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I keep waiting for news on which Public Works site proposal the Council will choose and it keeps not coming. We’ll have to settle for some more run-of-the-mill news items instead. Before we start, though, a quick reminder that on the evening of August 25th, Kirkwood for Everyone will be hosting an informational session on building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Kirkwood. If you haven’t yet, RSVP on Facebook and make sure to share it with your family and friends!
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- Monday's ARB agenda featured a cool proposal to restore the original glazed tile facade of 116-122 N. Kirkwood Road (home of Pottery Hollow and formerly of the Rusted Chandelier). Go to pg. 154 of the pdf to check out the renderings and historic reference photos of the building if you're a history buff. The rumors of the demise of DTK are grossly exaggerated!
- The main highlight from last night's P&Z meeting is the news of the subcommittee's recommended approval of the new Commerce Bank apartments project. After P&Z votes on a recommendation, the project will then move to the council for a Public Hearing and then a full Council vote
- The most interesting item on tonight’s City Council agenda is a proposal to allocate $102k maintain and expand Kirkwood’s Fybr parking monitor system and the Park Kirkwood app. Longtime readers will know that I’ve long been obsessed with the untapped potential of this system so on the one hand, I’m excited to see that we’re doubling down and investing in expanding its capabilities (potentially up to 808 Downtown spots). On the other hand, i’m disappointed that we’re not using this opportunity to roll out some sort of paid parking system. As I’ve made the case several times, simply charging people a fee to park Downtown could solve our parking crisis over night, improve economic productivity, and generate some revenue that could be put to other uses (like funding the pedestrian improvements the city had proposed for Argonne). Amend this contract on the floor tonight and be legends!
- Some odds and ends from last week’s Webster-Kirkwood Times:
- On pg. 1, the harrowing story of a Kirkwood cyclist who was assaulted by a driver on the morning of July 24th. First, if you know any assholes who drive a black Jeep Cherokee in Kirkwood, please reach out to Kirkwood Police! Second, I think this shows why ideally you want a bike network that emphasizes protected bike lanes that physically prevent drivers from hitting cyclists on purpose or by accident. Kirkwood currently has zero miles of protected bike lanes and I think you’re seeing the limitations of that approach.
- On pg. 4, some really disappointing news on the cancellation of the Grain Belt Express which was supposed to deliver clean wind energy from Kansas to Kirkwood homes and lower household energy costs in the process. Senator Hawley and Attorney General Bailey, both seem proud of their efforts to derail the project but I’m not sure raising the electricity bills of the good people of Rolla, Hannibal, Farmington, and Kirkwood is the political winner they think it is.
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That’s it for this week! I’m headed to Carmel, Indiana (by all accounts a top-tier suburb and the roundabout capital of the US) for my brother’s wedding (Congratulations Chunky and Meg!), but wherever you’ll be, I hope you have a great weekend!
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