http://homepage.mac.com/steve_patterson/iblog/B712221574 My take on Urban life (or lack of) in the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis region. steve_patterson@mac.com © Steven Patterson Sun, 21 Nov 2004 23:13:14 -0600 Sun, 21 Nov 2004 23:13:28 -0600 iBlog 1.4.0 ]]> Fri, 19 Nov 2004 23:13:09 -0600 Desco, the development arm of Schnuck's grocery stores (you know the stores that are allegedly the friendliest in town), wasn't happy enough razing the historic 1896 Century Building downtown. Now they want to tear down 20 homes at Grand & Loughborough. ]]> Fri, 19 Nov 2004 13:46:24 -0600 The Loop on Delmar is working its way East toward the MetroLink stop and beyond. In the process, millions have been spent on rebuilding much of the street between Skinker and Des Peres (MetroLInk). All in all, I love what they've done. ]]> Fri, 19 Nov 2004 13:24:16 -0600 A few days I ago I was driving around the area just North of downtown - looking for some development opportunities. But I found something very disturbing. ]]> Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:36:05 -0600 Work is progressing on the redevelopment of the long vacant City Hospital site. The only problem I have with the whole project (so far) is the name - The Georgian. Give me a break on the retro names already. ]]> Thu, 18 Nov 2004 18:35:03 -0600 An 'Urban Review St. Louis' reader alerted me to a new Frontline special entitled, "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" ]]> Wed, 17 Nov 2004 15:55:41 -0600 I haven't lost my mind. I mean, parking for bicycles. Look around, how many bike racks do you see in city or burbs? Sadly, too few. It does little to no good to have striped bike lanes to encourage cycling if you don't have a place to secure your bike when you get there. ]]> Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:47:59 -0600 Before the rise of sprawl community centers weren't needed because the street served that function - neighbors seeing each other as the walked from home to work to store. As we began to drive more and more the idea of a community center to create some false connection between neighbors began to sprout. Most fail as they are artificial. ]]> Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:03:21 -0600 From a recent Deb Peterson column in the Post-Distpach:
BUSINESS PER USUAL: THF Realty took the acronym out of its name and put the words back in - To Have Fun - at the company's annual meeting Thursday night at the St. Louis Zoo's Living World. About 300 people - including 100 employees and 200 business partners - listened and danced to rock 'n' roll Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson. The revelers were toasting THF for being recognized as the fastest-growing privately held developer in the country.

The Post-Disptach reported a few days ago that THF is seeking TIF financing for a project in Arnold. In the way is a VFW Hall. Municipalities across the region are doing whatever they can to increase their budgets. Unfortunately, many seek auto-centric big box developments. ]]> Wed, 17 Nov 2004 09:30:02 -0600 "The purpose of the SLRBF is to advocate issues of interest to bicyclists and to make the St. Louis metropolitan area a better place to ride through better bicycle access, safety and education." ]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2004 10:48:35 -0600 According to the sign at the new plaza and parking lot at 18th & Park Ave, it is the Heart of Lafayette Square. Silly me, I assumed the heart of Lafayette Square was actually Lafayette Square. Maybe someone voted to move the heart? ]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2004 09:58:30 -0600 In 1973 the velodrome in St. Louis' Penrose Park was barely 10 years old when R&B signer/songwriter Billy Preston had a #1 hit with Will It Go Round In Circles. But while folks were "riding high like a bird up in the sky" the cyclists were doing less riding in circles and more riding cross country. Track racing became less popular as touring helped fuel a 1970s bike boom. The 1973 oil shortage and long gas lines also led to increased bike commuting. Changing demographics (read: continued white flight) made Penrose Park at Kingshighway and I-70 less desirable to many cyclists. ]]> Sat, 13 Nov 2004 09:56:24 -0600 One of the weird things about having a brother 17 years older than me is I have nieces four and six years younger than myself. I was 31 when I became a "great" uncle when my great-niece Joey was born. She is adorable! Well, today at 8:25am I got a great-nephew - Bryan Keith. ]]> Fri, 12 Nov 2004 13:29:13 -0600 Fri, 12 Nov 2004 10:45:53 -0600 Fri, 12 Nov 2004 10:22:39 -0600