Historical Winter 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Delmar business owners and Commercial Committee members know Gary Filmore.
His ready smile and shining pate grace many meetings about the continuing redevelopment of our significant arterial. Filmore is a Commercial District Manager.
He assumed this position in April of 2000. Throughout his more than six year tenure, he has worked with the 26th and 28th wards and thus Delmar from city limits to DeBaliviere and beyond.
When Filmore first assumed the position, he got many calls from people asking him to make property owners sell to them.
A number of owners in this then emerging area wanted to hold out for maximum profit.
He has seen a nice transition in which people have come together to make things work.
In both the 26th and 28th wards, he works with the commercial facade program.
This program provides some matching funds to enhance the appearance of commercial buildings.
He helps businesses with the sign ordinance.
He is, in effect, the liaison between city hall and neighborhood business. Currently, Filmore is also working with the 22nd and 4th wards as well.
He would like to see some neighborhood organizing in the 22nd similar to what we have done with Delmar.
He would like to see a group with a vision willing to work to implement that vision. Just as we did, he would like to see standards established and supported. Filmore mentioned that Alderman Frank Williamson (D26) will hold a meeting for the Delmar business owners in the 26th ward on November 9 at 6:00 pm at Marion’s Ribs. Gary is married to the former Thomasine Tomlin, who also worked at St. Louis Development Corporation.
They live in the Bevo Neighborhood, where Gary has served as chair of Bevo Day, among his many other activities.
Original photograph caption
Commercial District Manager Gary Filmore. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Winter 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2006_11.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
