Historical Summer 2014 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council is organizing a Better Block event along Des Peres Avenue, on September 13, 2014. What is a Better Block event? Officially, it is “a demonstration tool that acts as a living charrette so that communities can actively engage in the buildout process and provide feedback in real time.” In plain English, it is a way for residents to imagine different (re)uses that might be found for underused lots and buildings in our neighborhood.
Some of the projects underway embody ideas that come out of the Skinker DeBaliviere Urban Design and Development Plan that was developed last year. For inspiration, check out the YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ntwqVDzdqAU, which gets across the big picture nicely. Under the leadership of Liz Pund and Kelcy Siddall of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council, a group has been meeting regularly to get a number of projects going.
Each project will be a “mock-up” of a potential use for a particular place. Michael Whisenhunt is working to drum up interest in reading, by getting a bookmobile to the event and putting a Little Free Library at the Four Corners.
A Little Free Library is a box (fancy or simple) where anyone can go to donate a book or to take one. Check out http://littlefreelibrary. org/ourhistory/, which gives some background. For refreshments, we will have both food and drink. Andy Cross will be assembling a popup restaurant with cuisine yet to be determined. Bob Oesch plans to run a “Beer & Beer” garden, including a pop-up microbrewery (remember, the Merriam Webster definition of “skinker” is “one that serves liquor”!) Bob plans to get neighborhood brewers involved as well, and also to serve non-alcoholic beverages such as root beer, so we can have a real “sip of Skinker-DeBaliviere”. Katrina Stierholz will be running the Skinker DeBaliviere State Fair, where residents of all neighborhoods in the City, and Parkview, are invited to submit entries for competition. Leah Nguyen plans to run a Community Art Activity, where she will both paint and help participants paint.
She plans to make “Mandalas” – circular artworks on the ground made from a clay slip material. Stephanie Weiskopf, resident, is working on the dog park and a yoga demonstration. Dan Schesch will do a mock-up of a separated bike path along Des Peres Avenue.
The Neighborhood Services Committee will distribute information about our neighborhood. Anders Carlsson (yours truly) is recruiting musicians/ bands who are willing to contribute their time and skill to the event, and is investigating possible uses for a proposed redevelopment of the Wabash Station on Delmar, next to the Metrolink stop. Nate Johnson will be mocking up buildings on some empty lots along Des Peres where the zoning calls for residential buildings.
The day will conclude on a high note with the final installment of our Summer Concert Series.
We need help!
If you can contribute your time (or tools/ materials) to any of the above efforts, please contact Kelcy Siddall at kelcy.siddall@skinker-debaliviere. com, and/or come to our next planning meeting at the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council office, 6008 Kingsbury. Also, consider attending the visioning session for the Wabash Station on Saturday June 7, 8:30am-noon, at the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, 450 Des Peres Ave.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2014.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2014_06.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
