Historical September–October 1999 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
A communitywide meeting held on Tuesday, September 7, at New Cote Brilliante Church of God showcased improvements happening on Delmar and new plans for the proposed Pageant concert hall. SDCC Vice President Greg Freeman welcomed the public and Commercial Development Committee Chair JoAnn Vatcha spoke about the changes we can expect on Delmar.
She is hopeful that construction can begin soon on the Delmar median that will run between DeBaliviere and the Wabash station.
It will resemble the median on Forest Park Blvd.
She and others from the city have met with business owners on that section of Delmar to make sure that needed curb cuts were provided in the median design.
They also wanted to assure access to the Kingdom Hall, the facility the Jehovah’s Witnesses have on the street.
In the year 2000 Vatcha said we can expect streetscape improvements west of the station and a bike path running to the city limits. One important facet is the desire to make Delmar east of Skinker appear accessible and inviting.
The St. Louis Design Alliance, an architectural firm, has purchased the old A&P (or BiRite) building at DesPeres and Delmar.
They have a preliminary design.
They have discovered that this building is much older than most of us thought.
They are uncovering the original facade and the building should be an attractive addition to Delmar. Vatcha also mentioned the building owned by Mary Gore on the 6100 block of Delmar immediately to the east of Church’s Chicken.
It has been in a state of disrepair, particularly at the rear of the building. Officials are working with Ms. Gore to see that conditions improve. At the same time, there is a new tenant there-Afrocentric Books.
This highly regarded business just moved to Delmar from Olive Blvd. Joe Edwards and Pat Hagin were then called on to discuss the augmentation of their plans for the Pageant which they hoped answered some of the concerns of the neighbors.
A principal concern has been the adequacy of parking for the Pageant and for existing businesses and nearby residents. Edwards explained that they had tried to work with the city to get additional places because the Pageant will be located where a city lot originally was planned.
The Pageant building will have 2 floors of office space.
They hope to be able to announce the name of their tenant in a couple weeks.
There will also be 2 storefronts designed for retail businesses and they have spoken with likely tenants for this space too. Edwards and Hagin are buying an additional lot to the east of the proposed Pageant from Mr. Mehlrnann.
This will become parking as will lots in the back of the Pageant. Patrons wishing to park will enter the Delmar lot and then be filtered back to the other lots. (See map below.) In addition, BiState has given the Pageant permission to use their lot for overflow parking. Counting spaces on the street, that gives us 686 parking spaces.
The pageant is a concert venue/night club.
They will book touring bands that perform all kinds of music from folk to jazz to rock to country.
There will be a tiered concert area on the 1st floor which will provide good sight lines.
The Pageant’s central location may make it possible to attract bands that otherwise wouldn’t come to St. Louis.
The venue will hold 750 to 1500 people.
They hope for an average of 1,200 people 3 Vz nights a week.
There will be a balcony as well.
It will be possible to have reserve seats on the balcony. Edwards and Hagin still need to get permits and liquor licenses and will be collecting signatures.
They are working to see that no sound bleeds into the neighborhood.
There will be 32 feet between a concrete wall of the concert hall and the front of the building.
They are working closely with sound engineers. Edwards said that they will serve some food, 2 or 3 items an evening.
They may employ a catering firm.
There is no room for a full-size kitchen. Arts in Transit is looking into the possibility of having the parking area and walkway decorated with interactive lights and sculpture.
A police officer from the 7th district and a number of neighbors spoke positively of this development and of Edwards’ reputation.
Original photograph caption
Proposed Pageant building. Original architectural rendering; designer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 1999.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1999_09.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 15; PDF page(s) 1, 15.
