All Entries Tagged With: "redevelopment"
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.
Maline Greenway plans to be unveiled 3/24 & 29
Suburban Avenue in Ferguson will eventually rest at the heart of the Maline Greenway, a proposed trail network spanning all across North County.
As I first mentioned back in October, the planning process is officially underway for the new Maline Greenway, an interconnected trail system that will run from the city of St. Louis all the way to Berkeley. Following the length of the historic Maline Creek, it will travel through Kinloch, Ferguson, Cool Valley, Jennings, Moline Acres, Riverview and unincorporated North County, ultimately linking the existing St. Vincent and Confluence Greenways and adding to the 600+ miles of trails that the local nonprofit Great Rivers Greenway has already completed.
Consultants from GRG have been busy soliciting citizen input and hammering out the details on the Maline project, and now they’re ready to share their results. During public open houses that start next week, they’ll lay out conceptual plans for the new trail and offer a glimpse at what each of the participating communities can expect.
“Our plan for Maline Greenway is intended to inspire citizens, developers, community organizations and local governments to work together to form an interconnected trail system along Maline Creek, providing children and families with a safe option for exercise, commuting and outdoor activities,” said Susan Trautman, executive director of Great Rivers Greenway.
The first open house will be held March 24, from 6-8 pm at the Bellefontaine Recreational Center, 9669 Bellefontaine Road, 63137. The second open house will be held on March 29 from 6-8 pm, at Ferguson Middle School, 701 January Ave., 63135. All are welcome. Free snacks and children’s crafts will be available during the event.
If you can’t make it, you may want to check out this video from Great Rivers Greenway. It follows a bus tour of the proposed Maline route, with commentary provided by GRG staff. The sound kicks in around :49.
By the way, the photo at the top of this post shows last year’s Live Well Ferguson 5K. Just wait until this year’s event, when my colorful new Ferguson banners will line Suburban Avenue… Have you registered for the race yet? It’s May 14th.
Jamestown Penney’s closing: sad ending or fresh start?
Open since 1999, the JC Penney Outlet Store at Jamestown Mall will likely be shuttered by 2012. Photo: flickr/DanH63
Faced with sagging profits in an uncertain retail landscape, JC Penney announced last week that it will be closing a handful of stores and ceasing catalog operations. On the chopping block locally: its catalog outlet store at Jamestown Mall in unincorporated North County.
Of course, some will use this as a “nail in the coffin” opportunity, citing the long string of changes and closures that have left Jamestown Mall a shadow of its former self. They’ll declare Jamestown dead…again. And you know what? A part of me is perfectly ok with that.
As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up right next door to Jamestown Mall, within walking distance. My first job was there. I spent countless weekends hanging out there. Literally, there is no stage of my grade school and high school years that did not involve this place in some way. But even then I wondered, why the hell is there a shopping mall in the middle of nowhere?
In 1973, when Jamestown Mall was built and North County was experiencing a population boom, I’m sure the developers thought it made perfect sense, especially after MoDOT started kicking around the idea of making 367 a legitimate highway. Back then, I suspect they noticed “executive homes” going up along Old Jamestown and saw new subdivisions and Catholic parishes blossoming with young families, and they figured a big modern shopping mall was a great fit. And for 25 years or so, I guess it was.
But today, malls nationwide are in decline. Big-box stores, online shopping, over-development and changing consumer tastes have led to the demise of many indoor shopping malls across the country, leaving some, like Jamestown, to limp along half vacant with lesser-known retailers, while others, like Northwest Plaza, simply run out of gas.
In many ways, Jamestown Mall was almost destined to fail at some point. Its remote location, in an area better known for natural wonders than great shopping, has always made it a tough sell. But now that Penney’s is closing (within the next year) and Macy’s will likely follow, perhaps the time has finally come to put some new ideas into action. Ideas like this…
Back in 2009, the St. Louis County Economic Council teamed with experts from the Urban Land Institute to start developing new possibilities for the Jamestown Mall site, and what emerged was the outline for a revitalized “town center.” Nine months later, in July 2010, a Florida-based urban design firm took the process one step further, coming up with a general plan that was presented to area residents during a “design charrette” in September. (Wish I could’ve been there, but I didn’t learn about it until afterward.)
You can download the firm’s presentation here.
Essentially, it explains that the market area surrounding Jamestown Mall is already over-saturated with retailers, and that its population simply cannot support a regional mall of that size. On a positive note, the presentation also topples a prevailing stereotype about North County, revealing that the median household income around Jamestown Mall is EQUIVALENT TO that in Chesterfield, Wildwood and St. Charles County. (Take that, naysayers!)
Considering this data, as well as input from citizens, the design firm proposed eventually demolishing most of the mall (save Macy’s and Penney’s) and replacing it with a mixed-use, village-style development featuring shops, restaurants, housing and offices. Think New Town St. Charles. Or Seaside, Florida, without the sea.
Rumor has it that Jamestown Mall is also being considered for a massive flea market. Not sure how I feel about that. Another possibility is senior housing, which I think is a dreadful, depressing idea. Some seniors, yes. But the whole property??
And speaking of the property, Jamestown Mall happens to have five different owners (including Macy’s and JC Penney), which makes redevelopment that much more of a challenge. Add in the sour economy and the remaining mall tenants and there’s no telling when any of these projects might actually get some traction. But with this latest news from JC Penney…well, who knows?
To stay up on the latest progress at Jamestown Mall, check out this page from the St. Louis County Economic Council or follow SLCEC on Facebook.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K