There is a sort of concrete pipe roundabout somewhere else in the city. I can't remember where, bu I've seen it. I think I've even seen it in someones pics.
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If memory serves me right I believe there already are bump outs on Olive in that location.
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MattnSTL wrote:There is a sort of concrete pipe roundabout somewhere else in the city. I can't remember where, bu I've seen it. I think I've even seen it in someones pics.
The only one I can think of is in Old North at Hebert and Blair.
I agree - I think narrowing the streets is a great suggestion. Our neighborhood (both 4100 & 4200 blocks) is supposed to have a meeting with the city transportation department, but I haven't heard an exact date yet. I will bring these suggestions to their attention.
I think all the streets in GS should remain open, and am not excited about moving the barriers to Sarah. I feel like we'll just be isolating ourselves from any future developments to the North/East.
I think all the streets in GS should remain open, and am not excited about moving the barriers to Sarah. I feel like we'll just be isolating ourselves from any future developments to the North/East.
If memory serves me right I believe there already are bump outs on Olive in that location.
Yes, there are already two bump outs on the 4200 block of Olive. Since there usually aren't many cars parked on the street, the street still feels wide-open. Once residents start moving into the Gaslight Condos, I'm guessing there will be more cars parked on the street, which might have an additional narrowing effect.
Images #6 and #10 below show the current bump outs.
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Yeah, I thought those were the ones you were referring to. But I thought you could configure those to have a third bedroom upstairs in lieu of a loft. Sorry about the crooked pictures - it was sunny and I couldn't see my camera's display...
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Maybe I'm crazy but I never liked the traditional "St. Louis set back." I think those places would look much better - and more "urban" if they were right up against the side walk ... just my opinion ...
^ I agree, and you could build more floor space into them. I don't see how this wouldn't make sense.
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Zezus-- I want to sincerely apologize for the way I came across. Certainly I respect and admire your investment in an emerging St. Louis neighborhood, and I realize that everyone has different tastes. I think my biggest gripe is not so much the design, but the presence of yet more barriers. There are enough roadblocking barriers in this city, and I'm extremely discouraged that new neighborhoods are being divided by them too. We should have learned from that fad long ago, yet we're still practicing it. It's just frustrating that so many people think that's a good idea.
I think those houses actually look pretty great. As far as NEW single family homes in the city go, these are much better than most.
But damn, those road blocks really are obnoxious and unwelcoming. I really hope that one day they will be no more.
But damn, those road blocks really are obnoxious and unwelcoming. I really hope that one day they will be no more.
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The only problem i see , and it isn't even a problem, is that they make it seem like a suburban neighborhood not a city house. But who cares they look amazing.
They don't look as poorly suburban as some others that I have seen. At least they seem to be, for the most part, built close together and don't look exactly the same as their neighbor.
Zezus-- I want to sincerely apologize for the way I came across.
Thanks, JivecitySTL. I really do appreciate BOTH the praise and criticism of the neighborhood. Hopefully, we will learn from all the misakes in GS, and avoid them when building new homes/communities. I just get frustrated when people repeatedly make negative blanket statements about the neighborhood.
I just read the Millenium Restoration website, and I'm really impressed with Val Place and DeTonty Place. I do hope that we start to see more urban, innovative designs like these built in the blocks surronding GS, as well as the rest of the city.
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sadly i think everyone gets way to emotional on this website.
St. Louis Texan wrote:sadly i think everyone gets way to emotional on this website.
Actually, Texan, I think people are pretty respectful in how they manage differences on here. It's certainly more civil than political blogs or car forums!
Zezuz, thanks for posting those new pictures. Some of the details on the houses do make them appear more 'modern' than 'historic', but overall they look nice and classy! I love the use of glass block at the basement level in your first photo. That's something I'll keep in mind for the future. My only gripe is the two houses in photo #3 that have big, tall, vinyl siding-clad chimney's on the front facade. If they were on the back of the house, it would be okay. IMHO, on the front they should be clad in brick or something more decorative than vinyl.
markofucity wrote:Maybe I'm crazy but I never liked the traditional "St. Louis set back." I think those places would look much better - and more "urban" if they were right up against the side walk ... just my opinion ...
Mark I have to disagree. I love the "St. Louis style" setback. Right now it makes these houses look too new because the yards are all new/barren. In time, however, once there are mature trees and more landscaping it will give these houses grandeur similar to houses on Lindell, West Pine, and other streets.
In addition, the small amount of added green space helps environmentally by reducing the stormwater load on the sewer systems and it helps reduce the 'heat island' effect.
I agree with you, however, when it comes to the commercial and larger-scale apartment buildings. Like the one in Zezuz's photo at Olive and Whittier. It looks like it's in good condition and has the potential to be a great property.
I'm with Tysalpha. I like the "St. Louis Setback". While non-setback neighborhoods such as Soulard have their unique charm, I personaly wouldn't want to have pedestrians (and rambunctious kids) passing by just outside my window. I need that cushion of grass and trees.
I like the set-back as well. Many of the houses have first-floor master bedrooms that face the sidewalk, so this provides a nice buffer.
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Yeah. I know. No one ever agrees with me about the set-back. I had several people tell me I'm crazy. I just never liked em ... I like the "looming urban canyon" feeling of buildings right up to the sidewalks.
I don't mind the "looming urban canyon" feel - as long as there is ground-level retail, with residential above. The condos on the four corners in GS will be right up to the sidewalk, which should make the neighborhood feel more urban.
I agree with you Mark. And I think it's not as much that I don't like the setback at all so much as I don't think I've EVER seen a house in St. Louis not use it. It would be nice to see it at least now and then.
And why do they have to always be on a slight hill?
And why do they have to always be on a slight hill?
stlmike wrote:
And why do they have to always be on a slight hill?
That makes excavation for the basement less expensive.
