Historical April–May 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Right to Walk.
After I moved to Skinker DeBaliviere in 1989, I became an inveterate walker.
It was a great pleasure and beneficial exercise.
My walking days have been curtailed by arthritic knees but I remain a strong supporter of pedestrians everywhere. Today, a number of residents are concerned that an essential point of egress to Delmar may at some time be cut off.
In the late 1980s, a precursor and then the Skinker DeBaliviere Housing Corporation acquired the apartment buildings known as Rosedale Square.
As part of this action, the city vacated Rosedale between Washington and the alley just south of Delmar.
This meant that this small portion of street and the sidewalks was no longer a public thoroughfare and could be closed off by the owners of the property.
The street is closed but the sidewalks always remained open although there was talk of a sidewalk closing back then. Before saying how could that happen and why, we do have to remember that Delmar was a very different thoroughfare in 1987.
There were few points of interest – two good cleaners – on the south side.
The street appeared unsafe to many.
To see that the Rosedale Square apartments succeeded under the new ownership, some dreamed of defensible space to keep out the undesirable.
The Delmar Commercial Committee formed in 1989.
The Committee secured improvements to the streetscape, including a new crosswalk and stoplight at Rosedale, and fashioned a redevelopment plan.
There was some progress but the street really began to change when the Pageant opened 5 years ago.
There came new retail, restaurants, and other businesses.
It has been a spectacular Renaissance.
The streetscape is vastly different; Delmar is no longer a wasteland, particularly after 6:00 pm.
The Delmar transformation has been paralleled by our neighborhood’s increase in property values, its greater desirability, and a surge in foot traffic within the neighborhood.
When I moved here, everyone (or almost everyone) drove to Council meetings. Now, when I go there, I walk. Crime is not nonnegligible here but it is considerably less than 15-20 years ago.
The Housing Corporation recently sold Rosedale Square to Saamen Corp.
The apartments will be redeveloped as condominiums.
This redevelopment will occur without any governmental subsidy, abatement or TIF.
While the Housing Corporation was negotiating with Saamen, SDCC president Dan Schesch pointed out that, as purchaser, the Saamen Corp. would control the sidewalk, which enables so many of us to go to MetroLink, to the Pageant or Halo Bar, and to the new and wonderful Delmar restaurants.
A new owner could close off the sidewalk. That thought appalled any number of us. Housing Corporation members introduced the issue. Saamen agreed that the purchasers would not close the sidewalk.
In the longterm, if 75% of the condo owners wished they could vote to close it off. That language is in the sales contract.
The what if remains.
Some would like Saamen to give back the street and sidewalk to the city.
The alderman has asked them and they have refused.
The city has no cachet to force the issue.
This issue has come to a head, thanks to the SDCC president’s web site and postings.
He has spoken to 3 of the owners. One said (and I am paraphrasing) that the sidewalk should be closed. Delmar was too dangerous, etc. and hardly anybody uses that sidewalk. Obviously, he is back in the 80s.
A friend’s daughter lived at Rosedale Square right on Rosedale for almost a year. No problems.
The question is what to do now.
There has been debate in the Council. Although no one course of action has been chosen, the concern is quite evident. Obviously vigilance is important. And it is also key to be able to show a high degree of usage by residents of that sidewalk and strong popular support against any closing.
We can lay blame: the street shouldn’t have been vacated in the first place; that parcel of street and sidewalk should not have been part of the sale. But, we can’t relive the past. One not very walking friend said what’s the point? People can just go around the block. But, that’s a lot of difference to those on their way to work, people with small children, or people who are slightly infirm.
I have heard that someone would like to negotiate with Saamen and get them to give us an easement. That would be great for us but not likely to be seen as in their corporate interest.
We have to show we care and make that care known. But, we must be pragmatic as well.
There may not be a problem. But, there could be. Vigilance is the watchword.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2006_04.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
