Historical November 1981 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
New state representative district lines will split the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood into two legislative districts with elections next year.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere area presently is entirely within District 86, represented by State Representative Steve Vossmeyer. Redistricting, however, will divide the neighborhood into two redrawn districts to the north (new District 56), while the balance of Skinker-DeBaliviere is joined with existing District 79 to the northeast (new District 59). New District 56 includes State Representative Fred Williams. Representative Nathaniel Rivers, now representing present District 79, will reside in new District 59. Representative Vossmeyer, who will also reside in new District 59, has announced that he will not seek reelection next year. Alderman Dan McGuire (28th Ward) expressed concern to state legislators about splitting the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood. Testifying at a redistricting hearing in Jefferson City on Sept. 4, Alderman McGuire cited three problems with the new districts: 1.
The district lines are not “compact and contiguous.” 2.
The districts unnecessarily divide the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood. 3.
The redistricting partitions the Forest Park-Delmar corridor into four new districts-56, 57, 59 and 64.
According to Frank B. Avesing, Population Analyst at St. Louis University’s Center for Urban Programs, “The 59th District and a couple of other north side districts are not as compact and homogeneous as the south side districts appear to be.” Skip Coburn, Executive Director of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council, commented that “it is regrettable that the neighborhood is being divided into two legislative districts.” He expressed concern about the loss of a cohesive voice in issues pertaining to the neighborhood. New District 59 includes the Parkview and Rosedale neighborhoods.
It runs from Delmar south along the city limits to Oakland, east to Kingshighway (including all of Forest Park), north to Maffit, west to Goodfellow, then zigzags south to DeBaliviere and Lindell, west on Lindell to Des Peres, north to Delmar, and west to the city limits. New District 56 includes Washington Heights on its extreme southern boundary and runs along the City’s western boundary northward beyond I-70.
According to 1980 census tract data, the population of Skinker-DeBaliviere will be divided approximately in half when redistricting takes effect.
This data is indicated in the map of 1980 Census Tracts in which tract numbers appear in typed numerals and population figures appear in handwritten numerals. Redistricting occurs on a statewide basis every ten years to reflect population shifts and maintain voter representation in roughly equal numbers per district.
The 1980 Census indicates a loss of seven House districts in the City of St. Louis, from twentytwo to fifteen.
The new districts drawn by the Missouri House Redistricting Commission contain approximately 30,000 persons per State Representative. Congressional and State Senate redistricting has not been completed. Redistricting of the City’s twenty-eight wards is not due until elections in March 1983.
Original photograph caption
St. Louis City House Districts: House Commission tentative plan, August 26, 1981. The Paper, November 1981, page 1.
Originally published in The Paper, November 1981.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1981_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
