Historical February–March 2008 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
When Heidi Dean married Kingsbury Square homeowner, Prem Chander in September, she got something old and something new? she was moving back to her old neighborhood to where she and Prem have decided to start their new life together. Heidi’s family lived on the 6100 block of McPherson starting in 1977. Heidi attended Crossroads School when it was on Lindell in the early eighties and later when it moved to the former Bettendorf store on DeBaliviere, where it remains today. Although she graduated in 1985, Heidi kept close ties with the school and later served on the Board of Trustees, “I served for six years, ending in June 2007. I’m still in touch with the school we’re going to the Chess Team Trivia Night in February.” says Heidi Dean. Both Heidi Dean and Prem Chander have provided ongoing support to the school over the years.
When asked if she had any fond memories about the neighborhood, Heidi says, “I used to wander all over Forest Park with our family dog.
She was really good, so I’d let her off leash, which I would never do these days. Once, she fell in the Grand Basin at the base of Art Hill, which was utterly terrifying.
But she was fine, and those walks were the beginning of a lifelong wander walking habit.
Another one is sledding on Art Hill – a cliché, but it’s true, I still remember how completely fun that was.” Now, Prem Chander, came to our neighborhood via Detroit via India!
He has been in St. Louis for a number of years and wanted to be in this area, “I loved the Central West End (CWE) neighborhood, I liked its proximity to Forest Park.
When I decided to buy a home, homes in Kingsbury Square were slightly affordable (still expensive) compared with CWE and they were closer to Forest Park. Important factor was that Kingsbury Square was close to where my wife (then girlfriend) grew up and her friends resided in that general area.” Chander said when asked about his choice of places to live. Chander sites Forest Park and Atlas Restaurant as two of his favorite local destinations.
When asked how she feels about being back in the area Heidi says, “Great – I love the vibe and architectural beauty of the area, and it’s wonderful to be so close to the park again. I’ll be riding my bike around it, with a pitstop for refreshments in the West End, when it’s warm enough.
My one complaint is the frustrating lack of convenient grocery shopping, but I was spoiled rotten in South City – I was within five minutes of three grocery stores, two pharmacies, a PetSmart and the best Target in town.” Prem and Heidi had a whirlwind summer and fall, their wedding brought guests as far away as India, France and California and now they are planning a visit to India themselves sometime this year.
All of this activity will slow down soon and you will probably see them out walking their dogs, Jim and Georgie, so stop and say “hello” and welcome them (back) to the neighborhood!
Original photograph caption
Heidi Dean and Prem Chander. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2008.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source prints question mark after something new and sites in Chander sites Forest Park; retained as printed.
Original source: SD_Times2008_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
