image

Archive for the ‘Parks and green spaces’ Category

LEAVE A COMMENT
Saturday, January 14, 2012

New Year Brings More Media & Outside Attention for Old North

The new year is barely two weeks old, but Old North has already received a good deal of attention in 2012 from a range of outside sources, including some publications with national readerships.

The latest moment in the spotlight came when HUD’s Best Practices website posted a feature on Old North’s Crown Square on Friday.  The Crown Square redevelopment earned its place as the latest in a series of reports on “best practice” developments around the country because the project resulted from a strong partnership between Old North St. Louis Restoration Group and Regional Housing & Community Development Alliance (with support from the City of St. Louis), a genuine community-based planning process, and a commitment to affordable and mixed-income housing, historic preservation, and various other sustainable development principles.  Click HERE or on the image below to read the full report.

On January 5, Builder Magazine posted a story on their website about the desirability of walkable neighborhoods and used Old North St. Louis as their featured example of a community that has benefited from improvements to its walkability.  The article cited Old North’s comprehensive approach to redevelopment and offered several photos from Old North, including a community garden, the North City Farmers’ Market, historically sensitive new homes at North Market Place, and the streetscape at Crown Square, to illustrate the elements that have made Old North not just more livable for current residents but also more attractive to prospective residents.  Click HERE or on the image below to read the full article.

Eleven Music Magazine’s January issue has hit the streets with Old North as its “Neighborhood of the Month”, which is nice recognition, especially for the Crown Square redevelopment of the former 14th Street Pedestrian Mall.  (Although the piece includes a mis-quote about the age of the neighborhood - indicating that the neighborhood was a separate village from St. Louis from 1860 - 1940, rather than the real dates of 1816-1841, we’ll forgive that because of the overall positive tone of the piece and the fact that the actual quote may have been difficult to hear during the interview, which was recorded at Old North’s La Mancha Coffeehouse, with the sound of an espresso machine and various diners’ chatter in the background.)  Click HERE or on the image below to read the article.

Visitors to hotels throughout the St. Louis area are picking up this month’s issue of Where Magazine-St. Louis, in which they’ll read about 6 new independent retailers “worth your time,” including Old North’s newest Crown Square establishment, Rambles Gift Gallery & Boutique.

Where Magazine is available at concierge desks and in-room at medium-to-high end hotels and other select businesses, but it’s also available online to provide travelers (and locals) with “the most complete guide to the city’s top restaurants, shops, shows, exhibits, and tours.”  The online version (seen below) also features a photo of the interior at Rambles.  Click HERE or on the image below to see and read the online version of the review of Rambles.

Thank you to all of these publications for sharing our story with the rest of the world!

1COMMENT
Friday, December 30, 2011

Part 3 of Highlights of Old North’s Event-Filled Year in 2011

On Wednesday and Thursday we reviewed Old North’s population gains, the new businesses that have set up shop in the heart of the community, and some of the events that took place in Old North this year.  (Click HERE to see Part 1 and HERE for Part 2) Now, we take a look back at even more events and high profile developments that took place in 2011…

VARIOUS EVENTS SPONSORED BY ONSLRG OR OTHERS AT ONSLRG’S GALLERY

The first ever Open/Closed conference in March held its opening and closing events with standing room only crowds at ONSLRG’s gallery in March, including a presentation by Juan William Chavez on bee colonies at the former Pruitt-Igoe site and a screening of The Pruitt-Igoe Myth.

On September 29, the founding meeting of the Community Builders Network of Metropolitan St. Louis took place at ONSLRG’s gallery, with a convening of executive directors from community development corporations and key partners from throughout the St. Louis area.

The first-ever Old North Holiday Market took place on Dec. 17, thanks to great planning and coordination by our practicum student Molly Johnson.

ARTS EVENTS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Missouri Immigrant & Refugee Advocates held their second annual exhibit at ONSLRG’s gallery from November 18 through December 11, this time featuring the work of two artists, including former Old North resident, Seitu James Smith (shown in the photo above).

Also for the second year in a row, Cinema St. Louis hosted several film screenings for students from schools in Old North (including Ames Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School, shown above) as part of their St. Louis International Film Festival.

In February the St. Louis Rescue & Restore Coalition held their exhibit, “Freedom from, Freedom to” at the ONSLRG Gallery to raise awareness about human trafficking and the fact that slavery still exists in our world.

Starting with an opening reception on September 1, the ONSLRG Gallery hosted the ReBuild Foundation’s “(en)Visioning Hyde Park” exhibit of photographs taken by young participants in their summer photography program.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT OLD NORTH

Work finally got underway at the historic building at 1306 St. Louis Avenue, where a partnership between Ken Kranzberg and ONSLRG is rehabbing the long-abandoned building to accommodate Northside Workshop, a new community art center established by award-winning artist Juan William Chavez.  Watch for an opening in the spring of 2012.

Another art-themed public investment happened at the intersection of Warren and N. 14th Streets with the painting of a street mural by Lucas Rouggly and volunteers recruited through his Love the Lou organization.

Completion of Jackson Park Improvements & Ribbon-cutting Celebration… thanks especially to Miranda Gilstrap and Trailnet.

(Other green space work, including Wingmann Park improvements and 13th Street Community Garden work, will be in the next post.)

Habitat for Humanity continued their home-building in Old North with 12 homes under construction along N. 13th Street and along the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Clinton.

Due to time restrictions, that will have to do for today’s post.  But there still is much more to come.

And, as mentioned in the past two posts…THANK YOU to all who have supported the many components of our comprehensive, neighborhood-wide revitalization strategy.  To help us continue that work throughout the coming year, please click HERE to make a secure, online tax-deductible contribution.

We invite you to check back tomorrow for the final segment of the Old North Year in Review.

1COMMENT
Thursday, December 1, 2011

Old North St. Louis Selected for National Award for Excellence in Smart Growth Achievement

This morning in Washington, D.C., the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities announced that the revitalization of Old North St. Louis is the winner of the 2011 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement.  The National Award for Smart Growth Achievement recognizes communities that have successfully used the principles of smart growth to preserve and enhance their quality of life while helping to protect public health and the environment.  Of the five projects or communities selected for awards this year, Old North was recognized with the Award for Overall Excellence in Smart Growth.  St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Old North St. Louis Restoration Group executive director Sean Thomas were on-hand to receive the award from John Frece, Director of EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities.

The Award for Overall Excellence in Smart Growth is the highest award under this program and “recognizes an outstanding comprehensive approach to growth, including built projects, supportive plans and policies, and effective community participation,” according to the selection committee.  The committee further notes that “This award is for the best overall approach to implementing smart growth on a variety of fronts—not just for a single plan or project, but at the neighborhood, corridor, city, county, or regional level.”  Last year’s Overall Excellence award recognized collaborative efforts among New York City’s Departments of Transportation, Health, Design & Construction, and Planning toward improving that city’s livability.

Among the factors that contributed to Old North’s selection was the neighborhood’s 28% population increase over the past decade.  A winning project not only shows that a comprehensive approach is in place, but that it has significant impacts.  Because the overall achievement award is not for one specific project but for the collaborative and strategic efforts over several years, credit for this achievement goes out to a wide range of groups and individuals who worked together on multiple projects.  On behalf of the Board and staff of the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, we especially thank the residents of Old North who, over many years, have scraped together limited resources and put in countless hours of service to the community.

Specific initiatives that have contributed to the neighborhood-wide revitalization include the $35 million, 27-building Crown Square redevelopment of the former 14th Street Pedestrian Mal, and with it, 80 new households in an area that had largely abandoned and a growing number of new locally-owned businesses; the new homes at North Market Place and the historically-rehabbed North Market Apartments, which salvaged 9 previously crumbling, abandoned buildings; the cultivation and maintenance of community gardens throughout the neighborhood; the North City Farmers’ Market; and last year’s opening of the community-owned Old North Grocery Co-op.

Partners who have worked with ONSLRG to help make these great things happen include multiple agencies of City of St. Louis (such as the Community Development Administration, St. Louis Development Corporation, Land Reutilization Authority, Planning & Urban Design Agency, Cultural Resources Office), Regional Housing & Community Development Alliance, University of Missouri-St. Louis and MU-Extension; Missouri Foundation for Health, Ken & Nancy Kranzberg, Gateway Greening, Operation Brightside… and so many more than can be listed here.

Although this award recognizes past achievements, the real benefit is that it will help shed more light on an area that has even greater potential for more growth.  In fact, the work to continue the revitalization is already in progress.

LEAVE A COMMENT
Friday, October 7, 2011

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

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/).

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.

LEAVE A COMMENT
Monday, October 3, 2011

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. 8) 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.

1COMMENT
Sunday, August 21, 2011

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 of Community Renewal & Development; and Sean Thomas, ONSLRG's Executive Director.

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).

LEAVE A COMMENT
Thursday, August 18, 2011

Join us Sat., Aug. 20 for a Picnic and Ribbon-Cutting in Jackson Park

On Saturday, August 20, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., neighbors and friends of Old North will gather in Jackson Park (North Market & Hadley) to celebrate the completion of a couple years’ worth of improvements to the park.

As noted in previous posts, including in June of 2009 shortly after much of the work got started, the improvements at Jackson Park were made possible because 5th Ward Alderwoman April Ford Griffin was able to secure city funds for the project.  ONSLRG held community meetings in April of 2008 to solicit input from neighbors and presented the city with a revised plan for the park to reflect the neighbors’ requests and recommendations.  Because of her initiative on this project, Alderwoman April Ford Griffin will take the first snip of the official ribbon-cutting after a few introductory comments.

A few weeks ago, dedicated volunteers recruited by Forks & Feet Forward Old North! (a collaborative effort by ONSLRG and Trailnet) and ONSLRG’s Green Space Committee spent a good part of their Saturday enhancing the beauty of the park with new plantings.   Special thanks for planning the planting day and the ribbon-cutting go to Miranda Gilstrap, a Washington University practicum student working with ONSLRG, and Morgan Clennin, an intern with Trailnet.

Feel free to spread the word to all residents and friends of Old North by printing and distributing the PDF version of the flyer for the event.

LEAVE A COMMENT
Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Picnic at the Iron Horse Trestle Thursday, July 7, at 7 p.m.

The conversion of the Iron Horse Trestle into an elevated hiking and cycling trail in the southeast corner of Old North Saint Louis will be a great recreational amenity for Old North residents and will attract visitors from well outside the neighborhood.  On Thursday night at 7 p.m., residents and friends of Old North will get a chance to learn more about the project and explore the trestle in person.   City Affair Saint Louis, “a forum for sharing ideas about the future of the St. Louis urban environment,” will host a picnic and discussion about plans for the redevelopment of the Iron Horse Trestle.  The gathering starts at 7 p.m. at Hadley & Howard and includes a walking tour of the trestle at 7:45 p.m.

Here’s how the City Affair blog describes the event:

For more information about the Trestle project, visit the Great Rivers Greenway page on the project.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch carried a story about the plans for the picnic (click here to read the online version) - and kindly repeated City Affairs’ encouragement that picnic-goers stop by the Old North Grocery Co-op to purchase their picnic supplies on the way to the event.

The image below and at the top of this post are courtesy of Great Rivers Greenway.

LEAVE A COMMENT
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Old North Home Grown Festival & House Tour Just 1 Week Away!

We’re down to 7 days now.  Since next weekend will be here before you know it, be sure to firm up your plans to attend the Old North Home Grown Festival & House Tour on Saturday, May 14.  This weekend also marks the last weekend to spread the word while you’re out and around taking care of other errands and / or visiting your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment venues, or church.  So, be sure to invite your friends to join us next Saturday.

And now, a few more previews of what can be seen and enjoyed at the Old North Home Grown Festival & House Tour on Saturday, May 14:

As part of the Home Grown Festival, some of the storefronts along this stretch of N. 14th Street at Crown Square will be filled with art exhibits featuring local artists, such as Juan William Chavez, Dail Chambers, and young artists from St. Louis ArtWorks.

As part of the Home Grown Festival, some of the storefronts along this stretch of N. 14th Street at Crown Square will be filled with art exhibits featuring local artists, such as Juan William Chavez, Dail Chambers, and young artists from Ames Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School and Holy Trinity School. La Mancha Coffeehouse will have continue its showing of photos by St. Louis ArtWorks participants.

The registration tent for ticket sales, tour booklets, and other information will be at this plaza area at N. 14th and St. Louis Avenue. The Parks building, in the background, will house a variety of local crafters.

The Old North Grocery Co-op will be one of the new neighborhood businesses on the tour.  Many of last year's visitors who saw the building had good reason to be skeptical that the space would be ready for opening by mid-summer.  But the store DID open last July, and return visitors will be pleased to see the co-op in business.

The Old North Grocery Co-op will be one of the new neighborhood businesses on the tour. Many of last year's visitors who saw the building had good reason to be skeptical that the space would be ready for opening by mid-summer. But the store DID open last July, and return visitors will be pleased to see the co-op in business.

Another new business that will be on the tour is La Mancha Coffeehouse at 2815 N. 14th Street.

Another new business that will be on the tour is La Mancha Coffeehouse at 2815 N. 14th Street.

The Hebert Street Community Garden has been on the tour in the past, but this will be the first time since it was dedicated to Johnnie Owens..

The Hebert Street Community Garden has been on the tour in the past, but this will be the first time since it was dedicated to Johnnie Owens..

A stroll down the 1300 block of North Market will provide glimpses of the mix of old and new, as well as the variety of housing options from apartment buildings to owner-occupied houses. The North Market Apts. community space, in the background, will be open and will feature a display of plans for another round of Habitat for Humanity houses in Old North.

A stroll down the 1300 block of North Market will provide glimpses of the mix of old and new, as well as the variety of housing options from apartment buildings to owner-occupied houses. The North Market Apts. community space, in the background, will be open and will feature a display of plans for another round of Habitat for Humanity houses in Old North.

Since Old North continues to be a work in progress, the tour also features homes that are still in the midst of rehab, such as this home on the 1200 block of North Market.

Since Old North continues to be a work in progress, the tour also features homes that are still in the midst of rehab, such as this home on the 1200 block of North Market.

This house on Monroe, in its final stages of rehab, provides evidence that not everything in Old North has red brick facade.

This house on Monroe, in its final stages of rehab, provides evidence that not everything in Old North has red brick facade.

This house on Sullivan has great interior space as well as a wonderful patio and garden in back.

This house on Sullivan has great interior space as well as a wonderful patio and garden in back.

Although the tour can only feature a limited number of buildings, the architectural and historic character of the streetscape can still be appredcia not officially on the tour can be appreciated on the way to and from the different stops on the tour.

Although the tour can only feature a limited number of buildings, the architectural and historic character of the streetscape can still be appreciated on the way to and from the different stops on the tour.

As noted in previous posts, more information and a link to purchase tickets online can be found at the ONSL.org page for the house tour: Click HERE to visit the House Tour page of the ONSL website.  Volunteers still have time to sign up to help with this year’s tour.  Just call the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group office at 314-241-5031 or send an email to info@onsl.org and let us know when you’re available and how to reach you.

1COMMENT
Monday, May 2, 2011

Old North House Tour & Home Grown Festival: 12 Days Away!

This beautifully restored home on N. 19th Street once was a crumbling, abandoned shell.  Come see how it has been brought back to life on Sat., May 14.

This beautifully restored home on N. 19th Street once was a crumbling, abandoned shell. Come see how it has been brought back to life on Sat., May 14.

We’re just 12 days away from the Old North Home Grown Street Festival & House Tour on Saturday, May 14. Now would be a good time to call, email, or send Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn notices to all of your contacts to give them a heads-up and to invite them to join you on Saturday, May 14.  We have postcards in the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group office that you can come in and address to those you want to mail them to, and then we’ll put a stamp on them and mail them for you.

One of the homes on this block of Sullivan will be on the tour.

One of the homes on this block of Sullivan will be on the tour.

In addition to many houses dating from the mid-to-late 1800s that have benefited from historic rehabilitation, Old North also is home to 21st Century houses built within the past year.  As part of the dynamic mix of old and new housing found in Old North, the tour will feature a couple of LEED-certified homes built by Habitat for Humanity that were designed to fit the lot sizes and setbacks of the blocks where they were built.

A one-story and a two-story flounder house built by Habitat will be on this year's tour.

A one-story and a two-story flounder house built by Habitat will be on this year's tour.

Among the many neighborhood amenities that will be celebrated are several community gardens.

This triangular greenspace bounded by Wright, Dodier, and Branch Streets has received a lot of attention lately, including significant support from Operation Brightside. Wingmann Park will be re-dedicated at noon on the day of the tour.

This triangular greenspace bounded by Wright, Dodier, and Branch Streets has received a lot of attention lately, including significant support from Operation Brightside. Wingmann Park will be re-dedicated at noon on the day of the tour.

More information and a link to purchase tickets online can be found at the ONSL.org page for the house tour:  Click HERE to visit the House Tour page of the ONSL website.

If you have a Facebook account, type “Old North Saint Louis House Tour” in the search box and you’ll find our event page.  Once there, be sure to click on “Attending” and then click on the option to share this with all of your friends.

The 2011 Old North Home Grown Festival & House Tour is made possible due to the generous sponsorship support from PNC Bank (lead sponsor), Missouri Dept. of Agriculture, Bank of America, Commerce Bank, Duffe Nuernberger Realty, E. M. Harris Construction Co., Kohner Properties, Mackey Mitchell Architects, and USBank.

For other information or if you want to volunteer on the day of the tour, please give us a call at 314-241-5031.

WHAT'S NEW IN OLD NORTH

Welcome to the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group's blog. What's New in Old North chronicles the dramatic transformation under way in the neighborhood of Old North St. Louis. As a neighborhood just north of Downtown St. Louis, Old North is becoming a dynamic urban village of new and historic homes, a landmark eating establishment, beautiful community gardens, and a diverse, friendly, and engaged community.

RSS

Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed (what's this?)