Today the mayor of St. Louis is offering a Preservation Update that almost convinces the reader that the mayor is a diehard believer in historic preservation.
The catch? This mayor is Francis Slay, and his own blog catches his contradictions. In the past, the Mayor has offered support to: boxes of rocks replacing 19th century houses in Hyde Park, vinyl boxes replacing 19th century houses in Hyde Park, a land use plan that basically condemns all historic buildings east of Broadway (or east of I-70 on the northside) to demolition and a new bridge that will entail demolition of historic warehouses purchased by a speculator looking for a profitable buyout. These are only the items he has mentioned in his blog; other matters from the Century Building's demolition to silence on the matter of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church suggest that the mayor has a long way to go in learning what historic preservation really looks like.
His support of the local district ordinances is good, though, as is his support for bringing the Lafayette Walk project into compliance with local district codes. But let's don't forget that there is another side to Slay's record.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
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9 comments:
I think the real writer of hizzoner's blog couldn't think of much to post today. So he wrote about what kept him personally busy yesterday evening for multiple hours.
If you look at the city's recently adopted land use plan, you will see that much of the city, both north and south, is targeted for neighborhood preservation.
On the other hand, it's rather interesting to note that nowhere in south St. Louis is there an area designated as "specialty mixed use area", while much of downtown, the central corridor, and some of the northside is.
Technically, there are multiple, but limited "specialty mixed use" areas on the southside:
Park Avenue from 18th to Miss.
Mississippi Lofts
Forest Park Highlands
Grand and Shenandoah
Lansdowne MetroLink Station
Of these areas, however, only the latter two are south of I-44, and of those, the very latter is mostly covered by asphalt. Only the sites in Lafayette Square and Compton Heights are really pedestrian-oriented.
Park Avenue from 18th to Miss.
Mississippi Lofts
Forest Park Highlands
Grand and Shenandoah
Lansdowne MetroLink Station
Other than the Lansdowne Metrolink Station, it's a little bit of a stretch to call any of these other location "South City". Okay, Grand and Shenandoah, barely.
Is the Lansdowne Metrolink Station considered a development site, perhaps for transit oriented development?
Regardless, why do you think more of the southside was not designated for "specialty mixed use".
Consider Christy Plaza for example, or even an expanded area along the east side of South Kingshighway.
Did anyone attend hearings on this map?
Regardless, why do you think more of the southside was not designated for "specialty mixed use".
Because sadly, South City residents, at least the vocal Town-Talk-like voters, are largely anti-density NIMBY's, and the aldermen largely cower to their demands. These interests have killed townhomes at Clifton-Columbia and now most recently a Botanical duplex on The Hill, saying they only want single-family in their neighborhood. Hello? There is multi-family land use throughout each South City neighborhood, even SW City. What a joke!
Was there ever any discussion of the proposed land use map at neighborhood meetings? I never remember hearing anything about it.
Maybe the aldermen were trying to keep the whole process under wraps.
The strategic land use plan was discussed with the board members of various neighborhood associations, not their general membership.
"The strategic land use plan was discussed with the board members of various neighborhood associations, not their general membership."
Huh?
As a regular member of a neighborhood organization, shouldn't I have a chance to review and comment on a proposed long range plan for my neighborhood?
The Strategic Land Use Plan is NOT a citywide comprehensive plan. It is an attempt at drawing the rough outlines for one at a block level, and perhaps someday for changes in the City Zoning Code. According to this web page, "there is no specific 'implementation strategy' included in this plan."
While the Planning Commission DID adopt the Strategic Land Use Plan in January 2005, it has not been voted on by the Board of Aldermen. And it probably won't be. Some rezoning of selected areas has been completed as a result of this process, though. Those did require aldermanic approval.
Detailed neighborhood plans may be an outgrowth of the plan. Some had already been completed in the years prior to this plan's development. They include the North Central Plan, the Neighborhoods of the 5th Ward Plan, the Garden District Plan, the Vashon/JVL Initiative Plan, etc.
But to my knowledge, no comprehensive neighborhood planning has been attempted in Southwest City.
Anyway, the plan does have a comment form if you're interested.
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