The Sunflower Project in Old North St. Louis

Some parts of town just seem to have it together.  Whenever I visit Old North St. Louis, I seem to notice something new and positive each time.  A couple weeks ago I was up in ONSL exploring Jackson Park and drove west and noticed some beautiful new homes filling in vacant lots.

I also noticed some public art that reminded me of Tibetan prayer flags.

note the Stan Span in the distance

I stopped and walked around with my curiosity piqued.  I new I could research what was going on here, but I also wanted to talk to some locals about what was going on.

What better place than a coffee shop to get info, right?  I stopped in at La Mancha Coffeehouse at 14th Street and St. Louis Avenue.  I spoke to the barista while she served up a great cup of joe.  Turns out this empty lot on the 1300 block of Warren Avenue was tilled and planted with sunflowers to provide some interest in an otherwise dead space.  The flags were an addition to beautify the lot after harvest of the sunflowers.

If you have empty lots, why not make the best of them while they are in their transitional state...or fallow period?

I love stuff like this.  Empty lots don't tend to make people turn their heads and stop and get out of the car to investigate what's going on.  The Sunflower Project did just that.

Here's the story from Washington University's Sustainable Cities Land Lab Conference:

The Sunflower+ Project: StL proposes turning previously developed urban lots into a community asset through the planting of sunflowers. With a goal of eventually spurring redevelopment of these vacant parcels, the project will serve as an appropriate, scalable, and productive transitional solution. An experiment in the realms of phytoremediation, public art, public health, education and sustainability, the project will beautify the neighborhood and enhance the usability of the land in a low impact, low cost, and entrepreneurial manner. Using Lot #4, we propose planting a field of sunflowers with a repurposed rubble wall intervention marking the historic foundation line that would serve as a didactic tool for learning about history and sustainability. In addition to brightening the neighborhood, the sunflowers will serve the practical task of phytoremediation of the soil, while offering the potential for development of food or fuel products that could provide a source of local income. Alternative plantings will also be used to promote the remediation process year round. The Sunflower+ Project: StL is led by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in urban redevelopment, sustainability, horticulture, soils analysis, environmental air quality analysis, masonry, graphic design and communications, civil engineering and organic farming. (source)

The mix of agriculture and brick buildings is a thing of beauty to me.  I can't wait to come back and get some photos of the sunflowers in bloom.

Congrats to those working hard in Old North, your neighborhood is an example for the other 78 in St. Louis.

Daydream #384

Closed on the warehouse...dimes became dollars and everything came together. No insurance yet, no loans. Friends and confidants landed at the right time. The ping-pong table will be 3rd floor southwest corner. The drum set is not in the basement anymore, probably near the bar now. Those chickens won't jump off the roof, right? Ride your bike to the warehouse and bring your tube amp and practice away...lock the doors...and call me if you need me. Everyone is invited. The club is open. Smoke got thick, walked to the Purple Martin for a Purple Martin and walked home safe.

(Bohemian warehouse dreams continue in Fox Park...)

Walking the Stan

The newest Mississippi River bridge opens to traffic February 9, 2014. This 1500' cable-stayed bridge is the 3rd largest in the United States and will divert Interstate 70 traffic off of the Poplar Street Bridge (or, Bernard F. Dickmann Bridge).  It was formally named the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial bridge.  Time will tell what the people will call it.  To me, it'll be the Stan.

It's impressive that a massive project of this size was named for a truly good soul with local connections.  And, if you ever thought St. Louis wasn't a baseball town, well then maybe this will help convince you.  Stan Musial, number 6, the greatest Cardinal of all (sorry Mr. Gibson, I love you too) congrats on living a noble life and doing it right on and off the field.

This guy is an American treasure, and I think the name will stick.

I love you Stan, and will always think of you and the harmonica on opening day downtown.

photo source:  cbssports.com

Throngs of people took part in a run, cycling event, ribbon cutting, parade, etc.

I just went to enjoy the scene and be around others who love life and the unique opportunity to dig in on some crazy photo opportunities.

While the temperatures were cold yet tolerable and the skies were overcast, no blue to be seen, the cameras were challenged.  It was an experience to let the kids take in.  And many, many others chose to do the same.

I won't get into the details of this engineering and design feat, rather I choose to keep my mouth shut and cherish the memories of a once in a lifetime experience.

There are great views of the city from newly accessible angles:

 heading southerly

There is new signage:

There were tons of people from all walks of life enjoying the day and the historic moment (looks like Brooklyn on a normal day):

 good job Grandpa, I hope she remembers how cool you were

that's the right idea my man

 German immigrants built much of this city

 God bless her

There are new river views:

And of course the star of the show:

 inspiration via Vertigo

KDHX in Grand Center

KDHX 88.1 FM, St. Louis' community radio station since 1987 has recently moved from it's humble studio on Magnolia Avenue in the Tower Grove East neighborhood to a spectacular new facility in Grand Center.

From this:

To this:

Inspired by the new sign that was recently installed on the building, I really wanted to see what the new studios were like and what they were able to do with the building.  I am a freak for bold, artistic signage...it is big city...and I love the new KDHX sign, which utilizes parts of the Sun Theatre sign that used to adorn the front of that building.  I had to see the inside after appreciating the street view.

The Sun is currently under renovation for use by the Grand Center Arts Academy and the sign was not original, so it was removed.  This is just another phase of the continuing excitement and momentum in this beautiful neighborhood of Covenant Blu/Grand Center.

The "rays" were repurposed and incorporated into the KDHX sign and rumor has it the "Sun" metal and neon portion of the sign will be repurposed and installed on the Folk School of KDHX building, just down the street at 3323 Washington Avenue.

I contacted a neighbor of mine, Spencer Musselman, a DJ at KDHX on Saturday nights to see if I could get a tour:

Spencer puts a bounce in your step with Groove Grease, a full-throttle tour of raw funk, rare grooves, and African and Latin beats that will propel you late into the night. That's Groove Grease, every Saturday night from 11 until 1am.

Spencer was able to hook me up with a personal tour hosted by Chris Bay, DJ of Gold Soundz, one of my current favorites:

Not all that glitters is gold, but you can rely on Chris to separate the sonic gems from the rest. Tune in for a wide range of pop, rock and neo-folk, both old and new, and you'll find yourself with the urge to go back to those gold sounds again and again.

Chris was a gracious host and tour guide taking me through the various areas of the building including the staff offices, studios, recording space, the Stage performance area and the Magnolia Cafe (the name a tribute to the former space on Magnolia Avenue).

The studios are top shelf with the latest technology.

There are state of the art recording rooms for the DJs and show hosts to do production for their sets.

The live performance recording studio was designed to avoid right angles in the room and as a result has slightly off kilter lines that provide for a great sound and an interesting look.

 kit already set up and ready to go for traveling bands

I am so energized by all the changes and can't wait to see a performance at the Stage.  I understand that Pokey LaFarge recently did a show here recently and the sound was reported to be impeccable.

The space is welcoming and warm seating 144 people.

The space is intimate, yet very appealing for musicians.  The stage is ADA accessible (as is the entire building) and there is a cozy green room for privacy.

KDHX will be screening music related documentaries and movies in the Stage, as a full retractable screen was installed.

There is much more space for the vast collection of vinyl and CDs.

The staff has more room to spread out and the offices were designed to be wide open and welcoming with lots of natural light.

turnbuckles brace a section of the building

The best thing about this new building is it's a place I want to hang out.  I want to be here and listen to the shows I like (playing in the cafe) and enjoy a sandwich and a cold one and talk music.  Chris mentioned an event called "40s and 45s" held on 

Tuesdays in the Magnolia Cafe where you bring your favorite vinyl for listening, sip on a local beer, and talk music with your friends.  I can relate to this on every level and will be there.

The Magnolia Cafe will open soon, with coffee, tea, local craft brews on tap and food.

The decor in the cafe is awesome with red "records" on the wall commemorating donors.  There are amazing accents in the room, like a re-purposed fireproof projectionist room door from the Sun that are now tables and really cool bowling alley hardware from the Sun's 3-alley lanes re-imagined into a chandelier by the folks from Salvage City.

How many radio stations can you just hangout at and talk music and drink and socialize?  This stuff is happening in St. Louis.

Thanks Spencer!

Thanks Chris!

If you want to support KDHX, you can become a member by clicking HERE.  The community is growing and the results are yours to take part in.  There are no space constrictions, no medium untouched, no barriers.  KDHX seems stronger than ever and the future is bright.

I am so happy to see radio survive the Internet age.  Growing up in KDHX's reach, it was a beacon of hope for weirdo's and music fans sick of KSHE and the stifling, horrible 1980s popular airwaves.  I owe much of my soul and love of art and music to KDHX...and my heart is filled with joy to know they are surviving...growing...on the cutting edge...in my city.

The Cortona in the Cheltenham Neighborhood

The Cortona at Forest Park is a ~278 unit apartment complex rising in the Cheltenham neighborhood.  Visible from busy streets like Oakland and Hampton Avenues, and even Interstate 64, the apartment complex is scheduled for a February, 2014 completion.

This is an exciting part of town right now as there are several large projects in the works in the Hampton/I-64 area.  One is the construction of the Tri-Star Mercedes dealership that is underway.  This ~45,000 square foot project is an exciting addition to the former property of Fox 2 News at Berthold and Hampton that has been abandoned and empty since they left town for the staid burbs around 2008.

image source: nextSTL

The other exciting development is the St. Louis Zoo's purchase of the former Forest Park Hospital across Hampton.  The demolition of the hospital is underway right now and is making way for a 19 acre addition said to include a zoo-themed hotel, additional animal habitat and major new exhibit, pedestrian bridge and gondola going over I-64 (source).

photo sources: St. Louis Zoo

So it is exciting to see additional housing options popping up in this part of town. Additional residents will only boost the activity seen around here.  And hopefully the addition of residents and visitors will boost the happening business and entertainment district around Clayton and Tamm in Dogtown...led by my favorite soup joint in westside St. Louis at Nora's at 1136 Tamm Avenue.

I am all for infill.  If we are ever going to see a gain in residents (which we haven't seen since the early-mid 20th Century), we need to meet the housing needs for a diverse set of people seeking all kinds of different lifestyles.  I am of the opinion that new infill does not always need to be historic in appearance, in fact I think we need modern new designs melding with the old brick, stone and wood classics.  Take UIC's work in Botanical Heights as an example.

The Botanical Heights Neighborhood

Or the many examples of quality construction and design from various eras in the Central West End.

photo source:  Toby Weiss-CWE Mid-Century Modern: Lindell Boulevard

Nothing is more beautiful than the best of two era complementing each other.

We need diversity in housing that offers people modern living amenities that compete with what is available in the suburbs and newer Midwestern cities that offer much more contemporary options than St. Louis.  Many people just don't like living in old buildings.  They can be drafty, inefficient, laid out weird, wired with antiquated electric, etc.  Some people want the newest, most efficient kitchens, baths, windows, HVAC, lighting, floor plans, etc.

I think that is what the Cortona will bring...and with some interesting finishes to give the development a modern look.

The site is not a typical neighborhood setting like you can get in most parts of town, it is part of the larger Highlands office park that exists on the spot of the former St. Louis Arena.  There are a couple residential buildings called "The Lofts", a hotel and restaurant, a building housing BJC operations and two other buildings with various tennants including financial, media and construction firms, etc.  A Jimmy Johns, Yoga studio and Comet Coffee and Microbakery are in the first floor facing Oakland Avenue.

I'd use this greenspace for soccer

 Hampton Inn hotel

Office space with 1st floor retail

The wavy contours of the buildings are intended to emulate the roller coasters of the Highlands amusement park that once sat here.

"The Lofts"

So there will be those who'll certainly criticize this as contemporary "business park living", and I see the point, but I live in a traditional turn of the century St. Louis neighborhood and I don't have as many walkable amenities as this (yet).  The location is awesome as one of the greatest urban parks in the country is across the Interstate.

The property manager for the Cortona, Mark Milford, reached out to me and gave me a sneak peek of the Cortona.  He shared a lot of great info on the development, like the name which was a nod to Cortona, Italy one of Steve Brown's (Balke Brown) favorite places when he studied in Rome.  Mark is a suburban St. Louis guy who'll be living here soon.

The complex was still under construction upon my visit, so I'll spare those photos.

The first floor is scheduled for completion in February, 2014 and an additional floor will come online each following month.

The building is 5 stories, sits on 4.79 acres and has many, many modern amenities including an awesome 0.5 acre center courtyard area with a pool, outdoor 24' fire table and center pit, BBQ grills, cabana with showers, bar and 3-tiered pool (lap pool, tanning ledge and hot tub).  Modern stuff like USB ports on the electrical outlets, recycling and trash chutes, etc.  There will be an Enterprise car share on site, and private covered/structured parking for its residents; there are 314 parking spots for the 278 units.  There is a dog run, a common space for parties that overlooks the courtyard, fitness center, multi-purpose game room, etc..

 future 3-tiered pool 

 Private cabana in background, outdoor grills/bar, social lookouts

Accordion glass opens from courtyard to social space

parking structure and dog run in the foreground

Apartments range in size from studio/1 bath 575 sq. ft. to 2 br/2 bath 1299 sq. ft. All the luxuries of modern living one would expect are here, including great views of the city to the east.

This development is coming on line about the same time as The Aventura Phase II in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood to the east.  The styles are quite a contrast.  The Cortona is interesting and modern, the Aventura...well, if you pay attention to early commentary from the outspoken St. Louis lovers, you will have heard it referred to as "Straight Outta Ballwin", plastic suburban schlock, cheapest possible, a private complex closed off from the surrounding neighborhood, etc.  I have chosen to keep my opinions of the Aventura off the Internet, but will gladly share if you buy me a beer.

 a little bit of the burbs right here in the middle of St. Louis

Aventura phase I

The worst thing about this development is it is highly visibility along I-64 and it's lack of context in a really cool neighborhood that is on the rise and has St. Louis' beauty and soul all over it.

Anyhow, congrats to the Cortona for adding a fresh, modern element to St. Louis' new housing scene.