This needs to stop being just the way it is. Inflexible minimum parking space requirements are incompatible with a strong Complete Streets policy and good urban design. The city needs to allow developers to have flexibility with utilizing fewer parking spaces than traditionally required. This is not an impossible ideal, its just something that needs to get done as part of the city becoming more in tune with what makes successful cities.Mark Wegmann wrote:I'm also being told the Hookah cafe will need 4 DEDICATED and PRIVATE parking spaces to get their occupancy and the SLU garage will not count. while many come on here with great ideals, they are not possible so we do what we must, even if we don't like it..
just the way it is.
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I wonder what would happen if a developer pushed back?Roger Wyoming wrote:This needs to stop being just the way it is. Inflexible minimum parking space requirements are incompatible with a strong Complete Streets policy and good urban design. The city needs to allow developers to have flexibility with utilizing fewer parking spaces than traditionally required. This is not an impossible ideal, its just something that needs to get done as part of the city becoming more in tune with what makes successful cities.Mark Wegmann wrote:I'm also being told the Hookah cafe will need 4 DEDICATED and PRIVATE parking spaces to get their occupancy and the SLU garage will not count. while many come on here with great ideals, they are not possible so we do what we must, even if we don't like it..
just the way it is.
"I want to open a pub at the corner of X & Y."
"OK, you'll need a parking lot for 30 cars."
"No, there is plenty of street parking in the surrounding blocks"
"We require parking for every business"
"OK, goodbye".
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Of course NIMBYism can come into play in certain neighborhoods but I wouldn't see that as an issue in Midtown.... parking requirements should be greatly relaxed in that area.The Central Scrutinizer wrote:I wonder what would happen if a developer pushed back?
"I want to open a pub at the corner of X & Y."
"OK, you'll need a parking lot for 30 cars."
"No, there is plenty of street parking in the surrounding blocks"
"We require parking for every business"
"OK, goodbye".
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Except there's no residential density as justification. I can see South Grand and the Loop, parts of Soulard, the CWE, etc. But elsewhere, where are the people coming from? They have to drive. Lafayette Square, The Grove and other areas are auto-dependent. I see the issue more as creating better parking than fighting parking.
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right, parking requirements in Lafayette Square is one thing, but rather silly in Midtown. There is no shortage of parking in the area and no residential for NIMBY concerns.Alex Ihnen wrote:Except there's no residential density as justification. I can see South Grand and the Loop, parts of Soulard, the CWE, etc. But elsewhere, where are the people coming from? They have to drive. Lafayette Square, The Grove and other areas are auto-dependent. I see the issue more as creating better parking than fighting parking.
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I dunno, sounds like this is just so the owner of the restaurant has parking for him and a minimum number of staffers. 4 reserved parking spots for a business is actually quite small. And sure, there are parking lots at the Loop, but they have two pre-existing advantages: saturated population from which to draw employees who can walk to work, and parking spots already behind most buildings there (i.e. along the alley just south of Delmar).Roger Wyoming wrote:This needs to stop being just the way it is. Inflexible minimum parking space requirements are incompatible with a strong Complete Streets policy and good urban design. The city needs to allow developers to have flexibility with utilizing fewer parking spaces than traditionally required. This is not an impossible ideal, its just something that needs to get done as part of the city becoming more in tune with what makes successful cities.Mark Wegmann wrote:I'm also being told the Hookah cafe will need 4 DEDICATED and PRIVATE parking spaces to get their occupancy and the SLU garage will not count. while many come on here with great ideals, they are not possible so we do what we must, even if we don't like it..
just the way it is.
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Sorry been busy with two kids -
Just a note - Midtown Alley just signed the 26th creative firm to a lease -
now working on the 3rd annual street fest which will include art exhibits and involvement from SLU -
we look forward to a close relationship with Father and the University and appreciate their help and
investment in the fest - more info to follow -
Just a note - Midtown Alley just signed the 26th creative firm to a lease -
now working on the 3rd annual street fest which will include art exhibits and involvement from SLU -
we look forward to a close relationship with Father and the University and appreciate their help and
investment in the fest - more info to follow -
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Dates?mark wegmann wrote:now working on the 3rd annual street fest which will include art exhibits and involvement from SLU - we look forward to a close relationship with Father and the University and appreciate their help and investment in the fest - more info to follow -
Every year, the biggest problem with this fest is the lack of promotion. I usually don't hear about it until a week before, and I pay attention to these things. Further, the promotional materials usually fail to focus on the most important part of any fest: the music, the food and the booze. IIRC, the posters focus on the businesses involved and make generic referneces to music and food; be SPECIFIC and tell me which bands are playing!the central scrutinizer wrote:Dates?mark wegmann wrote:now working on the 3rd annual street fest which will include art exhibits and involvement from SLU - we look forward to a close relationship with Father and the University and appreciate their help and investment in the fest - more info to follow -
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Same here. I'd love to know about it 3-6 months in advance, so I can put it on my calender.jeff707 wrote:Every year, the biggest problem with this fest is the lack of promotion. I usually don't hear about it until a week before, and I pay attention to these things. Further, the promotional materials usually fail to focus on the most important part of any fest: the music, the food and the booze. IIRC, the posters focus on the businesses involved and make generic referneces to music and food; be SPECIFIC and tell me which bands are playing!the central scrutinizer wrote:Dates?mark wegmann wrote:now working on the 3rd annual street fest which will include art exhibits and involvement from SLU - we look forward to a close relationship with Father and the University and appreciate their help and investment in the fest - more info to follow -
PD artilce earlier in the week about Salvation Army latest housing project. Nice to see proposed infill but trying to understand some of the concerns as they sound pretty reasonable per the article. Just haven't seen any drawings or renderings out there.
Please find article, meant to link
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 59092.html
Please find article, meant to link
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 59092.html
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The 29th creative firm has been inked to a lease - Midtown Alley continues to grow and prosper even in a slooooow economy.
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Mark, I think you're one of the unsung heroes of this city. Keep up the good work.
Are there any plans for infill in Midtown Alley, aside from the Salvation Army development? I'd really like to see Olive, in particular, start to look like a normal street again.
Are there any plans for infill in Midtown Alley, aside from the Salvation Army development? I'd really like to see Olive, in particular, start to look like a normal street again.
BTW, the Salvation Army project has broken ground.
SLU has lit up their Midtown/Grand Center buildings:
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Here's an update about new offerings in Midtown, such as Plush and Hamburger Mary's.
Here's an update about new offerings in Midtown, such as Plush and Hamburger Mary's.
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Did SLU purchase that pink triangle building that was part of the Kohner owned apartment complex or the Shoe lofts??? Just curious as to why they both have lights...or did SLU just pay to have them installed?
As far as I know, a combination of SLU/Lawrence Group/Steve Smith does own these buildings.chaifetz10 wrote:Did SLU purchase that pink triangle building that was part of the Kohner owned apartment complex or the Shoe lofts??? Just curious as to why they both have lights...or did SLU just pay to have them installed?
Please! [In this case, I think we're safe.]rbb wrote:Does the blue light indicate desired future green space?
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I'll reserve judgment until I get over there on a night to see the lights in person. My initial reactions though are somewhat "Meh..." But it sure looks good, doesn't it SLU, having those pretty buildings all in a row along the street?
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^ Too much anti-SLU? 
What's needed is a catalog of SLU development - buildings razed, buildings preserved... anyone up for it? Would make a nice nextSTL feature story!
What's needed is a catalog of SLU development - buildings razed, buildings preserved... anyone up for it? Would make a nice nextSTL feature story!I saw the lights a couple of weeks ago. I'm really surprised by how much SLU (apparently) owns North of Olive. I'll take it as a good sign that they've heavily invested in an area that they previously wished didn't exist.
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^ did they also buy as they planned for Chaifetz north of Olive? That fell through and perhaps they're left with several properties they wouldn't otherwise own?
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When I saw the lights a few weeks ago, I thought it looked pretty slick.