Don't all hospitals have a multitude of parking options to allow people who have disabilities to be closer to the part of the building they need to visit?
Why is this place such a fortress? Is it the association with the U.S. Government, or the location? Would this have the same level of security if it was located in Chesterfield?
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Yes, many if not most VA hospitals have something like this security wise. Depending on location the guard houses are sometimes unmanned. And many, even urban ones, are islands unto themselves.
There are better ways to balance parking options with the needs of those arriving from Grand. This plan tilts 100% towards parking convenience with no consideration towards approach on foot. This is a massive oversight especially considering the popularity of the Grand bus route that will be bringing both staff and patients to the hospital.Black02AltimaSE wrote: ↑Sep 13, 2023Don't all hospitals have a multitude of parking options to allow people who have disabilities to be closer to the part of the building they need to visit?
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I think the only way we should allow the street closures is if they're required to keep them open for pedestrian access and passage through, and the parking garages should be required to have some public street activation. Maybe you out a cafeteria or a coffee shop there. (Every hospital needs a few, in any case.) Cochran has always been a butt ugly campus, and I'm not really going to mourn anything that could be lost there, but this really does need to better serve the community it occupies.
How many people have actually visited the VA Hospital for treatment? Took my dad there several times, the facility, as is, is outdated, over crowded, and difficult to access for a large number of veterans (and has been for over a decade). Just from visiting, I would say that the patients skew much older and MUCH more mobility impaired than at your typical BJC or Mercy Medical Center. Also, the hospital draws from a huge area, so a lot of patients and families are coming from over an hour away.
I don't think anyone is arguing it isn't overdue for an overhaul and expansion, just that what's presented doesn't seem well thought out or respectful to the surrounding area. There are better ways to accomplish the same goals and function better than this plan.TalkinDev wrote: ↑Sep 13, 2023How many people have actually visited the VA Hospital for treatment? Took my dad there several times, the facility, as is, is outdated, over crowded, and difficult to access for a large number of veterans (and has been for over a decade). Just from visiting, I would say that the patients skew much older and MUCH more mobility impaired than at your typical BJC or Mercy Medical Center. Also, the hospital draws from a huge area, so a lot of patients and families are coming from over an hour away.
We're arguing for denser site, where parking garages would likely have direct connections to the building. The current plan requires visitors to cross parking lots and driveways from the parking garage to the building. And just a reminder that the overall goal here, a more walkable robust street grid, is substantially better for those with disabilities than car dependent (and often in their case, driver dependent) sprawl.
Wouldn't professional hospital designers know best what meets the needs of hospital staff, patients, and visitors? Wouldn't they best know what current conditions they're working with? Presumably they're taking their commission seriously. Their responsibility is to meet the needs of the hospital, not to satisfy the wishes of a couple dozen urban enthusiasts.
It's hilarious that you think architects make these decisions. STLEnginerd hit that nail on the head. A parking garage is placed exactly to justify the demo of the Paladium. These decisions are coming from hospital administrators trying to grab as much land as possible. As for a couple dozen, urban enthusiasts, we don't have the opinions because we like shiny big buildings. Super blocks ruined Mill Creek Valley. Cardinal Ritter Prep is occupying the space of what could be 80 homes within walking distance of Grand Blvd and the businesses on it. The VA is acting like they're in a suburban location when they're not. They're adjacent to what we sadly attempt to label our region's premier art district despite having like 4 art galleries. Downtown Springfield, MO has 10x the arts scene as Grand Center. Dense walkable urbanism matters.framer wrote: ↑Sep 14, 2023Wouldn't professional hospital designers know best what meets the needs of hospital staff, patients, and visitors? Wouldn't they best know what current conditions they're working with? Presumably they're taking their commission seriously. Their responsibility is to meet the needs of the hospital, not to satisfy the wishes of a couple dozen urban enthusiasts.
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FWIW. This was my thought to improve the concept. A little tighter on the south side but i think its a workable compromise. Still end up closing two streets. Full closure of Bell, and merging Delmar & Enright splitting the difference between them and aligns with Enright to the west and Delmar to the east. This leaves space for a strip of storefronts across the street from the hospital. Claims a bit of their parking lot on the East side but vacates franklin there so i don't think the lose much if any acreage, while the little triangle next to Powell becomes a pocket park.
And for those who would say the hospital holds all the cards because they own the land. The city owns the streets and they won't be vacated without city approval. They have all the leverage they need to demand a better plan.
And for those who would say the hospital holds all the cards because they own the land. The city owns the streets and they won't be vacated without city approval. They have all the leverage they need to demand a better plan.
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^You know, at a glance that looks pretty good. The infill feels like the sort of thing that some developers put on their projects to sell them, but never end up building. I'd be . . . concerned it'd never see the light of day. But the flow of it feels better.
BB 147 - John Cochran VA Hospital Conditional Street Vacation
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/c ... BBId=16357
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/c ... BBId=16357
Demo permit applications submitted to make way for the parking garages.
StlToday - VA hospitals in the St. Louis area are in line for major upgrades
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... c5881.html
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... c5881.html