Tower Grove Residents Ask For Slower Traffic, Better Pedestrian Amenities for South Grand Streetscape
Tower Grove residents have expressed their desire for a very different South Grand Avenue. Just fewer than 100 residents attended two open house event recently and East-West Gateway now has a summary of feedback available on-line here. There is a lot of information in the survey, but it appears that a large plurality would like to see a three-lane South Grand with trees possibly moved to the parking lane.
My previous post regarding the South Grand streetscape advocated for three traffic lanes, but leaving trees as part of the sidewalk and preserving more on-street parallel parking. I still believe that this would be the more simple solution while immeasurably enhancing the street. To be fair, a three-lane "enhanced" streetscape wasn't an option in this CH2M Hill presentation. I think it's fantastic that neighborhood residents want the most pedestrian-friendly street possible and with the recent rejection of a suburban-style CVS by the West Pine-Laclede Neighborhood Association in the Central West End, there is reason for optimism. City residents and business owners are beginning to demand better.
Gentrification: "... welcome by some and feared and loathed by others, and even dreaded and welcomed at the same time by the same people." Lance Freeman's pursuit of this duality makes the book strong-he's willing to admit that gentrification is both a pleasure and a problem, rather than setting up camp on one side.
What's surprising is how many people are in favor of the "plus" options since they lead to less parking available on Grand. I don't care either way, just as long as there are fewer than 4 lanes of traffic.
Overall, it's nice to see people voting based on the best pedestrian experience and not the best driving experience.
We agree - and it's a very good sign that neighborhoods around the city are seeing enough civic involvement and enough people who care to create better environments. It really doesn't take very many interested people to effect a better sidewalk or more pedestrian friendly streetscape. Just in the past several months St. Louis has seen a neighborhood group deny residential demolition for a parking lot, deny a suburban CVS store on Lindell and call for a much more pedestrian friendly South Grand. Good stuff.