Historical April–May 2013 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Urban Design and Development Plan for the Skinker DeBaliviere community continues to progress as revealed at the Public Planning Workshops held at Hamilton School on February 13 and Grace Methodist Church on March 26. Seven Development Plan Components for the neighborhood are emerging – and the consultants provided multiple development options for each of the following study areas: 1. Des Peres Avenue – How do we build from Four Corners and connect to Forest Park and the Delmar Loop? 2. Lucier Park – Do we want Lucier Park to be an enclosed neighborhood park or a multi-use community park? 3. Delmar Metro Station Area – Which Transit Oriented Development (TOD) options best serve our community? 4. DeBaliviere Metro Station Area – Which (TOD) options best serve our community? 5. Metro Garage Site at Delmar and DeBaliviere – If, in the long-term, the Metro Garage relocates , what are the development options for the site? 6. Forest Park Parkway – How do we want to create a new image for the neighborhood and improve safe access to Forest Park? 7. Skinker Boulevard – How do we want to improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and provide a new “front door” to the neighborhood? At both Public Workshops, participants worked in groups – markingup large drawings – to provide new ideas and feedback to options presented by the H3 Studios consulting team. Complete presentations from Public Workshops 1, 2 & 3 can be found on the Council’s website at www.skinker-debaliviere.com.
As part of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development, H3 Studios, Skinker DeBaliviere’s planning consultant, has been hired by the St. Louis Development Corporation to conduct comprehensive Transit Oriented Development (TOD) studies for the Delmar and DeBaliviere stations.
The Skinker DeBaliviere, West End, and DeBaliviere Place neighborhoods and the Loop will all benefit greatly from this additional development planning effort. Two public meetings will be held for these TOD studies, although the dates are not known at this writing.
In the meantime, Skinker DeBaliviere will slow its planning process so that we can take advantage of, and incorporate, portions of the TOD studies in our Urban Design and Development Plan.
The Public Workshop #4 scheduled for May 14 will be rescheduled. Community volunteers are needed to participate in a Walkability and Bikability Audit and a Building Conditions Survey that SDCC will be conducting in conjunction with the planning effort.
The Walkability and Bikability Audit is a community-based volunteer event.
The purpose is to identify opportunities in the neighborhood to increase connections and access to transit, improve perceptions of safety, and enhance the overall beauty and quality of public space throughout the Skinker DeBaliviere community.
The outcomes of the Walkability and Bikability Audit will be used to guide proposed public realm improvements in the Skinker DeBaliviere Urban Design and Development Plan.
This event is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, May 20.
The Building Survey will create a block-by-block inventory of all buildings in the Skinker DeBaliviere community. Volunteer teams will photograph and document the type, height, materiality, occupancy and condition of each residential, commercial and institutional building.
This survey data will identify opportunities for rehab and revitalization of existing built fabric as well as redevelopment of vacant or underutilized areas that do not positively contribute to the quality of the neighborhood.
The Building Survey will be conducted mid-May through mid-July.
If you are interested in volunteering for either of these efforts, please contact the SDCC office at 862-5122 or sdcc@skinker-debaliviere.com.
Original photograph caption
Seven planning study areas diagram. Proposed options, not modified geographic boundaries.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2013.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source Saturday May 20 is Monday in 2013; retained. Vol 43 masthead differs expected 42, source not silently corrected.
Original source: SD_Times2013_04.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
