Zoning changes or no, there's a limit to dense development along the Loop Trolley that precludes it from ever becoming like the Portland Streetcar. An STL line connected the CWE/Midtown/Downtown would easily reach 2,600 riders a day very quickly. This line is being built only/solely/exclusively because Loop developer Joe Edwards wants it and he convinced the history museum and city to support it.
^ Agreed, Alex. Lets just hope it is successful enough (or does not flop too badly) that the city is still willing to pursue future trolley developments, like the one you mentioned.
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The Loop Trolley is the free market leveraging tax money for project in absence of an enforceable local/regional transit plan.
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^She should do a piece on the Drury Hotel Tax breaks. Think that will happen? 
History museum is pulling its $1m pledge for Trolley funding, as reported by the Post this morning.
Museum pulls out of deal to fund trolley: http://bit.ly/NWutLs
Museum pulls out of deal to fund trolley: http://bit.ly/NWutLs
Is this whole project on ice now since Robert Archibald was the President of the Loop Trolley Company, and the Missouri Historical Society pulled $1 million in funding?
It seems like after the last federal grant was approved they were really close to breaking ground.
It seems like after the last federal grant was approved they were really close to breaking ground.
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^ Nope, not threatened by that $1M, and the History Museum is very likely to restore that money once things calm down.
The University City Traffic Commission held off on approving plans out of concern for losing 9 parking spaces. Seriously? 9 parking spaces???
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/01/10/ ... ing-along/
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/01/10/ ... ing-along/
U-City officials are bent on destroying this plan...we should have already broken ground. This is pathetic.
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The first inner ring suburb to understand parking and traffic in the context of sustainable development and livability will win.
^ I was kinda hoping that Richmond Heights/Brentwoond/Maplewood would at least embrace this attitude within walking distrance of their respective metrolink stations. Instead, someone gains a box store (Target, Walmart,now Menards), someone loses a box store (Old Kmart off Hanley, Home Depot or Lowes) and they all lose population and growth to either St. Charles, Chesterfield and now to the City.
As far as University City, its banking on the fact that Wash U for the most part staked its ground in on its side of Skinker for all intents and purposes. Probably mistaken, but I speculate the parking issue has to do with city employees working at city hall.
As far as University City, its banking on the fact that Wash U for the most part staked its ground in on its side of Skinker for all intents and purposes. Probably mistaken, but I speculate the parking issue has to do with city employees working at city hall.
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Bingo. It's just a matter of time. It's easy to get down on it but St. Louis is set to explode. Think 25 year old guys are dying to get their hands on a 3000 sqft house in St. Chuck?dredger wrote:Instead, someone gains a box store (Target, Walmart,now Menards), someone loses a box store (Old Kmart off Hanley, Home Depot or Lowes) and they all lose... to the City.
I wish the current St. Chuck residents good luck selling their houses in 10 years. Helpful hint - no one is going to want them.
Trust me, we don't want to live in a cornfield
^ Yes, but the city still has a lot of work to do when that 25 yr old turns 35, becomes married and has a step child and/or own child(ern). It doesn't take long when perception of safety and schools become the defining factor in location. Just ask me,
What is encouraging for the city is that some of the more innovative charter schools are happening within its boundaries, especially performing arts. Its just a matter how many better and different choices the city can continue to encourage either it be charter, private, immersion schools or even helping homeschoolers as well as keep finding ways to support and rebuild the public schools, think recent bond issue. This is another area where the county in my opinion is starting to lag as the larger districts become protective of their turf.
What is encouraging for the city is that some of the more innovative charter schools are happening within its boundaries, especially performing arts. Its just a matter how many better and different choices the city can continue to encourage either it be charter, private, immersion schools or even helping homeschoolers as well as keep finding ways to support and rebuild the public schools, think recent bond issue. This is another area where the county in my opinion is starting to lag as the larger districts become protective of their turf.
The Loop retail study showed the parking lots along Delmar being build upon. How nuts will they get if someone actually proposes doing that?
Quincunx: Great icon.
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Exactly. U. City should be less concerned with 9 parking spaces, and more concerned with collaborating with Clayton to double the size of the trolley. This would bring more people to the Loop and might help solve some of the issues highlighted in the What's wrong with Clayton thread, namely office vacancies and struggling retail.Alex Ihnen wrote:The first inner ring suburb to understand parking and traffic in the context of sustainable development and livability will win.
I like that idea a lot better then trying to get the loop trolley to CWE. The question, Is anyone that forward looking in Clayton's leadership?
Definitely better then my idea of extending trolley through park to Zoo/Dogtown. Think the city should pursue downtwon/midtown/CWE street car and some north-south grids off the metrolink spine, BRT or streetcar, before getting on the loop trolley should go east ride.
Definitely better then my idea of extending trolley through park to Zoo/Dogtown. Think the city should pursue downtwon/midtown/CWE street car and some north-south grids off the metrolink spine, BRT or streetcar, before getting on the loop trolley should go east ride.
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The blue proposed extension of the Trolley runs entirely through residential blocks and thus won't assist in development, nor deliver the tourist passengers to, commercial outlets (with the exception of the very end in downtown Clayton).
The purpose of the current Trolley (red path) is to assist in the re-vitalization of the Loop East and the DeBaliviere commercial blocks, which it will do.
The purpose of the current Trolley (red path) is to assist in the re-vitalization of the Loop East and the DeBaliviere commercial blocks, which it will do.
I agree, but I think it would help to extend it to Downtown Clayton. The extension would run through a lot of residential, but there are nodes of retail (and development potential) at Hanley, Meramec, Midland, Maryland and Central. I don't think running through primarily residential areas would preclude it from assisting in development or delivering tourist passengers (to Forest Park, Debaliviere, the Loop, or Clayton). Consider the historic St. Charles Street Car in New Orleans. Most of it runs through the residential Uptown and Garden District neighborhoods and doesn't have retail or offices along the route. It connects downtown with Audubon Park, Tulane, and Carrolton, but mostly it serves a lot of entirely residential neighborhoods along the way.
But this is all pretty pipedreamy on my part. If they're already butting up against nimbyism east of Trinity Ave. I can't imagine how bad it would be to the west.
But this is all pretty pipedreamy on my part. If they're already butting up against nimbyism east of Trinity Ave. I can't imagine how bad it would be to the west.
You'd probably have better luck sending it down Hanley rather than North and South.
West End Word - Jan. 20 Meeting In University City To Discuss Loop Trolley
http://www.westendword.com/Articles-Are ... olley.htmlThe town hall meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave.
How many effin' meetings do there have to be? And what is this business about decisions not having been made yet??? This is ridiculous. We live in a city. Not everyone is going to be happy about every little thing all the time. Just imagine how progressive cities would respond to this relentless NIMBYism. Not that it doesn't exist in every city, but they would never let it hold up a major infrastructure project like this.quincunx wrote:West End Word - Jan. 20 Meeting In University City To Discuss Loop Trolley
http://www.westendword.com/Articles-Are ... olley.htmlThe town hall meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave.
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^ I dunno. D.C. has been having huge fights over street car and NYC battles fiercely over bike lanes. Its the nature of the beast of city living.
I suppose you're right, but this project has been signed, sealed and delivered for how long now? Almost 2 years? Yet, there are apparently decisions yet to be made? Isn't construction supposed to begin this spring? Hmm... I sincerely hope this doesn't turn into another Ballpark Village with one false start and false promise after another.