Historical December 1997 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
November 11, 1997 Les Sterman, Executive Director East/West Gateway Coordinating Council, 10 Stadium Plaza,St. Louis MO 63102 Dear Les: In light of the information you shared at our neighborhood meeting on October 30, the information we gathered from neighbors who participated in breakout sessions at that same meeting, the outcome of the “Prop M” election, and further discussion and review by the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council Executive Committee and the MetroLink Advisory Committee, the following points need to be made: 1.
The Board of Directors of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council has taken the position that a cut and cover design is the only acceptable way for the MetroLink extension to pass through this community. 2.
The Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood respectfully requests an engineering study before design begins to evaluate the structural features necessary for MetroLink to cross the River DesPeres tunnel while remaining below DesPeres Avenue, which must stay open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. 3.
The Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood respectfully requests that the RFP for community involvement recognizes the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council and its MetroLink Advisory Committee as the representatives of the neighborhood. 4.
The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council’s MetroLink Advisory Committee respectfully requests that the RFP for community involvement excludes any consultant group that has advocated for a particular constituency or route during the route selection process. 5.
We still look for your promised written response to our letter of October 9, 1997. 6. Your review and consideration of the attached list of key concerns as identified at the October 30th meeting is requested and appreciated. Once again we would like to stress that Skinker DeBaliviere is one of the most viable, diverse neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis.
We are already well served by two MetroLink stations and excellent bus connections.
We have consistently supported light rail expansion and currently house two MetroLink stations within our bounds. Our neighborhood does not need the MetroLink expansion.
The City, and the county, however, need Skinker DeBaliviere if the northern alignment is to be completed. Thank you for willingness to listen to neighborhood concerns.
I look forward to one day thanking you for your help in bringing MetroLink through Skinker DeBaliviere without destroying our community in the process. Sincerely, Laure Porterfield Executive Director cc: Mayor Clarence Harmon Buzz Westfall, St. Louis County Executive Mayor Joseph Adams, University City Mayor Ben Uchitelle, Clayton The Honorable Francis Slay, Board of Alderman Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council Board Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council MetroLink Advisory Committee Tom Shrout, Executive Director, Citizens for Modern Transit
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1997.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1997_12.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
