Historical June 1996 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
“What is it that you will actually do at the office every day?” My mother asked that question when I told her about the exciting opportunities awaiting me with the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council. And it is a question regularly raised in one form or another when I am out in our community, working with neighborhood residents, various city offices or service providers, even our own supporters.
While neighborhood groups come together, sometimes around a single issue, to address a single problem, or to provide a particular service, the Council is unique in St. Louis for several reasons. Founded in 1966 (yes, this is our 30th anniversary), the Council was created to reflect an institutional membership that includes: Washington University, St. Roch Catholic Church, Grace Methodist Church, New Cote Brilliante Church and member neighborhoods Rosedale, Parkview, Kingsbury Square, and sections of Washington Heights.
The original charter for the Council extends from Union Boulevard west to the City Limit and from the north alley on Delmar to Forest Park, including the Caitlin Tract on Lindell Boulevard.
In recent times at least, the functioning heart of the Council has been DeBaliviere west to City Limit and Delmar to Forest Park Expressway.
The Council is charged with improving the neighborhood including housing, safety, beautification-and recreation.
It serves as liaison between the neighborhood and city agencies, such as building inspectors, Heritage and Urban Design, and Forestry; it works closely to address security issues with the police.
The Council also takes the lead in addressing neighbors’ concerns about noise, traffic and/or health issues in nearby properties.
The Council office serves as coordinator for our Block Captain structure, for neighborhood-wide events such as National Night Out, for neighborhood-based activities such as the Concert Series in the Four Corners Park and Rags to Riches Yard Sale in the early fall. Groups like the Apartment Owners Association and Delmar Business Association, as well as Board Committees like the Historic District Review Committee and the Commercial District Committee, the Recreation Committee and Social Services Committee also function through the SDCC office.
On any given day, calls to the office range from complaints about barking dogs, queries about permits/processes necessary to complete home repairs, information about questionable traffic/activity in the area, reports of feral (wild) cats LEE FIORE, M.A., L.P.C. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES announces relocation of her practice PSYCHOTHERAPY SPECIALIZING IN CHILDHOODTRAUMA AND DIVORCE RELATED ISSUES Parkway Tower, Suite 321 225 S. Meramec Ave. Clayton, MO 63105 727-9088 traveling in packs in the alley, and requests for information about housing available in the neighborhood.
The history of this area is as rich and diverse as our current constituencies.
The St. Louis World’s Fair spurred the rapid development of the neighborhood, which followed a very forward-looking mixed-use plan that included multi-family flats and apartments on the perimeters (to allow easy access to public transportation) and clusters of large, single-family homes and similarlyscaled two-family homes on interior streets.
The neighborhood was designated a Local Historic District by the City of St. Louis in 1978 and the Parkview Subdivision is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nearly all homes in our neighborhood include high ceilings, large windows, and spacious rooms; many are decorated with exquisite millwork, art glass, and mantles of early 20th century style.
The consistent architecture and scale of the buildings contributes to the overall visual harmony of the neighborhood.
The Council has existed for thirty years because of its ability to grow and change, reflecting the shifting concerns in our City as well as our neighborhood. Under the very able leadership or our current Board President, Gary Hayes, the Council is reorganizing its committee structure to better meet the needs of our neighbors. Housing, social services, recreation and communication – between neighbors, with the city, between our own churches, schools and businesses – are some of the on-going topics that are being redefined and readdressed. Your involvement is necessary• for us to progress. Are you interested in helping elderly residents in our neighborhood? Do you want to work on a neighborhood-wide security committee or any other committee for that matter? Can you share a special talent or skill? Can you water plants at Four Corners Park for one week during the summer? Can you motivate your neighbors to follow your example – by keeping your porch light turned on, by picking Up alley trash even when you didn’t put it there, by helping an elderly neighbor keep grass cut or weeds trimmed? Skinker-DeBaliviere has been described as “One of the most vital and livable neighborhoods in the metropolitan area.” The care and dedication of our residents and our institutions has brought us this far.
It is essential that we continue to come together for the future. Neighborhoods are very fragile things. Hard work and the dedication of many have brought us to a very lovely “present;” your involvement and commitment can help assure an even better future. Come to a Community Council meeting. Work on “the West End Arts Council, also based at the SDCC office. Help our recreation committee with basketball or baseball over the summer. Host a picnic for your block in you back yard. Please, get involved.
Call the Skinker DeBaliviere Council offices at 862-5122.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, June 1996.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1996_06.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
