Historical June 1990 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Gary Mestman, developer of the DeBaliviere Arcade and head of Mestman Real Estate, Inc. stated that he has just signed a lease with Ren Corporation. Ren, a kidney dialysis corporation, currently has operations in eighteen states.
According to Mestman, Ren provides kidney dialysis on an outpatient basis. “This service is greatly needed in the St. Louis areas’: stated Mestman. Ren will occupy 5600 square feet of the arcade which includes three of the middle front stores.
With two health care services in the arcade, Ren and DeBaliviere Dental, Mestman states that he still plans more retail use of the remaining 15% of space. Finished in 1988, many of the store spaces have not yet been filled.
However, Mestman has no regrets about his decision to invest in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area.
According to Mestman, “It is a solid area, and good property:’ The road, however, has been a rocky one. Efforts to lease space for a jazz club in the arcade, and to construct a Walgreen’s on the lot at 501 DeBaliviere were met with staunch neighborhood opposition. Alcohol and traffic were among concerns raised by residents. Local neighbors attended hearings before the Excise Division of City of St. Louis, the Heritage and Urban Design Commission, and the Board of Adjustments.
The Excise Division denied the application for a liquor license to the jazz club representative.
The request for rezoning from residential to commercial necessary for the construction of Walgreen’s was denied by the Board of Adjustments.
When asked what current plans were for the 501 DeBaliviere site, Mestman stated that he was awaiting Walgreen’s decision on other options.
He is also exploring possibilities with the Bi-State Development Agency Transit System. DeGiverville resident Roy Tagger stated, “I’d like to see something nice go up on the lot:’ Neighbors have welcomed the Woody’s & Wells A-1 Barbecue to the strip. “It’s the best barbecue in town,”’ stated a Waterman resident. Residents living directly behind the arcade would prefer that the barbecue be cooked inside with the installation of the appropriate exhaust system. Complaints have centered around the smoke and smell of barbecue in their homes. Mestman stated that he had written a letter to them and expected resolution of the problem.
David Woods, owner of Woody’s & Wells A-1 Barbecue stated that he is working very hard to solve the problem.
At this point, however, he was not able to give an exact date. “I’m going to comply with whatever the city wants me to comply with:’ stated Woods. Continued neighborhood support may enable Woods to purchase the necessary exhaust system to satisfy residents. Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighbors have had mixed reactions to the development of the DeBaliviere Arcade since its purchase from Pantheon.
When asked his opinion of the arcade, Wesley Falker, Block Unit head for the 5700 block of Waterman stated that he preferred maintenance of the architectural integrity of the neighborhood. “I wanted the former buildings to remain and have parking in the back:’ Others neighbors are glad the strip has finally been cleaned up, and put to use. Other tenants, Subway, Joe’s copies, DeBaliviere Dental, Vincent’s Hairport Express, and Nuvo Cleaners, have met little if any opposition. Neighbors on the 5700 blocks of DeGiverville and Waterman have commented on the increased litter throughout the neighborhood. Others have commented on the frequent lack of available parking spaces in front of the businesses.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, June 1990.
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Original source: SD_Times1990_06.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
