{Delmar in the East Loop envisioned with two traffic lanes and median streetcar}
The idea is being floated to give Delmar Blvd from Des Peres to DeBaliviere a diet. In order to maintain four lanes of traffic along with the trolley several stretches of street parking would be sacrificed. Reducing Delmar to two lanes like it is to the west would keep the street parking. As it is this part of Delmar most of the time has little traffic and motorists often drive too fast. Neither promotes the pedestrian experience that the community would like to extend from the west.
During rush hour westbound traffic backs up due to the reduction of lanes at Des Peres. With the already planned reduction of DeBaliviere fears are mounting. With population declines and good mass transit coverage how can this be? One only need look at a map to see why congestion increases quickly. So many streets have been closed or one-wayed that cars that otherwise wouldn’t be on the major streets must spend more time on them. This funneling overwhelms our bigger streets, and they cannot cope. Take a look at historicaerials.com to see how the street grid was complete back in 1958.
Streetcars are on the minds of many in St. Louis. The Loop Trolley finally got through the University City city council and will soon begin construction. Meanwhile, the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis unveiled their own streetcar proposal. Matt Fernandez has provided a nice write-up on nextSTL. In summary, the Partnership has proposed a system composed of 2 lines spanning 7 miles: one going from the Gateway Mall at 7th St to the Central West End via Olive, Lindell, and Taylor and a second line going from Civic Center to Old North St. Louis via 14th St and North Florissant.
The proposed north-south streetcar line would duplicate portions of the Northside MetroLink line that was studied back in 2008. Given the general shorter range of streetcars, there has been some concern that the route duplication could impede the future expansion of MetroLink into north city and beyond. These concerns are not unfounded.
Archdiocese of St. Louis representative Katie Pesha has confirmed there are plans for an extensive renovation project at the Old Cathedral (officially the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France) which is ringed by the Arch grounds. The project is expected to cost between $12 and $15 million and is being funded completely by private donations. Currently only phase one has been funded according to Pesha and donations will dictate the future pace and extent of the renovation.
Phase one is a stone restoration and window replacement that is expected to cost approximately $3 million and be completed by the end of the year. The optimal plan for the renovation would be highly focused on restoring the historic elements of the interior as best as possible according to Pesha. This includes restoration of the wooden floors, pews and paintings, updated lighting, repair of the tile mosaic floor around the altar, plus a potential museum expansion.
Several WhoLou sources are alleging that highly-coveted Swedish-based furniture chain Ikea intends to develop their first St. Louis store close to the campus of St. Louis University. The 300,000 sq. ft. store will allegedly be built near the Laclede Gas and Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center complexes on Forest Park Ave. between Sarah Street and Vandeventer Ave.
The company has 285 stores in more than 20 countries and designs its own product which is then produced by more than 1,000 suppliers in 50-plus countries. With only 38 stores in the United States boasting an Ikea is regarded by many cities as a retail status symbol. Rumors in St. Louis often take on a life of their own. A store opening that was recently announced for Kansas City is expected to be open by the end of 2014.