Manchester’s ‘Arts at the Crossroads’ update, News Briefs

BALLWIN

Holloway Road culvert

The Holloway Road culvert reconstruction project in Ballwin has taken another step forward with the naming of Access Engineering, LLC, of St. Louis to handle the preparation of plans and specifications, as well as additional technical services during the construction phase.

The initial engineering work is scheduled this year, with actual construction slated for 2014. Total cost is estimated at $682,000. The project has been approved for an 80 percent cost reimbursement grant under a federal transportation program administered locally by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

The culvert conveys Grand Glaize Creek and an unnamed tributary under Holloway near the southeast corner of the Ballwin Golf Club.

 

CHESTERFIELD

Olive Street Road closed near outlet mall construction

Olive Street Road closed this week between Centaur and Chesterfield Airport roads and will continue to be closed for up to two weeks, while a contractor installs a 90-foot-long storm drainage system related to the construction of St. Louis Premium Outlets on the west end of the the Chesterfield valley.

Motorists are advised to use S. Eatherton, Wildhorse Creek Road, Long Road and Chesterfield Airport Road to circumvent the closure.

Barricades have been erected on either end of the closure to prevent motorists from accessing Olive Street Road and electronic message boards have been deployed to alert drivers of the restrictions.

 

Residents charged in bank robberies

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Feb. 9 issued warrants for Darren Everett, 42, and Mackenzie Leonard, 26, both of the 1100 block of Matador in Chesterfield. Each were charged with three counts of first degree robbery and one count of armed criminal action related to numerous bank robberies.

Two of the robberies took place in St. Louis County, with a third taking place in Town & Country.

Bond was set at $500,000 each.

Additional related robberies are suspected in Jefferson County (Arnold) and Columbia, Ill.

 

DES PERES

Habitat for Humanity ReStore coming soon

The Des Peres Board of Adjustments has cleared the way for a Habitat for Humanity Restore to be  opened at 2117 Sams Drive in Des Peres in June.

The mission of the ReStore is to provide additional financial resources to Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, expand opportunities to serve a broader base of the community by providing low-cost materials and provide good stewardship of sustainable resources within the St. Louis MSA.

ReStore sells building supplies, home remodeling materials and home décor items to the general public. The store also accepts donations of reusable materials.

The Des Peres ReStore hours will be: Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis anticipates the creation of six-plus, full-time paid jobs that will supplemented by additional part-time staff.

 

ELLISVILLE

‘Town Center’ moratorium expires

The Ellisville City Council in a work session Feb. 6 discussed issuing requests for proposals for RPA2 (Redevelopment and Proposal Area 2), located at the southwest corner of Keifer Creek and Manchester roads, adjacent to the proposed Walmart development.

RPA2 was placed under a development moratorium during a special meeting of the Ellisville City Council on Sept. 7, the same night that the Council approved a conditional use permit for RPA1, the proposed Walmart site.

Ada Hood, Ellisville’s director of planning and community development, said at the time that the moratorium would allow the city to create a plan that complies with the city’s vision of a town center.

The moratorium expires in March and the Council now says it envisions attracting high-end retail, businesses and residential components to the development.

Councilmember Matt Pirrello (District 1) said the Council does not know specifics yet but members would like to see a pedestrian-friendly “people” place where residents will like to gather.

 

City approves ‘Great Streets’ law firm

The Ellisville City Council voted Feb. 6 to use the legal services of Lewis Rice and Fingersh, L.C. in regards to the Manchester Road Great Streets Initiative (GSI).

Legal representation is needed for Ellisville to partner with Ballwin and Wildwood to create a new Great Streets Overlay District that will manage and oversee the GSI to fruition.

The Overlay District will take the responsibility of conforming to GSI from the three cities and place that responsibility into the hands of an authorized agent.

The Missouri General Assembly will have to pass legislation allowing the Overlay District to be formed. The attorney involved, Jon Dalton, who is also mayor of Town & Country, has agreed to waive all fees associated with passing that legislation. The attorney will represent Ballwin and Wildwood as well.

Councilmember Linda Reel (District 2) recalled that the GSI has been in discussion for almost five years and noted her appreciation of Councilmember Matt Pirrello (District 1) for carrying the initiative forward for Ellisville. Other councilmembers thanked Pirrello as well.

“I’m very excited about this and think it is a really good thing for Ellisville and a good thing for Manchester (Road),” Reel said.

 

MANCHESTER

‘Arts at the Crossroads’ update

Alderman Mike Clement (Ward 2) said since its inception last year, “Manchester Arts: Arts at the Crossroads” has “really bloomed” and this year, the organization has a more aggressive agenda than in 2012.

“‘Arts at the Crossroads’ really defines the intersection of 141 and Manchester Road,” Clement said. “That crossroads actually has historical reference because those two roads have been a part of this community of people for years and years, probably since the late 1700s. So when we talked about something that identifies and gives us meaning, ‘Arts at the Crossroads’ defines specifically where we’re at and also defines historical relevance. It also kind of identifies us as being in a point where we can go in a variety of directions. The crossroads has always symbolized something good for us and we’re proud of that line.”

Among the organization’s goals for 2013 is completing its arts plan, which will allow the organization to seek funding in the form of grants.

Members also are thinking about hosting a photography show and free concerts and forming a community band. The organization is in discussions with fine arts programs at area schools to collaborate their efforts.

“We would like to find ways to lift out and highlight the young talent that is in our school districts, particularly here in Parkway,” Clement said. “So far, it’s been received very, very well.”

In addition, Manchester Arts is looking into a public art initiative, which could include artists painting the traffic boxes along Manchester Road.

Clement cited other cities that have started it, such as Clayton and Columbia, Mo.

“And when you go online to these communities, you see some pretty cool stuff, and we think we can do that,” he said. “A lot of people are committed to moving the process forward and just finding art niches in the community, where we can go and do what we want to do.”

For more information on the group, visit the Manchester Arts’ Facebook page (facebook.com/manchester.arts.mo).

 

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Metro West FPD candidate disqualified for April election

St. Louis County Circuit Court on Feb. 11 disqualified Stephen H. Ward as a candidate for the position of board member (director) for the Metro West Fire Protection District. The court determined that Ward “failed to timely comply with the filing fee requirements.” Therefore, the court ordered that Ward be removed as a candidate in the April 2, 2013, election.

Because the ballots have already been printed for the election, Ward’s name will not be physically removed from the ballot. The election commission will post signs in each applicable polling place noting that the candidate has been “Removed from the Ballot by Court Order.” Any votes cast for Ward will not be counted or reported.

The court action leaves Tim Flora, the incumbent and current District Board Chairman, as the only candidate for the position. Flora will begin his next term in office in April.

 

Citizen Police Academy offered

The St. Louis County Police Department Central County Precinct will host a Citizen Police Academy on eight consecutive Wednesdays, beginning March 6, from 6:30-8 p.m. Graduation will take place on April 24.

The first two sessions of this academy will be held at the St. Louis County Office of Emergency Management, located at 14847 Ladue Bluffs Crossing Drive in Chesterfield. The remaining six sessions will be held at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy, located at 1200 Sutter Ave. in  Wellston.

The Citizens Police Academy is open to all St. Louis County residents and is free of charge. Advanced registration is required and seating is limited. To obtain a registration form or other details, contact Central County Precinct Officer Phil Accardi at paccardi@stlouisco.com or call (314) 567-9926.

Individuals with disabilities or special needs who wish to participate in this program should contact the Department’s ADA Coordinator at (314) 615-4273 (voice) with questions or any accommodations needed to make the meeting site or information accessible.

 

CORRECTION: In the Feb. 6 Summer Camp directory, the Carol Bowman Academy of Dance, Ltd. entry should have included the following website: www.carolbdance.com