Midtown Strategic Development Plan
Public Meeting Comments
Thursday, June 28th, 2001, 6:30 P.M.
At Saint Louis Cathedral School
4430 Maryland Avenue

Physical

90. Historic preservation and rehab.

91. Infill on vacant lots.

92. High-rise developments along Forest Park.

93. Public arts/mural projects (encourage local artists to "leave their mark").

94. Get people to maintain their homes and businesses-fences, gutters, yards, etc.

95. Same for businesses.

96. Have some public forums to get the word to people who are not keeping their property in good shape.

97. Develop the area around Westminster on Sarah.

98. Plant grass on the vacant lots at 4200.

99. Save our bricks!

100. Create and apply design codes.

101. Amend zoning to allow for neo-traditional, new urbanism types of development.

102. Provide affordable properties for "mom and pop" business.

103. Businesses need to maintain properties and cleanliness.

104. Create a safe walkway into Forest Park off of Kingshighway.

105. Designate areas of historical style and also include areas where contemporary design is acceptable. Preserve assets and be open-minded to the future.

106. Close off Taylor Avenue.

107. Too much "CONTROL" stifles development. People avoid multiple tiers of bureaucracy because it is a nuisance to jump through so many hoops. General guideline are important, but each person has their own aesthetics and if you try to dictate aesthetics too much you stifle creativity. I think people should be free to choose what they want to project by way of the appearance of their own home. A neighborhood association is not necessarily qualified to dictate aesthetics.

108. Tear down condemned houses/buildings.

109. I hate that idea-save 'til somebody re-habilitates.

110. People are the lifeblood of the city. People support the shops and businesses. Resist the temptation to thin our blood by highly restrictive zoning. I like to see people walking, cycling and gardening. A bicycle lane on some streets would be great, especially on West Pine because it goes into Forest Park from SLU.

111. Do more with those "blah" tree banks along Euclid (W. side between Lindell and Maryland).

112. Green spaces, e.g., pocket parks, provide an oasis of hope. There are a limited number in the area and more would be beneficial.

113. Don't tear anything else down. Renovate!

114. Trees planted by City on the parkways aren't well maintained. They are poorly planted and a waste of money.

115. Why not establish "T.I.F.'s" for merchants to care for above?

116. Seniors have other issues.

117. Close off Maryland Plaza to cars. It would be a perfect pedestrian strolling street.

118. Create bicycling lanes and paths.

119. Stop tearing down historic buildings so developers can throw up new buildings for profit. Renovate and save!!

120. Too many vans.

121. Make walk from Wash. U. garages more pleasant to discourage van/bus use.

122. Add more flowers, more mature trees, more green space.

123. Move street planters off of dark alley at Whittier and Maryland. It is a dangerous place. Move them either north or south, but do not leave at a dark alley!

124. Need to develop a unified design for the area, e.g., lighting sidewalks, etc. (like SLU has done).

125. Get rid of concrete culverts-replace with gate of similar appearance.

126. Trash - I understand the neighborhoods could have purchased trash cans that the City would empty for $400.00. Now, they are no longer available. Why? Could they be part of this vision, and at no charge?

127. Need local businesses/apartments to take care of and keep up grounds. Can there be a group established to work with these businesses?

128. Make Lindell an actual boulevard with a median of flowers.

129. Create local parks on vacant lots for neighborhood children.

130. More pocket parks.

131. Identify CWE with signs, flags, etc. Hold a design contest.

132. Our community/neighborhood is one of the only real urban areas in St. Louis that mixes residential/community/industrial/institutional. So much about it works so well that suburban developers are trying to replicate it in St. Charles. The main difference between these two areas is in the quality of the public schools.

133. Renovate buildings-do not tear them down. Plant lots of trees and flowers.

134. Increase pedestrian and bike amenities.

135. In winter, bring back the old rule of, "shoveled walks within 24 hours of a snowfall." This would make our neighborhood more pedestrian friendly.

136. Rehab or replace dilapidated buildings.

137. Add more trash receptacles-and empty them.

138. Maintain good sidewalks.

139. Yes! Yes!

140. Poor execution of many services-need to do them better.

141. Keep senior buildings for seniors only.

142. More shopping stores for groceries and everyday needs.

143. Give Straub's a neighborhood award.

144. Coordination of development efforts. Let's not undo in order to do. There needs to be a plan for transitioning from residential to commercial, to institutional and industrial.

145. Renovation that encourages creativity and is not constrained by historic restoration.