Historical February–March 2002 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Delmar Committee is undertaking a study of parking on Delmar, in an effort to plan for the future success of the area. Since the original plan for Delmar was adopted several years ago, new uses for some properties have made the demand for public parking more apparent. Committee members Jennifer Olmstead, Neal Shapiro, and Jo Ann Vatcha, and Dave Mastin, President of the Delmar Business Association, have volunteered to update currently available parking, study the successes of the Loop, and brainstorm other strategies with the full committee. Jennifer Olmstead will make a presentation on February 21, 2002, at the committee’s noon meeting at SDCC.
A report will be prepared this spring for discussion with the area’s two Alderpersons, major funders Bi-State, the City of St. Louis, and Washington University. as well as business owners on Delmar. Other Delmar news: the committee welcomed Daffney Moore, a new participant, from the City’s Planning and Urban Design Agency. Ms. Moore has worked in several cities and is currently working on maps and planning materials which can be shared with potential developers, chiefly for east Delmar to Union. And, at long last, the medians and planters from Hodiamont to DeBaliviere have been completed. Trees and grass have even been planted!
The view east from the Wabash Station is lovely and displays a long and uninterrupted vista of planted median as far as one can see. That was the vision years ago when the Delmar Committee worked to obtain funding for the beautification improvements on Delmar. And the implementation of the streetscape improvements goes on, with the sidewalk enhancements for the 60 and 6100 blocks now in final engineering stage just before bidding begins. Construction will begin later this year on the view west from the station, designed to provide a wider sidewalks and a vista looking toward, and like, the Loop. Selection of pedestrian lighting will be made soon, to augment the street lighting along the western portion of Delmar in the new, wider sidewalks.
An interesting discussion, including the lighting expertise of our own Neal Shapiro, owner of Antique Lighting. helped all the committee members understand the intricacies of the choice, including information on available fixtures, as well as the pros and cons of having the so-called cobra fixtures remain. Not only did we learn about the budgetary restraints, we also considered the potential for continuing the Loop Christmas lighting east of Skinker at some future date, by retaining the taller streetlights.
The decorative pedestrian lighting will be at a lower height and give light and ambience to the street.
The committee decided that whatever selection is made, the most important point is that it should be consistent with the fixtures being selected in the University City portion of the Loop.
A design has been tentatively selected, and a sample fixture will be installed shortly in the Loop. Be sure and go by to see it and let one of the Delmar Committee’s members know what you think about it.
The final selection will be made this spring.
Original photograph caption
Proposed pedestrian lighting fixture. Original design illustration.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2002.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2002_02.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
