urbanSTL

It didn't help on Sunday that meters on Pine, 13th, and 14th (I think? might be a block off) have cardboard signs saying that parking is by permit only M-F 9-6 and all day on weekends? How can they make dozens of meters permit parking only?

rbb wrote:In case anyone was worried that the improvements to the Library are getting just too much positive press, no need to fear - KMOX has a wet blanket at the ready:

New Central Library Could Be A Haven For The Homeless

Farcical.

-RBB

I saw that and thought the exact same thing. Who's the suburb-loving Debbie Downer who pitched that story idea?

insomniacafe wrote:

rbb wrote:In case anyone was worried that the improvements to the Library are getting just too much positive press, no need to fear - KMOX has a wet blanket at the ready:

New Central Library Could Be A Haven For The Homeless

Farcical.

-RBB

I saw that and thought the exact same thing. Who's the suburb-loving Debbie Downer who pitched that story idea?

In that writer's defense, prior to closing, the Library's basement levels WERE a haven for the homeless. I would see them washing their unmentionables in the bathroom sink, sleeping in the computer lab, etc. fairly regularly.

^ Have to agree Gone Corporate but also believe the library director also needs to get some cojones in my opinion. He id helping to facilitate the problem by inaction or indifference to what happens in and around his institution.

Where in any charter or set in stone does the library have to accept such behavior nor has being politically correct help anyone let along some one who is homeless over the long run. Yes, its public, Yes, it a civic institution. No, It was not built or intended as a place in shelter for those without a home or willing to help themselves. Call in the police and start making it clear that the behavior is not tolerable.

I always jokingly used to refer the library as the "library slash homeless shelter" because it always appeared to be mostly homeless people in there at any given time.

The day I was there recently I personally witnessed a homeless lady arguing loudly with a security guard who was asking her to leave. Libraries everywhere have ALWAYS been a refuge of the homeless and other down and outers but there is a tipping point. Looks like they are trying to tip it back the other way. I heard the lady who was asked to leave saying something like "this is where I've always gone" kind of thing. It was sad.

Wow, this plan looks familiar:

http://www.archdaily.com/309962/fosters ... -unveiled/

Setting the trends for flyover cities like New York ... This is a burden we in St. Louis will have to shoulder.

We also won the popular choice vote in an international online competition at Architizer.

http://www.architizer.com/en_us/project ... VZhJyqF8zp

I don't understand what they've done with the Great Hall. It seems like it's now being reserved for donor parties. There are no reading lights on the tables (and the place is very dark), no magazines, no books, no practical function at all.

More good press: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighb ... tion/5269/

What's the story with the "cafe" off the atrium - is there any plan for it ever to be operated as an actual cafe?

dmmonty1 wrote:What's the story with the "cafe" off the atrium - is there any plan for it ever to be operated as an actual cafe?

I've heard that Urban Eats is going to go there. It apparently keeps suffering from delays, but hopefully it will be soon.

There was a man apparently stabbed to death outside the central library today... Not sure what effect this will have on the library itself...

Probably not a HUGE impact, but it's not a good thing.

The Library is the de facto daytime homeless shelter, and that either prevents people from patronizing it or it doesn't. I think the people who already stay away are the most likely to overreact to this.

But—and we're discussing this in the NLEC thread—to me this is another sign that the NLEC needs to go, and we need to rapidly come up with a better solution for serving our region's homeless population.

dweebe wrote:

jstriebel wrote:The Library is the de facto daytime homeless shelter, and that either prevents people from patronizing it or it doesn't. I think the people who already stay away are the most likely to overreact to this.or serving our region's homeless population.

I'm glad we spent $50 million so Larry Rice's minions could trash the place.

It's frustrating. But I don't think it's fair to call them his minions. A lot of them are homeless that are downtown because that's where Larry's place is and the library is an open to the public place right there. But some of them are these people who just engaged in deadly violence outside.

And while this might be insensitive, the bottom-line is they make the place smell, at times feel unclean and gross, and create disturbances on occasion.

I don't know what the answer is from the Library's perspective. They can't be kicked out for smelling, but it's certainly unappealing to many tax-paying citizens to come in, and it shouldn't be. It should be one of our crown jewels.

Hopefully shutting down the NLEC (something that really needs to be combined with an alternative, regional solution to serve the homeless) will help keep this from being THE daytime gathering place for the homeless. But we'll see.

^I have to disagree. Dweebe's statement is correct. Until the city does away with the NLEC the efforts at the Central Library and Lucas Park are wasted.

The fact that Larry has been allowed to continue this operation blows my mind. He's a nuisance and a danger to everyone. No more delays, no more pandering, no more excuses. We need swift action now.

robertn42 wrote:^I have to disagree. Dweebe's statement is correct. Until the city does away with the NLEC the efforts at the Central Library and Lucas Park are wasted.

The fact that Larry has been allowed to continue this operation blows my mind. He's a nuisance and a danger to everyone. No more delays, no more pandering, no more excuses. We need swift action now.

Oh, I'm in agreement with all of this. Just go see my posts in the NLEC thread.

I'm just saying many of these homeless don't have ill-intent.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what their intent is. The impact is negative.

I am not kidding lets make plans protest in front of NLEC and make rice and the city listen to the taxpayers that chose to live and spend money in downtown .

I was in the Central Library for the 2nd time during the public showing of the Arch Grants Finalists. I think the great hall was closed when I made my first visit. I was blown away by it and thought that the Library may become my new study space (I study about 20 hours a week), instead of the local coffeeshops.

Unfortunately as I was walking around I had to use a bathroom. Every bathroom I attempted to use had homeless men in every stall and it smelled terrible in the bathrooms. Alas, I'm sticking with my coffee shops for awhile.