In Attendance: President Gary Hayes. Directors Ann Smith Carr, Lara Doyle, Greg Freeman, Steve Givens, Ronie Haliburton, Ruth Johnson, Gwen Lazard, Susan Littlefield, Maggie Hart-Mahon, Rev. Miki Merritt, Shirley Polk, Julie Schoemehl, Lana Stein. Guests: Paul Hohmann MetroLink Advisory Committee Chairman, Daniel Schesch, Abram Ware, Vivi Wolf, NSO; Gary Boehnke Housing Corporation Project Administrator, SDCC Executive Director Laure Porterfield. Absent: Arthelda Busch, Peggy Droege, Dan Freedberg, Jane Geller, Paula Sigman, Jack Wright.
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by President Gary Hayes.
Welcome and Introductions President Gary Hayes introduced Lieutenant Ken Bradshaw, who replaces Lieutenant Art Ruehl as one of three Watch Commanders in the 7th District. Lieutenant Ruehl is now in charge of the detectives in the District.
Sgt. Dave Habermaas gave the security report. There were some street robberies in the DeBaliviere and Forest Park Parkway area (Subway Shop, MetroLink Station, Dialysis Center). Some burglaries have occurred in apartments occupied by Washington University students. An arrest has been made. Our stats show a dramatic increase in burglaries, but the total number of incidents in all categories has not increased dramatically. The robbery of CWE Bank last month is still unsolved. Arrests were made in the string of 23 vehicle thefts that took place during the summer. The 57xx blocks of Pershing and McPherson have been reported a couple of times on the Drug Hot Line.
Questions were entertained. It was reported that there is a problem with loitering in the 59xx block of Waterman. Also vehicles are being parked on the sidewalk around the old Sinclair lot, and persons are conferring on the lot. There is a problem with graffiti in the rear of the DeBaliviere Strip Mall. NSO Vivi Wolf will follow up and request clean-up.
Approval of Minutes It was moved by Greg Freeman and seconded by Lara Doyle that the November minutes be approved. The motion passed.
Financial Report Financial reports from October and November were reviewed and approved. Projected revenues and projected expenditures were discussed. The YTD capital figure under non-recurring expenditures may possibly change. This figure includes the new phone system, computer and additional software. All funds from CDA have not been received yet. The draft 1998 budget for $52,000.00 in CDA funds was passed by CDC per Executive Director Laure Porterfield. It was moved by Susan Littlefield and seconded by Lara Doyle that the October and November financial reports be approved.
MetroLink Advisory Committee The letter from East/West Gateway Coordinating Council Executive Director Les Sterman was discussed. It was stated in the newspaper that, according to Gannett Fleming, the St. Louis Region has the money for the next MetroLink extension to be above ground only. The business plan for the next MetroLink extension will be an agenda item at the December 1997 meeting of EWGCC. The budget lays out how they will run the process. Executive Director Laure Porterfield will attend this meeting as an observer. A letter was sent out to those persons who attended the MetroLink public forum in October. The MetroLink Advisory Committee met on November 24, 1997; no action was taken at this meeting. A date for the next meeting has not been set. Lana Stein requested to be kept apprised for timely publication of information in the Times.
Executive Director Report The focus for 1998 will be on two continuing projects, the MetroLink extension and Delmar Enhancement. The 60xx block of Washington is seeing some tremendous improvement including the redevelopment of 6045 into an owner-occupied townhouse with two rental units, the privately funded rehab of 6041, and the search by SDCHC for a developer to acquire 6048. The three (3) developers who have submitted plans for Nina Place redevelopment will be at the January board meeting. The Nina Place Association would like to review these plans before the January meeting.
A. Housing Corporation Update There have been changes over the last month regarding the buildings at 5938 and 5932 Kingsbury. There is a verbal proposal to purchase the solid building. Both buildings are on track to be demolished; however two major steps are needed. After an engineering appraisal, the biggest and longest hurdle will be gaining State approval. Some council members expressed their displeasure with the slow pace at which this project is moving. There is not a RFP on the buildings.
There was a discussion about the disrepair of the sign at Talayna's restaurant on Skinker. NSO Vivi Wolf will check into this.
Delmar Planning Process Sara Smith, Director of Arts in Transit for Bi-State Development Agency, made the presentation on the Delmar Enhancement Project. For the past year Bi-State has been working on a collaborative effort with the City of St. Louis, University City, SDCC, our Commercial District Committee, and the merchants in the area to develop an enhancement plan for the Delmar MetroLink area. Copies of the draft feasibility and site design were shared. Smith recapped the process, which started last February with a planning workshop. The cities of St. Louis and University City have been approved for a grant of $750,000 to begin the first phase of enhancement. Additional resources are being sought.
Recommendations made for University City are that the street pattern will not be changed, but there will be changes in streetscaping and lighting. The recommendation for the St. Louis side is to go from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction. Other recommendations on the St. Louis City side include expanded sidewalks, landscaping, additional distinctive lighting, tree grates and seeding. Some of the design elements will be the same as the University City side. It is intended that the .9 miles between the Wabash Station and the Lions look like a cohesive whole. Street parking will continue on both sides of the street. On the north side of the street, a separate bike path is recommended. The merchants opted to have expanded sidewalks in lieu of a median.
The City of St. Louis has purchased the old Wabash Triangle Cafe lot for public parking.
The intent is to divert northbound traffic from Delmar onto Hodiamont and Rosedale to alleviate traffic congestion during certain times of the day, and to have the .9 of a mile between the Wabash Station and the Lions pedestrian oriented. Larger and more defined crosswalks are recommended, which will indicate that this is pedestrian territory. It is also suggested that a transportation plaza, restricted to transit only, be developed north of Delmar at Des Peres. A "kiss-n-ride" and a pedestrian plaza in the station area is recommended.
Bi-State is looking for ways to enhance the transit link between the MetroLink Station and the Loop area. The following options have been considered: (1) a shuttle bug; (2) enhanced existing service; (3) a trolley.
There will be a public meeting February 5 at Crossroads School to further elaborate on the recommendations and to talk about the next steps.
The City of St. Louis has received and allocated funds to rehab or reconstruct the Wabash Bridge. Bi-State has been coordinating their plans around the MetroLink station with this.
With regard to the Forest Park MetroLink station, a committee including neighborhood representative Greg Freeman has participated in the selection process of consultants for this project. The Bi-State has funds to rework the park-and-ride area. Their commitment was to work on the Forest Park station lot when the Delmar station was finished.
Questions were entertained. There was a discussion about the area under the Wabash Bridge overpass. The recommendations for this area are in phase two or three of the process per Executive Director Laure Porterfield. Pedestrian safety at the Des Peres intersection is a major issue beginning with Phase I.
Committee and Neighborhood Update/Reports
A. Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee recommended the following slate of officers for the year 1998: President – Gary Hayes Vice President – Ann Smith Carr Secretary – Maggie Hart-Mahon Treasurer – Lana Stein
The election of officers will take place at the January meeting, but nominations from the floor are welcomed.
B. Neighborhood Services 1. Beautification – No report 2. Social Services – No report (need chair for committee) 3. Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration. Executive Director Laure Porterfield reported that the speaker will be Dr. Gwen Packnett. One school has responded so far. An art exhibit showing students work from participating schools has been added. The New Cote Brilliante choir has again been invited. Any food contributions for the reception will be appreciated.
C. Commercial District Talayna's Restaurant has until the end of February to close.
D. Rosedale Neighbors By-Laws were written and adopted at the last meeting and will be on file at the Council Office.
E. Washington Heights – No report
F. Parkview – Residents are still having problems with unleashed dogs.
G. Nina Place – No report
H. St. Roch – No report
I. Grace Methodist – No report
J. New Cote Brilliante – The Choir will be at the Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration
K. Kingsbury Square – No report
L. Playground Steering Committee The committee will meet in January. The chair is putting together a revised budget.
Other Business The 1998 board meeting schedule is included in the agenda package.
Steve Givens, Washington University representative, stated that a demographic study has not been done on the neighborhood in a long time. He will try finding a social work student to do one. He was unable to get an update on the Sinclair lot.
At the request of Dan Schesch, Greg Freeman introduced the following motion with regard to the Washington University ownership of 2-3 family buildings in Skinker DeBaliviere:
"We request that Washington University assist the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood in maintaining the critical level of resident ownership by selling, in an orderly manner, its recently acquired 2 and 3 family buildings to individual owner-occupants/resident owners, and not purchasing any more."
The motion was seconded by Susan Littlefield.
Daniel Schesch elaborated on the motion.
The following motion was made by Ann Smith Carr and seconded by Lara Doyle: "The motion introduced by Greg Freeman with respect to encouraging Washington University to dispose of 2 and 3 family units recently acquired in the neighborhood to resident owners should be tabled for discussion at our January 12 meeting, with all interested parties encouraged to review the facts and proposal beforehand." The motion was passed.
The reception for the Policemen and Firemen will take place at the Council Office on December 18, 1997. Volunteers are needed for hosts and clean up duties. Ruth Johnson has volunteered to chair this event due to the illness of Betty Newsham.
Rev. Merritt asked about the bike program. There was a brief discussion about restarting the program.
There being no further business, Greg Freeman called for adjournment and Lara Doyle seconded. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Original newspaper source
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1998.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
