university city
With an Eclipse Festival coming up in August and the world’s largest man-made moon rotating there already, why not add a Ferris wheel in U. City? My, my and a wag of the finger … what would the neighbors think? Well, they probably wouldn’t think any more ill of it than of the heady aroma of grease that used to emanate from the southeast corner of Skinker and Delmar, where stood a Church’s fried chicken restaurant once upon a time. Many ideas have been floated for that corner, but still, the Church’s building sits vacant, teasing folks like me who loved the product despite having to watch the whole gruesome process save the clucking and plucking). Anyhow, the Ferris wheel at this point is just a brainchild floated by an StL developer and the folks who erected a ‘yuuuge’ Ferris wheel in Atlanta. But we already have more concrete plans for a Ferris wheel at Union Station, which also will have an enormous aquarium; and a Ferris wheel is making its rotations at Six Flags as we speak. Is the public clamoring for yet one more? That remains to be seen. Skyview, the 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel that operates in Atlanta’s downtown Centennial Park, has been making money since its installation in 2013. Yet it was removed from Pensacola, Florida, where it was a total bust. There’s plenty else to do in U. City, as there is in downtown Atlanta, and if a trolley line can make it in The Loop, maybe a 120-foot-tall Ferris wheel can, too? But the Loop Trolley has yet to run (with paying passengers), so this is all idle musing at this point. One can dream, can’t one? Joe Edwards and his ilk in U. City certainly do.
clayton
Better get those overdue books back to the Clayton branch of the County Library, because as early as September, the walls will come a-tumbling down. That’s right, construction of the brand-new building is expected to begin this fall and wrap up by the fall of 2018. Sorry Claytonians: although you’d expect the name to change to the Clayton Branch, it has officially been the Mid-County Branch since the Clayton Library merged in 1977 with the county system, and the new sign on the front of the building will say ‘Mid-County.’ But when you see the design, you might want to rub your eyes and take a second look, because it totally resembles the nearby post office (that is not a compliment). The facility is among four remaining branches to be replaced or renovated, thanks to the ‘Your Library Renewed’ capital campaign. Voters in 2012 approved a $.06 tax increase to fund new facilities and upgrades to existing structures, as well as enhanced library programs and services. Projects at 11 branches have been completed, and three are under way. The Clayt … oops … Mid-County Branch project cost estimate is $8.5 million. Using pretty much the same footprint at the northeast corner of Central and Maryland avenues, the new building will be 16,330 square feet on a single floor over a garage. Designed by Christner Architects, the branch will include amenities such as:
• enhanced children’s area
• quiet reading room
• updated community meeting room
• two private study rooms
• business center with fax, copy and scanning machines
central west end
Forest Park Forever is at it again! The latest project to be unveiled is a $5.8 million revamp of Central Fields, the 29-acre area that’s home to events like the Balloon Glow and LouFest, but also to competitive athletics. As part of the current multiyear phase of capital improvement projects in the park … which, we always have to remind ‘Nuyawkers,’ is bigger than Central Park in NYC … the fields will be rebuilt and enhanced during the remainder of this year and into 2018. This project originates in the park’s 1995 master plan, which continues to guide the park’s significant restoration efforts. Central Fields project highlights include:
• Reconfiguring the athletic fields to provide new soccer and rugby fields; softball play will move to the Aviation fields
• Building new trails and sidewalks to provide better visitor access
• Replacing the existing field house/comfort station, which is in poor condition, with two new structures
• Improving pedestrian circulation to and from Central Fields with trails to the Jewel Box, the existing trails near Steinberg Rink, and the Festival & Parking Plaza at the Upper Muny
• Planting new trees and complementary new landscaping
The project has been funded primarily by private donations to Forest Park Forever’s special ‘Forever’ capital campaign, with additional funds provided by the City of St. Louis. If you were as yet unaware, Forest Park Forever is A BIG DEAL. Founded in 1986, the organization raised $100 million between 1995 and 2003 and already has restored iconic park features like the Jewel Box, Boathouse and Emerson Grand Basin. Since it’s not part of the Zoo-Museum Tax District, Forest Park Forever is supported by private donations, including from its 7,500 members, 1,100 volunteers, and community and corporate partners.
Congrats to our regional Better Business Bureau (BBB), which became a centenarian May 19! When it was founded 100 years ago at the Statler Hotel, BBB ferreted out snake-oil salesmen and counterfeit minks, and helped put the kibosh on bait-and-switch schemes. Today, BBB helps unplug online scams and warns consumers about shady websites, as well as the brick-and-mortar companies that apparently don’t know their bricks from mortar. A current BBB warning is about two St. Louis-based memorabilia websites, baseballcollectorsdaily.com and sportscollectorswarehouse.com, the focus of recent consumer complaints claiming the sites delivered inferior products, failed to make good on orders and were late in issuing refunds. BBB also believes some methods used by the businesses, which include the sales of mystery prize boxes and prize lotteries the business refers to as ‘breaks,’ might run afoul of Missouri gambling laws. The business is run by ‘two dudes in a basement’ and is an operation that grew faster than they could maintain it. It’s registered with the Missouri Secretary of State as Tango and Cash Enterprises LLC, and they admit the business is having problems dealing with its customers. Consumers have made a dozen complaints to the BBB in 2017 about the websites, nine of which went unanswered until BBB finally reached the company. It wasn’t easy, because neither website lists a contact number, email address or physical address. BBB officials say owners’ failure to respond to customers in a timely manner should give consumers pause. We say they can sure say that again.
frontenac
A few steps remain before the former Shriners Hospital for Children property, which has languished between Plaza Frontenac and St. Joseph’s Academy since it was vacated in 2014, can morph into the multiuse redevelopment proposed by the Desco Group, Schnucks’ commercial real estate subsidiary. The $80 million Frontenac project is to feature a three-story retail and office center, two restaurants and a Life Time Fitness center, according to recent plans under review by the city’s planning and zoning commission, which must give its blessing before a decision by the Board of Aldermen. P&Z was to weigh in after its May 31 session, which is after this issue went to press. Public comments are being incorporated. Meanwhile, Desco officials tout Life Time Fitness as a plum tenant, noting that the center will be designed along the same lines as the company’s flagship location in Manhattan, NYC. Childcare for children as young as 3 months will be available for members of the ‘Life Time Athletic’ facility, which at 70,000 square feet will be a full, resort-quality spa to anchor Frontenac Commons, the working name for the 9-acre development at 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The new property would be directly accessible to Plaza Frontenac via a drive around Fleming’s steakhouse. The site is zoned residential; the hospital operated under a conditional use permit. Meanwhile, Shriners moved to a $50 million, state-of-the-art facility it built last year at 4400 Clayton Ave. in St. Louis City. Some residents of Frontenac Woods, just to the west of the Shriners development, had questions when the plan was first presented to the commission in April, but reportedly the project has not faced major opposition. One reason, we surmise, is that the back of the old hospital had about as much charm as, well, the proposed new Mid-County Library building. Apparently, there’s not significant NIMBY or BANANA activity surrounding Frontenac Commons; NIMBY being the acronym for Not In My Back Yard. BANANA was a new one for us: it stands for Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything. Either acronym, of course, would apply to any plans for a gas station or fast-food joint, which would be DOA in the fair city of Frontenac.