All Entries in the "Get Involved" Category
What would you do with this Ferguson building?
When people talk about Ferguson Citywalk, they usually think of the core section of downtown Ferguson, spanning roughly from Marley’s to the Corner Coffee House. But in truth, the business district actually runs all the way to Brotherton Lane, encompassing the license office, Ferguson Style & Spa and a handful of other establishments.
This has long been the “service business” stretch of S. Florissant Road, so you’ll find plenty of auto mechanics and used car dealers. But the city of Ferguson is hoping to breathe some new life into this area, and they’re starting with the property at #830.
The city purchased this 4,000-square-foot building (pictured above) in 2011, along with a smaller parcel next door. Now they’re asking the public: How should it be used?
On May 30, Ferguson will team with Washington University to host an “IdeaBounce,” during which 15 finalists will present their concept for the property. Finalists will be chosen based on online submissions, then a panel of judges will select three winners, each of whom will receive dinner, a special gift and business mentoring.
Ideally, anyone who submits an idea should be willing and able to implement it, so this is technically a call for businesses & developers rather than a call for general ideas. But that’s not going to stop me from floating three concepts, none of which I have any interest in exploring. I used to be the director of the Citywalk district, so I know it well, and I think three great uses for this property would be:
- a dog training/agility center with dog wash facilities and a retail pet store (similar to Pets in the City)
- a Kinko’s or other print/copy place
- a community office space for co-working, where independent professionals can rent a desk/conference room/printer/etc, and work in a collaborative space with others
The co-working movement is really taking off around the globe, probably because it allows communities to foster entrepreneurship at a reasonable cost to business owners. I think it would be a great fit for Ferguson. I also like the other two ideas because they would fill holes in our local retail market…..and generate tax revenue.
You see, Ferguson Citywalk is a TIF district, meaning that financial incentives may be available for new businesses that bring in sales tax. Downtown leaders are also striving to build an arts & entertainment destination, so a new retail store would definitely fit into the mix.
But that’s just my line of thinking. I’d love to hear what good ideas everyone else comes up with!
If you’re interested in submitting a concept, visit this website by May 16. And even if you don’t have an idea to present, you should still plan on attending the IdeaBounce on May 30. It starts at 7pm (with registration at 6) and all are welcome! Location is 830 S. Florissant Road.
By the way, I should probably tell you a little about the building…. It’s located in a high-traffic location about one mile from UMSL and Highway 70. It has tile floors, tall ceilings, a loading dock, parking in the front and rear, and green space on one end of the property. Inside, it’s basically a big open room with 4,000 square feet.
Celebrate Earth Day at Little Creek Nature Area
Come visit Little Creek Nature Area on April 21 and help to plant trees.
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
The public is invited to celebrate Earth Day by exploring the wonders of Little Creek Nature Area on April 21.
Little Creek Nature Area is a unique outdoor classroom that offers hands-on science education to more than 11,000 students and several thousand North County community members each year. It consists of 96-acres of prairie, farm and forest land owned and operated by the Ferguson- Florissant School District.
Little Creek’s Earth Day celebration is chock full of adventure for nature lovers. Participants’ first stop is to check-in at the high school building at Little Creek for pastries and coffee before enjoying all or a few of the morning activities. The celebration schedule includes the following:
- 7 to 8am Jog up to five nature trails or bird watch
- 10am to noon Walk the trails
- 8am to noon Plant trees, pull honeysuckle and help tend the gardens
“Our Earth Day celebration gives us a unique opportunity to share all that Little Creek has to offer with the community. Most people wouldn’t expect to find a “natural treasure chest” in the middle of a bustling city, but here we are,” said Eric Hadley, science and Little Creek coordinator, of the area surrounded by urban development.
“We have winding creeks and beautiful ponds. We have prairie, farm and forest land. We are the home to countless living creatures. We even have hiking trails. You can‟t help but feel a sense of peace, calm and connection with the earth when you visit. Everything at Little Creek points to nature, even the names of our landmarks,” he said. That explains why Little Creek‟s newest addition, Discovery Pond, is in good company with bridges named “Raccoon,” “Rabbit” and “Turkey” just around the bend.
“We‟re inviting everyone to come enjoy nature with us,” Hadley said. Those interested in participating should RSVP by April 19 at bstephenson@fergflor.org
Little Creek Nature Area is located at 2295 Dunn Road, 63033.
No MOre Trash! Bash hits NoCo on Friday
At last year's No MOre Trash! Bash, 18,000 volunteers hauled in more than 157,000 bags of trash and tons of other debris from Missouri's roadways.
Every single time I drive the Airport Road/170 exit ramp near Boeing, I’m appalled at the volume of litter. It never seems to go away, and I always promise myself that I’ll come back and clean it up, which of course I never do. That’s why I have high hopes for this Saturday, when MoDOT and the Missouri Department of Conservation are teaming up for their annual No MOre Trash! Bash event. MoDOT’s Kara Price has all the details about this month-long litter prevention celebration…
On behalf of MoDOT St. Louis City and North County area teams, we would like to invite you to take a few hours to make these important areas beautiful this spring during the annual No MOre Trash! Bash. We encourage you to join efforts to pick up litter on Friday, April 6 starting at 10 a.m., along Interstate 70 at Cypress near Lambert Airport. Participants will meet at 10 a.m., at Terminal 1′s Cell Phone Lot.
MoDOT, community leaders and Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will all be participating in this event. We will provide safety vests, gloves, litter pickers and trash bags. Please wear safe and comfortable walking shoes.
The goal of the annual No MOre Trash! Bash is to spread awareness of Missouri’s litter problem and work toward a litter-free state. We need your help this year to help make Missouri more beautiful and keep it that way. Keeping litter off the roadways and out of the water is an important step in beautifying Missouri for another beautiful spring and summer.
Last year, more than 18,000 volunteers and other participants collected more than 157,000 bags of trash and tons of other debris throughout Missouri. Each year, MoDOT spends more than $5 million to clear litter along highways throughout the state.
MoDOT and the Missouri Department of Conservation wants to do more than just pick up trash by getting Missouri residents and tourists to stop littering, realize it is unhealthy and understand that it is against the law!
To register for No MOre Trash! Bash, call (314) 453-1810. All ages welcome. You can also learn more about the event here.
Directions to Terminal 1′s cell phone lot, where volunteers will meet at 10am on Friday, April 6:
Eastbound I-70 – Exit at Cypress and make a right. Make a right at Natural Bridge Road. Make another right at Lambert International Blvd. The Cell Phone Lot is on the left. Westbound I-70 – Exit at Natural Bridge Road and make a right. Make another right on Natural Bridge Road. The Cell Phone Lot is on the left.
Got your gloves ready? It’s Trash Bash time!
Help to keep our local waterways clean. Volunteer at Trash Bash on March 24.
Let’s face it. This has not been a great year for North County’s waterways. First we learned that the Watkins Creek Watershed, which covers 6.7 square miles in the Spanish Lake area, is contaminated with toxic levels of salt and e-coli. Then it was reported that Coldwater Creek in Florissant may be responsible for health issues in local residents. Now we’re hearing that nuclear waste, long ago buried in a Bridgeton landfill, may actually be contaminating our groundwater.
Geez. How depressing.
It’s easy to read all of that and feel defeated, I know. But I’m here to tell you that you CAN make a difference! Maybe not with toxins or nuclear waste – that’s a bigger job than you and me. But with trash! You can have a huge impact on the health of our local ecosystem by helping to pull litter from our creeks and rivers. All you have to do is volunteer for Trash Bash…
Now in its fourth year, this annual event is one of the regions largest river clean-ups, with more than 800 volunteers of all ages expected to participate in 2012. If you want to lend a hand (and get free lunch in the process), all you have to do is register by March 21 then show up on March 24.
There are two starting locations to choose from: the old Chain of Rocks Bridge @ Riverview & 270 or Choteau Island in Madison, Illinois. And if you happen to discover the largest or most unusual trash find of the day, you might even win a prize!
The Confluence Trash Bash is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, from 8:30am to 12:30pm. For more info or to register, jump on over here.
By the way, if you want to learn more about efforts to clean up Watkins Creek, head to Trinity High School, 1720 Redman Road, on March 19. Starting at 6:30pm, an update on the Watkins Creek Watershed Management Plan will be given at the Spanish Lake Community Association’s town hall meeting.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K