Joe Edwards, neighborhood resident and highly successful entrepreneur in the University City Loop, hopes to help redevelop the 6100 block of Delmar.
Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill and the Tivoli, along with partner Pat Hagin, wants to develop a concert hall/night club at 6161 Delmar. This is on the north side of the street where the Wabash Triangle Cafe once stood. The venue will be called the Pageant. The name is taken from a movie theatre that used to stand a short distance east on Delmar from the proposed site.
Edwards and Hagin, who is a talent buyer for Blueberry Hill and other clubs, want to feature all types of music at their new concert hall from blues to folk, from reggae to rock. They plan to have a variable capacity of from 750 to 1,500 people.
Their building will contain two retail shops at store level and two floors of offices. Plans for their development include new lighting and they are exploring ways of augmenting parking in the area. Their development is very close to the Delmar MetroLink parking facility.
Edwards and Hagin presented their plans to the Commercial Development Committee and the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council in March. Both bodies were eager to work to make this development possible. Commercial Chair JoAnn Vatcha noted that those working on Delmar redevelopment had long hoped for some spark to set the process in motion. Many saw this as such a spark. Edwards remarked that his concert facility could stimulate greater interest in development on Delmar and draw new retail and restaurants. It would put more people back on the street, fostering increased safety.
Edwards and Hagin are now supervising work on the final plans for the development. The Times will reproduce renderings in its next issue and they will be available for inspection at the SDCC office.
Edwards and Hagin are seeking a variance from the master plan and a 3am liquor license to accommodate the appearance of major national acts on weekends. They are working closely with Alderman Krewson and the relevant city boards about their plans. Any hearings that are necessary will be open to the public.
Edwards will hold informational meetings in the Plano Room at Blueberry Hill for both residents and Delmar business owners. The residents’ meeting will take place on Monday, April 19, at 7:30pm. All Skinker DeBaliviere residents are invited to attend to learn more about this development and to ask any questions they may have. The business owners’ meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30pm also in the Piano Room at Blueberry Hill.
