A new development is nearing completion in Meacham Park at the corner of Big Bend and S. Fillmore (10505 Big Bend Blvd). While the 3-4 unit strip mall’s exterior has been completed, its interior has a way to go before it will be ready for any businesses to move in. Unfortunately there seems to be little interest so far. According to sources, Peloton, a high-end stationary bike-centric fitness company was anticipated to be the first tenant of the new development but has since withdrawn and is no longer pursuing the space, leaving Gershman (Real Estate) with no current tenants.
Development Design
The Architectural Review Board approved of the project after several revisions to the design plans and at times contentious debate.While the project wasn’t considered ideal or best practice, the board conceded approval based on premise that the irregularities of the lot’s shape and elevation changes necessitated the proposed design despite its short comings.
The most glaring of these design flaws is probably would have been the easiest one to solve: the presence of parking in front of the store front instead of the back. Its impossible to imagine how building to the sidewalk and shifting the parking out of sight would either increase costs or reduce the value of the property.
Despite the fronting parking lot, and thats a BIG “despite,” the Review Board did all they could to ensure the development wasn’t entirely auto-oriented. These measures include a broad sidewalk/patio in front of the storefronts, a pedestrian right-of-way leading from the sidewalk, through the small parking lot, to the storefronts, and the absence of curb cuts with the only auto entrance to the parking lot in the back of the building on the sidewalk-less but quiet Gordon Ave. (The location of this auto entrance makes the decision to put the parking in the front all the more perplexing). Additionally the building features substantial beautification measures including extensive landscaping, very nice accent lighting at night and the use of brick (as opposed to the cheaper stucco) on the most visible sides of the building.
Big Picture
10505 is a very visible building and, due to its location, one that gives off one of the first impressions for those entering the community. Its a fine building; it really is. But it would be nice if the first impression it gave those entering Kirkwood was that ours is a community that values “progressive, truly top quality design” instead of “a hybrid of top quality design and West County auto-centric mediocrity.”
Unfortunately sustainable and walkable development goals have never seemed to be at the forefront of Kirkwood’s agenda in Meachem. When Kirkwood annexed the unincorporated predominately black, lower income neighborhood in 1992, it promptly bulldozed half the community in favor of the big box stores (Walmart, Target, Home Goods, etc.) and parking lot that remain, effectively walling off the neighborhood from the rest of the community.
It’s tough deciding who should have to be first. What business should be the first one that is denied the curb-cut they requested, which should be the first development forced to build to the curb when everything surrounding it is setback, which should be the first to bear the cost of using quality materials when everyone else got away with siding. Its tough. But if the gauntlet is laid down, if the precedent is set, if, instead of the tide slowly begins to change. and instead of rebuilding the way we’ve alway rebuilt before, we build the next one, (and the one after that) the way we know we should, Kirkwood will be better for it.
A while ago, on last year’s anniversary of the City Hall shooting, I retweeted an article by St. Louis Public Radio. In addition to providing an excellent examination of where our community is at in its healing process and how far it has yet to go, the article also examines the city’s relationship with neighborhood Cookie Thornton was from. One quote from that article has stuck with me over all the rest. A retired Meramec math professor, Bill Thayer was speaking of the lack of pedestrian accommodations for residents of Meachem park when he offered this: “Maybe we’re not helping them cross the streets because we don’t want them to cross the streets.”
I don’t think that this building has a parking lot in front of it because it is located at the doorstep of Meachem Park —City Council probably would’ve let this slide just about anywhere— but I do think this: The City of Kirkwood has already cut enough corners during our brief history together. It’s time we do better everywhere. It’s especially time we do better here.
More Pictures:
