Virtual Old North St. Louis

For the past year or so ONSLRG has been working with University of Missouri St. Louis staff to create a virtual version of Old North St. Louis utilizing the Virtual City Program. The result is a model of what the built environment of Old North St. Louis may have looked like throughout time.

To use Virtual City, you will need to have Google Earth installed on your computer. Currently, only Crown Square and the 2700 Block of N 13th St. has been created. More of the neighborhood will be added over time, and the existing modeling will be refined.

The current model of the neighborhood can be found here. When you open the file, give it some time to load for best results. Click on the files in temporary places to load buildings. There is a time-line in the upper left corner that moves through time, and you will see buildings appear and disappear. Most of the structures at this point are modeled to show mass, scale, and siting. Generic building fronts from the neighborhood are pasted onto the structure. Over time this will be refined to show more detail. For more information about a building, you can click on the little dog in front of each building with more details.

While it is fun to see what once was built in Old North, it is also good to look toward the future. Since the time line extends nearly two decades into the future, we thought it would be a good idea to utilize Virtual City to develop some future development ideas. For now, we have developed three alternatives for future development for a plot of land that ONSLRG owns at the Northwest corner of Montgomery and 13th St. By no means are we committed to any one design, this exercise is meant to create discussion and ideas for a possible future project that at this point has no funding for any alternative. We would like to ask for constructive feedback on these potential ideas. What do you like about the current designs?  What would you like to see designed differently?  And let us know why you are making the suggestions you are offering.  Feel free to post your comments here by clicking on the “Leave a Comment” link at the top left side of this post.  You can also send any constructive feedback that you may have to Matt Fernandez, our Community Development Specialist, at Matt (at) onsl.org.  To see each alternative, click the link below each preview image displayed below.  You may also come by the ONSLRG office anytime and we will show you the Virtual City on one of our computers.

Contemporary loft development.

Click the following link to view the Contemporary loft development alternative on the Virtual City program.

Mixed-use development with traditional design.

Click the following link to view the Traditional design alternative.

Green homes development.

Click the following link to view the Green homes alternative.

Stay tuned as this program gets filled with more images and as we flesh out the instructions for access and use.  In the meantime, enjoy the stroll down some of the streets of Old North as they may have looked at various stages in history.

Images currently loaded onto a view of Montgomery Street looking east from N. 14th Street in 1955.

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Comeback Cards and Old North Have a Lot in Common

Wow!  Unbelievable!

Those one word exclamations have been flying all over the blogosphere, facebook postings, tweets, and even on the pages of good, old-fashioned print publications. Yes, that represents a good summary of the Cardinals phenomenal resilience and determination to avoid elimination in the roller coaster ride of Game 6 – and throughout the latter part of the 2011 season and each round of the playoffs.  But those words also have been used recently to describe the incredible, skeptic-defying rebirth of Old North St. Louis, or as some have called it, “the little neighborhood that could.”

As dramatic and thrilling as Game 6 was, there still is some work to be done.  The Cardinals fought against setbacks and long odds to turn things around, but the World Championship trophy has yet to be won.  And Old North isn’t quite there yet, either.  Many outsiders doubted that Old North’s transformation was possible - and many others counted the neighborhood out long ago.  But over the past few years, we’ve turned a lot of skeptics into believers.  Whether it’s the stabilization and preservation of the severely damaged Mullanphy Emigrant Home building; the phenomenal redevelopment of historic buildings that had been crumbling into the street along Monroe, North Market, Hebert, Blair, or N. 14th Street; the establishment of a community-owned grocery store; or the extraordinary 28% increase in population over the past decade, the evidence is there to demonstrate Old North’s capacity to overcome long odds and achieve results that previously had been deemed absurd or impossible.

Despite the great progress achieved in recent years, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group still has a lot of challenges to tackle.  In fact, because the bar of what is possible has been raised, we’re busier than ever with a range of initiatives focused on revitalizing Old North, from operating the Old North Grocery Co-op to assisting others in finding apartments to live in, properties to rehab, or homes to purchase in Old North.

Ironically, just as we have more and more evidence of the amazing returns on previous investments, the funding to carry out this work has been getting harder to secure.  Due to economic hardships among some of our regular funders (including both individual and corporate contributors), reductions in funding from some previously committed sources (such as a 14.5% cut in our grant from the Community Development Administration as a result of federal block grant cuts), and the lag time between approval of some grants and delivery of funds (including a $25,000 grant which has been approved but won’t arrive until December at the earliest), ONSLRG’s operating funds are incredibly tight at the moment.

As the Cardinals have demonstrated, success requires team effort - and sometimes it means getting help from unlikely sources.  If you’d like to help Old North St. Louis Restoration Group continue Old North’s dramatic comeback story, we have a few ways for you to pitch in:

1) Make a tax-deductible contribution to ONSLRG right now by clicking HERE.

2) Refer us to any contacts you might have with any corporate charitable funds or foundations with an interest in community development, historic preservation, healthy food access, community gardens, social outreach, and almost anything else related to neighborhood sustainability.

3) Spread the word about Old North’s revitalization to people who haven’t heard about it yet, by sending a link to this blog, our ONSL.org website, ONSLRG’s facebook page, our Twitter account - or by bringing them into Old North for lunch at one of our fine eating establishments or to shop at the Old North Grocery Co-op, or to purchase something at one of Crown Square’s retailers, such as Therapy Boutique, Closet Repeats, or Rambles Gift Gallery & Boutique.

4) Volunteer to assist with our fundraising committee or to help plan a future fundraising event.

or…

5 Fill in the blank with your own ideas _____________________________.

For more information about any of the above options, feel free to give us a call at 314-241-5031 or send a message to info@onsl.org.

In the meantime, on behalf of St. Louis City’s comeback neighborhood, we tip our caps to baseball’s comeback team of the year.  GO CARDS!

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Phenomenally Cool & Fun Day at Old North Open Streets

Words can’t describe the amount of energy and excitement along N. 14th Street right now, so the following pictures of Open Streets in Old North will have to do…

The fun continues until 1 p.m., so come on down now!

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• 14th Street Mall, Art in Old North, Bikes and Trails, Crown Square, Historic rehabs, Life in ONSL, North City Farmers' Market, ONSL amenities, ONSL people, Old North Gallery (formerly known as Crown Village Gallery), Old North Grocery Co-op, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, Pictures, sustainability
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Join us Saturday for Open Streets in Old North

Our previous post provided some basic information about Open Streets in Old North, scheduled for tomorrow (Sat., Oct. 8) from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Now, we’re happy to share some sneak preview images and more details about the activities that will be happening up and down N. 14th Street.

In addition to the second-to-last North City Farmers’ Market day of the season, featuring a great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables (including okra, collards, herbs, squash, lettuce, and corn), visitors will enjoy…

- live music provided by Bill Forness & the Tennessee Two…

- an appearance by the ever-popular Bubble Bus, courtesy of Tekno Bubbles…

Check out TeknoBubbles.com for more images of the "totally awesome and amazingly cool" Bubble Bus

- bike alley, including bike tune-ups/repairs and helmet fittings and giveaways, along with the smoothie-producing bike-blender, courtesy of Trailnet…

- basketball in the street, with free-throw contests and 3-on-3, 2-on-2, or maybe even 1-on-1 pick-up games…

- yoga and other physical fitness-oriented activities, such as a soccer activity area and obstacle course (thanks to the YMCA of Greater St. Louis) along with another activity area hosted by Old North St. Louis Restoration Group (with soccer balls and equipment that ONSLRG is borrowing from America Scores), in addition to some other equipment ONSLRG has purchased through a mini-grant from Washington University)…

- Tai chi demonstrations by the St. Louis Taoist Association…

Photo courtesy of Bob Crowe of St. Louis Daily Photo Blog (http://saintlouismodailyphoto.blogspot.com/).

- “(en)Visioning Hyde Park” exhibit at the Old North Gallery (made possible with support from the Missouri Arts Council), featuring photography by young students who worked with ReBuild Foundation this past summer…

- Frisbee activities and good, old-fashioned 4-square games (thanks to playground balls on loan from Confluence Academy’s school in Old North) in the street in front of La Mancha Coffeehouse, where you can find Veronica Holden, “best barrista in St. Louis” (as designated by the most recent Best of St. Louis issue of Riverfront Times) …

…a bounce house of some sort

- and, a chance to take in the sights of award-winning, historically-rehabbed and architecturally-significant buildings at Crown Square while shopping at some of the neighborhood’s cool, new retail establishments, such as Therapy Boutique, Closet Repeats, the Racq Salon & Spa, along with a sneak preview of the coming soon Rambles Gift Gallery & Boutique, and other establishments, such as Head Hunters Barber Shop, Poor Souls Society Art Gallery, and Crown Candy Kitchen.

… and much, much more!

For more information - and to register your plans to ATTEND - visit the facebook page for Open Streets in Old North by clicking HERE.

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Open Streets Day Returns to Old North Sat., Oct. 8

Cyclists, rollerbladers, joggers, parents with strollers, individuals in wheelchairs, pedestrians, and all sorts of others will converge on N. 14th Street in the heart of Old North this coming Saturday (Oct. for the first of two Open Streets Days in the City of St. Louis.

Please plan to join us for this family-friendly, community-enriching event — and help us spread the word to all others who might want to join in on the fun.  For more information or to make your plans to attend known, visit the facebook page for the event in Old North.  If you’d like to help with any of the activities planned for the “activity hub” along the 2600-2800 blocks of N. 14th, call the ONSLRG office at 314-241-5031 and ask for Molly.

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• 14th Street Mall, Bikes and Trails, Life in ONSL, North City Farmers' Market, ONSL amenities, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, Outreach, Parks and green spaces, Volunteer Opportunities, sustainability
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North City Farmers’ Market Going on Right Now

Come on out now to listen to the cool tunes of the Ragged Blade Band - and while you’re at it, pick up some great farm-fresh foods and locally produced crafts.

With the overcast skies and pleasant temperatures, it’s a great day to hang out at the market.

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• 14th Street Mall, Life in ONSL, North City Farmers' Market, ONSL amenities, ONSL people, Old North Grocery Co-op, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group
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Join us THIS SATURDAY at North City Farmers’ Market

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• 13th Street Community Garden, 14th Street Mall, Life in ONSL, North City Farmers' Market, ONSL amenities, ONSL people, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, sustainability
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Photo Exhibit Opens Thursday, Sept. 1 with Reception at Old North Gallery

Join us Thursday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the opening reception of the “(en)Visioning Hyde Park” photo exhibit at the Old North Gallery featuring the works of young people who participated in a summer program run by the ReBuild Foundation and the Urban Expressions Project.

The exhibit is made possible by the support of many generous sponsors, including a grant from the Missouri Arts Council.   After the opening reception, the exhibit will be open for viewing through September 30, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon.

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Jackson Park Ribbon-Cutting & Re-dedication Picnic

Assisted by neighborhood children, 5th Ward Alderwoman April Ford Griffin cut the ribbon at Jackson Park's new pavilion on Saturday. Joining her for the ceremony were Tino Ochoa, ONSLRG's Board President; Jennifer Allen, Active Living Manager at Trailnet; Sal Martinez, Executive Director at Community Renewal & Development; and Sean Thomas, ONSLRG's Executive Director.

Community residents and representatives of Old North Saint Louis Restoration Group, Trailnet, and Community Renewal & Development joined Alderwoman April Ford Griffin on Saturday in a celebratory picnic in Jackson Park.  The second-oldest public park in the City of St. Louis, Jackson Park benefited from significant investments over the past couple years, including a new pavilion, new playground, and many new trees and other plantings.

Free refreshments for the crowd included watermelon donated by Lee Farms (above) and smoothies made with the bicycle blender from La Mancha Coffeehouse, with Trailnet picking up the tab for complimentary samples from the Wanderlust Pizza and the Seoul Taco trucks.

Other than the ceremonies and the refreshments, the afternoon provided a great opportunity for neighbors to come together to enjoy some fun and games in the park.

Thanks to all who assisted with the festivities, including Miranda Gilstrap, ONSLRG’s practicum student from Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work, Veronica Holden and Cassandra Howard of the North City Farmers’ Market for staffing the market table, Poor Souls Society, Community Renewal & Development, Lee Farms, the City of St. Louis Parks & Recreation Division, several board members and staff from ONSLRG, Trailnet, and Forks & Feet Forward Old North (the healthy living partnership of ONSLRG and Trailnet).

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• Forks & Feet Forward Old North!, History, Life in ONSL, North City Farmers' Market, ONSL amenities, ONSL people, Old North Grocery Co-op, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, Parks and green spaces, Uncategorized, sustainability
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North City Farmers’ Market Is INDOORS Today

The North City Farmers’ Market IS OPEN today, but due to the lightning, rain, and strong winds, the market was forced to move inside to the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group Gallery at 2700 N. 14th Street.

Come on by for some good deals on farm fresh produce, baked goods, and other locally produced items.

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• 13th Street Community Garden, Life in ONSL, North City Farmers' Market, ONSL amenities, ONSL people, Old North Grocery Co-op, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group
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