Historical Summer 2022 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The following is a summary of topics discussed at the SDCC Board meeting held by ZOOM on May 9, 2022, at 7:00 P. M. Official minutes of the meeting may be found on the SDCC website https://skinkerdebaliviere.wordpress.com/ sdcc-board-meeting-minutes/, along with committee reports which were submitted to the board in writing. Mike Gras, elected to serve as alderman for the 28th Ward until elections for the new 10th ward take place in April, 2023, addressed the board.
He expressed interest in ongoing commercial corridor discussions and said he would not be a candidate for the post of 10th Ward Alderman in 2023.
His cell phone number is 314-497-8373; email is grasm@stlouis-mo.gov. President Molly Rader stated that the decision by the board to decline a property donation by Dan Schesch, which was discussed at several previous board meetings, was recorded in an addendum to the minutes of the previous board meeting. Commercial Committee Chairwoman Rachelle L’Ecuyer stated that six parking places have been taken by the Regional Arts Commission. Beautification Committee Chairman Andy Cross asked for help from the board members in selling advance tickets to the neighborhood garden tour to be held on June 4.
He asked each member to sell 10 tickets, noting that advance tickets are $10, a 20% discount off the regular price of $12. New Security Committee Chairman Grady Vaughan reported that our police department liaison, Ofc. Skaggs, said that crime was down in our area by 41% last month. Arline Webb voiced safety concerns about persons walking in traffic lanes or between cars, sometimes while pushing another person in a wheelchair in the center turn lane near the traffic lights, to solicit money from drivers stopped at the intersection of Forest Park Parkway and Skinker Boulevard. Ofc. Skaggs asked that such a dangerous situation be reported through a 911 call for immediate attention rather than to the police non-emergency line. SDCC Exec. Dir. Mike Reed noted that the Porch Fest on October 2 is the largest fundraiser for the SDCC and called for support.
He also said that costs for air conditioning repair in the SDCC offices will be less than anticipated.
The SDCC, at the end of the first quarter, has received one-third of projected income for the year. Treasurer Marnita Spite is resigning from the executive committee due to family responsibilities. Stephen Condrin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Real Estate, and Mary Campbell, Associate Vice Chancellor for Real Estate, both at Washington University, spoke regarding the proposed demolition of a building at 6030 Delmar Boulevard.
The university purchased the building in January, 2020.
The emergence of the Covid pandemic shortly afterward hindered further activity regarding the property, which is across from the former Dobbs Tire Co. site. Structural engineers recently evaluating the structure determined it was too unsafe for close inspection by their employees and would not allow them to enter. Numerous photographs taken from the perimeter by the engineers were displayed, showing extensive damage to the interior and to structural components, aggravated by water damage. One photograph showed the front façade having separated noticeably from the rest of the structure. Shortly after the purchase, the university had protective supports erected between this unstable façade and the sidewalk along Delmar.
The university is greatly concerned about the danger the building poses to the public should anyone manage to enter.
It is the policy of the university to save older buildings, renovate and repurpose them, and they deeply regret that this structure is beyond reasonable efforts for restoration.
They plan to salvage decorative architectural elements of the building wherever possible and store them until new construction can take place on the property.
They have no current plans for such construction. Assurances were given that whatever is built, by the university or a second party, will be designed in the spirit of the current building and in collaboration with the neighborhood. Preserved architectural artifacts will be incorporated.
After demolition and infill of the basement, the property will probably be seeded with grass.
The board voted to write a letter supporting the demolition of the building.
There was explanation of how the board conducts its meetings. Members of the public may not ask oral questions but may submit them in writing to the SDCC before the meeting. Committee reports are submitted in writing before the board meeting and distributed to members for reading. Members may ask questions relative to the written reports at the board meeting.
Following each board meeting, the committee reports just submitted and discussed and the approved minutes of the previous meeting are posted on the SDCC website, available to the public.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2022.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source calls ten dollar ticket twenty percent off twelve dollars; arithmetic inconsistent and retained. Marnita Spite versus Spight and Molly Rader versus Rater source variants retained.
Original source: SD_Times2022_06.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 4.
