We had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Jackson-Bramwell to discuss ways in which Project Compassion could join in our efforts to provide more hope to the homeless. No matter how hard the times are it is important that those who are unable to attend neighborhood meetings and events are included in the legislative process and that their needs are being met. It is our intent that this collaboration as well as others can assist in improving access to services and a more clear path to permanent housing.

The troop is enrolling girls grades K-12 on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 6:00pm. An adult must be present to register any girl. If you have any questions contact Frances Fenner at (314)773-2484.

These blocks have been targeted due to a high number of nuisance calls and criminal activity. A group of us (current block captains in other parts of the neighborhood, along with the Neighborhood Stabilization Officer, 6th Ward Problem Property Manager, Alderman and committed citizens) will go door to door and talk to residents living on these blocks.

It takes everyone working together to make our community safe. We know the police cannot do it alone, they need the help of the community. Having strong block units with committed block captains and neighborhood watch programs will help make our community safer, stronger and better.

Please join us!

When: April 22, 2010

Where: Tower Grove East Police Sub Station at the corner of Nebraska & Sidney

Time: 5:15pm

Why: Because we want our community to be safe and vibrant. We know there is an uptick in crime during the summer months. Let’s get ready and organized for the upcoming season by having strong and established neighborhood watch programs!

Downtown residents register for the new dog park

Recently, I shared in the celebration of helping to open downtown’s first dog park. Lucas Park, a unique pocket park, located right in the heart of the Downtown Loft district has experienced its share of history and problems. Within the first 100 days of being elected as Alderwoman of the 6th Ward in 2007, I convened a forum for downtown residents. That forum, which lasted almost three hours resulted in residents passionately expressing the need to feel safe at Lucas Park and their desire to bring a dog park to the location.

There had been plans spoken of in the past. Those plans for whatever reason never fully materialized, yet residents were still hopeful and optimistic about making Lucas Park a neighborhood park, where they felt comfortable and safe to visit and bring their children.

Over the past few years, I partnered with several downtown residents to make this happen. There was the re-launching of the Friends of Lucas Park organization spearheaded by downtown resident, David Goldstick, and also the emergence of the Downtown 10 organization, an organic group of residents focused on cleaning and beautifying Lucas Park.  

Then there was the design charette meeting, spearheaded by downtown resident Steve Patterson, which lay the groundwork for the first phase of capital improvements for Lucas Park. It was there at that meeting in late 2008, where residents where able to illustrate and conceptualize what improvements they would like to see at Lucas Park. A few common themes emerged from the residents’ designs which included:

• A modern dog park
• Better Accessibilty to the park
• Increased visibility to allow better lighting
• New decorative benches inside the park

Residents participate in the Lucas Park design charrette

Many of the dead and hazardous trees along Locust were removed immediately after the design charette, which allowed the park to appear more open. My office was able to provide signifcant capital improvement dollars to begin much of the work creating the dog run, and allowing better accessibility for both pedestrians and the disabled by widening the sidewalk along 14th street and creating new wheelchair curb ramps into the park. The Downtown 10 organization has agreed to purchase new park benches which will make the park more attractive and comfortable for visitors.

Lucas Park had not seen this type of public investment in many, many, years. I am proud to have worked with the many downtown residents who were committed to bringing change into their neighborhood park. There is still more investment needed in this park to bring it back to its original glory, but I am confident that this first phase of capital improvementwill create the momentum needed to help spur continued investment and interest in Lucas Park.

Alderman Triplett with frisky "Luna"Rev Mike Kinman of Christ Cathedral blesses the dogs & Lucas Park

Representing the western portion of downtown, it is not uncommon to see many men and women, walking with bundles of clothes, blankets and backpacks throughout the day, as they have no home to leave their possessions. We take for granted that we have transportation, cell phones, and computers to plan our day. Most of these individuals spend a good portion of theirs, on their feet visiting various service agencies downtown, as they seek their next meal or, inquire about available housing or employment. They often walk several miles each day.  Saturday’s walk allowed for us participants to spend a moment in their shoes, as we walked the route many of our downtown homeless take each day.

To make donations to the Bridge Program, which provides food and services to those who are homeless, please send your check to: The Bridge Program, 1610 Olive, St. Louis, MO 63103

There is always a reason to celebrate in the 6th Ward, and I am always willing to pull various agencies together to bring fun, and most importantly a sense of community to the 6th Ward neighborhoods.

   

Tower Grove East Community Garden

This fencing would not only serve as aesthetically pleasing to a busy intersection in the neighorhood, but would also protect and secure the vegetables and fruits grown by our farmers. To celebrate this new fencing, members of the neighborhood garden held a ribbon cutting and a party afterwards to celebrate. I am happy that my office was able to be of assistance and provide the necessary funding, to make a project such as this successful.

 

 How fortunate are we in the 6th Ward to have our own amazing floral district?

Today, I had the wonderful opportunity to take a breather from a hectic schedule and visit  John Baisch of Baisch and Skinner, a leading floral wholesale supplier located right in the 6th Ward. During our visit, John took me inside the company’s new greenhouse which serves as a beautiful oasis of exotic plants and flowers. It is truly a wonderful sight to witness such vibrancy nestled within a few city blocks, right in our neighborhood. Perhaps, you were unaware that Row even exists in our city. I encourage you to  take a visit to this quaint area located on LaSalle street in the Gate District neighborhood. You will be pleasantly surprised with the many wholesale and retail floral shops in the community offering great deals on exotic floral arrangements.

After all, it’s always nice to take a breather, to stop and smell the roses!

Created to identify property maintenance issues before they become significant health
and safety hazards, the program has played a key part in reducing
the amount of lead in city homes.

How exactly does the city housing conservation program work?

Each time there is a change in tenancy or property ownership within a conservation
district, a building inspector is required to visit and inspect the property. As a property
owner, it has been my experience that these inspections usually last no longer than 15
minutes. The friendly inspector examines smoke detectors to make sure they are
functioning, checks windows to ensure they are operable, completes a visual inspection
for peeling paint and occupancy overcrowding and takes a look at
electrical wiring for the prevention of electrical fires. Once the
inspection is completed, the owner receives a certificate of
compliance. The inspection fees in a housing conservation district
range from $70.00 to $110.00 for unoccupied and occupied
buildings.

The inspector’s responsibility in a housing conservation district is
to ensure that the property is safe and habitable for occupancy.
Living in a housing conservation district, provides an additional
layer of security for city residents by ensuring that the St. Louis city government is doing
all it can to maintain and preserve a healthy housing stock.

Currently, the majority of the 6th Ward is located within a housing conservation district.
Only the 6th Ward portion of the Lafayette Square neighborhood, and apartments owned
by the St. Louis Housing Authority (which have their own stringent requirements for
property maintenance) are not. Please let me know what you think about the St. Louis
Housing Conservation program. Should it be expanded to cover additional areas? You
can leave me a comment below.

Also, I hope that you will join me for an important community meeting featuring
our city Assessor, Ed Bushmeyer, May 19th at 6:30pm at the Stray Dog Theatre,
located at 2348 Tennessee. Hopeful that you will see a reduction in your property
assessment because of the decline in the housing market? Make sure you come to
the meeting and get answers to all your questions.