All Entries Tagged With: "redevelopment"
Ferguson created a “Better Block.” What now?
Ah, the joys of a flea market! Could this be the next big thing in Ferguson?
Well, the Better Block Project came and went this weekend, drawing a steady stream of visitors to downtown Ferguson. Several temporary businesses and sidewalk vendors sprouted up for the day, including my own little antique store, Raw, which nearly sold out! Thank to you all the NOCO fans who came to shop. It was so great to meet you and to send you home with some fun new treasures!
Many of you asked me if I plan to open a real store in the future, and for the time being the answer is no. But I have to say, I did find the whole experience super enjoyable and now I’m inspired to keep the ball rolling…
When I lived in Los Angeles, one of my favorite haunts was the Rose Bowl Flea Market, a massive monthly event that draws upward of 15,000 shoppers. Just like our own Gypsy Caravan here in St. Louis, the Rose Bowl hosts hundreds of independent vendors selling an absolutely staggering variety of furniture, antiques, vintage clothing and handmade items. High-end decorators shop there. So do artists, Hollywood set designers and all manner of people looking for great deals on unique and recycled finds.
Over its 40-year-history, the Rose Bowl Flea Market has become a true destination, not to mention a powerful economic driver for the city of Pasadena. It allows regular people who can’t afford to open a shop the perfect venue for selling their items – a particular boon during this changing economy. More importantly, it’s a blast!
Flea markets bring communities together and encourage people to get creative (and go green) rather than always buying something brand new. Which is why I’m just gonna jump right in and say it….I think it’s time for a flea market in Ferguson!
Sure, the idea has been kicked around before but it has never really gained any traction. Apparently some residents think it might “junk up” the area and attract the “wrong” kind of people, which of course is bunk. Properly organized, with an emphasis on antiques and artisan items, a monthly flea market could be a HUGE success, drawing an eclectic mix of shoppers from all over the St. Louis area, including folks who would probably never come to North County otherwise.
Those people will eat at our restaurants, see our beautiful neighborhoods and hopefully go away with a more positive view of Ferguson. It’s a win-win. So what do you think, NOCO fans? I’m in if you are! I’ll even volunteer to organize the flea market, just as long as the city green-lights it.
If you have any interest in being a potential vendor, please leave a comment below or shoot me an email at shannon@NOCOstl.com with “flea market” in the subject line. I’d just like to gauge the general interest before I actually start to dive in. Thanks again!
The Better Block Project is headed to Ferguson
Aiming to envision what a truly vibrant & walkable neighborhood might look like, the Dallas community of Oak Cliff became the first participant in the Better Block Project. Now this innovative program is coming to Ferguson...
Even if this wasn’t the Show-Me State, human nature dictates that most people need to see before they believe. That’s especially true when it comes to something as “big” as community revitalization. For when you live in a neighborhood full of vacant storefronts and run-down properties, it can be pretty hard to look beyond the current reality and dream of a better day.
But dream we must, because that’s the first step toward action. And if we’re going to dream, we might as well do it in full vibrant color, with as much detail as possible. That’s the thinking behind the Better Block Project, an incredibly innovative program in which cities experiment with what’s possible by temporarily installing their ideal vision of a business district.
I like to think of it as “fake it ’til you make it.” Essentially, the community closes off a section of a street and fills it with outdoor seating, bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly gathering areas. It also welcomes temporary businesses to set up shop in vacant commercial space and encourages a “street fair” environment with activities like live music and arts & crafts.
So far, a handful of cities across the country have participated in the Better Block Project, most with great results. And now I’m very proud to say that my hometown, Ferguson, will be joining these progressive ranks!
On Saturday, October 15, the city will shut down part of Florissant Road between Adams and Carson, installing a “Better Block” from the hours of 10am to 10pm. Through September 17, they’ll also be accepting applications for the temporary businesses who want to operate during the event.
Just to give you an idea of what the Better Block Project looks like, and how it might spur positive neighborhood changes and new economic activity, here’s an inspiring video from the very first event in Dallas:
To learn more about Ferguson’s Better Block event, contact Natasha Ramey at (314) 524-5196. If you need a vendor application, you’ll find it right here.
Once again, bravo Ferguson!!
Used furniture store opens at Jamestown Mall
Growing up next door to Jamestown Mall, I’ve always been intrigued by the cavernous Stix, Baer & Fuller building, which has been vacant since Dillard’s closed its doors there in 2006. In recent years that entire wing of the mall was even closed off, making it unlikely that any new businesses would be moving in. So what I found today was a nice surprise….
I happened to be driving by Jamestown and noticed a new sign. As it turns out, a company named Central States Liquidation has moved into the old Dillard’s. And boy, do they have an interesting mix of inventory…
The owner, Frank Marsala, buys out large lots of used furniture, primarily from upscale hotels like Hilton and Sheraton. He also picks up odd bits here and there, so you’ll find restaurant equipment, artwork, mirrors, lamps, retail display cabinets, office furniture, televisions, “wine lockers” and even five-foot chandeliers in his sprawling new store. So far, Marsala is just using the main floor at Dillard’s but he says he has so much inventory that the basement is quickly filling up too.
In business for four years, Central States used to operate out of semi trucks and sell their goods on craigslist and eBay. Today, the company still advertises online but they’re hoping to draw a larger customer base now that they have a permanent storefront.
Marsala says he gets new goodies at least twice a week, sourced from all over the country. And I have to say, most of his stuff is in very nice shape. This is not a roomful of broken, stained junk, like a lot of hotel/motel liquidators have, but rather an eclectic showcase of quality items with great potential. You never know what you’ll find.
Here’s a neat item I saw today, a dramatic four-poster bed. I would totally paint it black…
And then, of course, there’s this: a rare view of one of Jamestown Mall’s fantastic concrete sculptures. Unless you visit Central States and peek through the glass doors to the mall, this modern beauty is no longer visible to the public….
Central States Liquidation is located at #400 Jamestown Mall, 63034. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm.
Ferguson residents, please vote YES on Prop S!
On April 5, Ferguson residents will vote on Prop S, a bond issue that would fund the construction of a new firehouse on S. Florissant Road.
As I’m sure you all know, tomorrow is a big election day. If you’re a Ferguson resident, not only will you be choosing a new mayor. You’ll also be voting on whether our community will be able to fund the construction of a new firehouse.
The existing firehouse #1 on Church Street was built in 1952, and as Ferguson’s firefighters illustrate poignantly in this video, the building has long outlived its capacity to house a modern fire department. Living quarters are cramped, electrical and plumbing systems need major updates, even the garage is too small to hold our ladder truck. So… tomorrow at the voting booth, the city of Ferguson will be asking residents to fund a bond issue, also known as a property tax increase, that will cover the cost of building a new firehouse.
Of course, I can already hear some of you. No tax increases! The economy is bad! But let’s step back and look at the costs and benefits…
COSTS – Despite the $11 million number you’ll see on the ballot, the city is actually requesting a bond issue of no more than $8 million. That means the entire construction project will cost no more than that. It also means that the average Ferguson household would pay about $5 extra per month in property taxes, or $60 per year.
BENEFITS – In addition to the obvious benefits of having a modern, fully functional firehouse, including better public safety, the construction of a new firehouse also presents a rare opportunity to redevelop a large, prominent property in downtown Ferguson. The proposed site is at the corner of Adams and S. Florissant, directly adjacent to the Ferguson Police Department. And sitting on this site is a building that countless residents consider to be an eyesore.
Built in the 1960s by the same Mr. Lammert who constructed 21 S. Florissant (the old Ferguson Department Store Building) in 1955, the L&L Building was actually intended to be a two-story structure. It was also meant to have a more upscale look, with black marble tile and sleek metal trim, as you can see in this original architectural drawing:
Instead, today, the L&L Building is a perfect example of Ferguson’s older downtown buildings that desperately need a facelift.
I have to watch my words here, but for as many years as I’ve been involved in Ferguson’s revitalization effort, people have been talking about ways to make this place look better. It’s in a prime, very visible location in the heart of downtown, and yet, in my opinion, it does not reflect the same commitment to Ferguson’s ongoing progress that Vincenzo’s and the Brewhouse and several other renovated properties do.
When I look at the L&L Building, I ask myself, “Is this what I want people to see when they visit Ferguson? When scores of St. Louisans start flocking to the Ferguson Farmers Market this year, are these the types of storefronts that show the very best of our community? Or can we do better?”
I think we can do better. And while I’m usually not a fan of demolishing vintage buildings, I would LOVE to see the L&L replaced with an attractive new firehouse. Number one, because it would look awesome, giving this section of downtown a real visual boost. Number two, because a new firehouse says that the people of Ferguson care enough about their community to invest in its future. And who knows what kind of additional investment that might inspire?
To me, that’s well worth $5 a month – the cost of one fast food lunch. And that’s why I’m voting YES on Prop S tomorrow. I hope you will too.
For detailed data about the firehouse project and the bond issue, visit this website from the Citizens for Prop S.
