Historical Summer 2003 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
As part of Operation ConServ, a planning committee was established for Skinker DeBaliviere in 1989.
In turn, several specialized committees were also created. JoAnn Vatcha was asked to chair the Commercial Committee.
She immediately found consensus that it would be best to concentrate on Delmar, our premiere, though quite run down, thoroughfare.
An initial act of the committee was to walk Delmar to get a feel for what was there and what the conditions were.
It was a very hot June afternoon and brief respite was sought at the thenMcDonalds in the 58xx block.
After discussion with SDCC Executive Director Nancy Farmer and Alderman Dan McGuire, it was decided to create a redevelopment plan for Delmar between city limits and DeBaliviere.
The Committee took on the form it has held almost until today. Members included Lana Stein, Sam Green, Dennis Townsend (owner of Boulevard Cleaners on Delmar), Loretta Lloyd (owner of Sunshine Academy), Steve Brammeier, two neighborhood architects: John Reeve (who moved from our neighborhood) and George Johannes (who participated for years). Deborah Smith, a Washington University graduate student, administered a survey of businesses and residents, assisted by Jack Wright.
As work on the plan began, Alderman Irving Clay and Marie Fowler of the West End Community Conference became active participants.
In more recent times, Joe Edwards, Neal Shapiro, and Jennifer Olmstead have joined, as well as people from the business association.
While the redevelopment plan took form, JoAnn Vatcha guided successful grant applications, which brought trees, awnings, banners, and, later, funds for the major streetscape improvements to Delmar.
The committee met frequently and its members developed a strong rapport. Vehement disagreements did not take place. Sponsored by Aldermen Clay and McGuire, the plan was passed by the Board of Aldermen and provided standards for building height, parking, railings and other physical forms.
They also contained a set of prohibited uses. Prior to passage, the ordinance was published in the Times and community hearings were held. Lyda Krewson took Dan McGuire’s place as 28th alderman and brought her experience in redevelopment to the table. Joe Edwards’ desire to move east in the Loop and construct the Pageant was the pivotal decision that guaranteed a successful reworking of the Delmar thoroughfare. Yet, without the work of the Delmar Committee and its chair, JoAnn Vatcha, the area would not have been ripe for Edwards’ multiple efforts. Vatcha worked many hours on Delmar redevelopment and through her patience, her steadfastness, and her vision she contributed incalculably to the committee, the neighborhood, and rebirth on Delmar. JoAnn Vatcha has lived in Skinker DeBaliviere with her husband, Neville, since the late 1960s.
They raised their two daughters, Chanaya and Dina, here and formed very strong bonds with their neighbors and their neighborhood.
After graduating from Southeast Missouri State, Vatcha became an English teacher in the Parkway district.
After motherhood, she changed career directions and is now a housing analyst at CDA, working to revitalize neighborhoods like Benton Park West. At one time, she headed Neighborhood Housing Services and is now a housing analyst at CDA.
She has been able to use the knowledge and skills she has gained from working in Soulard and Benton Park to achieve progress on Delmar. Without her dedication, intelligence, and perserverance, history would be evolving quite differently. JoAnn’s skill in dealing with people and respecting their ideas has been paramount.
She was never deterred from the goal even though it at one time may have seemed like a long shot. Working amid diversity, she maintained harmony.
It is hoped that the contribution of her and her committee will be lasting.
They have assisted an avenue devastated by the systemic disinvestment that frequently accompanies racial transition and they have done so by including neighbors to the north as well as the south, existing businesses, and interested residents.
Original photograph caption
Original Delmar Commercial Committee in1991: Sam Green, JoAnn Vatcha, Dennis Townsend, Deborah Smith, Lana Stein, Jack Wright and Nancy Farmer. Photo by King Schoenfeld.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2003.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2003_06.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
