Jennifer Blome, one-time anchor for KSDK, now hosting a morning radio show on KTRS 550 am, has invited 40 South editor, Doug Miner to talk about what’s been hot on 40 South News.
Blome said she has read 40 South News “for years.” She co-hosts the show with Jon Grayson called The Inside from 10 a.m. to noon everyday.
She said the topic will be the top stories of 2017 and what might be coming up in 2018 for the 40 South area.
The interview is planned for Dec. 29 at 11:20 a.m.
Listen in to hear our top area’s top stories discussed. And — any predictions what the top news for 2018 will be?
I doubt Manchester will ever be narrowed down west of Big Bend. The section east of Big Bend is odd in that the city of Maplewood maintains it whereas MoDOT maintains everything west of Big Bend all the way out to Wildwood. Besides, they just built all that new sidewalk along there.
This is true about the MoDOT maintenance. However, discussions between MW city officials and St Louis County officials has already been started and it is not out of the question MW acquires maintenance of this section of road. Also, allowing parking along that section would not necessarily have any impact on the new sidewalks.
I have a question, why, why, why would you want that stretch of Manchester one lane. Wouldn’t that make for just more congestion?
Changing to one lane is part of a much larger picture. Many citizens in MW are content with just having their downtown island. That portion of Manchester East of Big Bend and Sutton are a great place but MW could be much improved if connecting all the way down to the metro link. Zoning needs to be put in place that encourages any future development along Manchester from Big Bend to Hanley that resembles the more regulated downtown section. Going to one lane helps continue to keep a safe environment for pedestrians which encourages more foot traffic while also still allowing for street parking. Both of these things should help spur more development along that stretch of Manchester. Some of the best examples of walkable environments are the UCity Loop, Central West End, South Grand, the Grove, and Soulard. All tolerate increased car traffic to allow for a set up that is meaningful to their residents. Car traffic is not a priority in my opinion. If you want to drive fast through MW go to Hwy 40 or 44. Car traffic in St Louis is a relevant topic from 7-9am and 4-6pm. No one would even notice it is one lane the other 20 hours of the day.
I disagree with your statement that it will make it safer. There are crosswalks and sidewalks already in place. You also seem to forget that the new way to drop kids off at ECC is via Manchester and school starts and finishes during the “4 hours” that you think is the relevant time. I live in that area and don’t want the cars driving down my street to avoid the disaster that you think would be great.
People race down Lyndover in order to avoid downtown Maplewood. That doesn’t make my neighborhood safer and we have a park where kids are playing. A child could dart across the street going after a ball. The good news is that Lyndover doesn’t go west of Big Bend.
Your nuts if you think making Manchester one lane in that stretch any safer. The Big Bend Manchester intersection is already backed up in all directions at rush hour and children take their lives in their hand trying to walk to school in the morning. Would like to see traffic backed up all the way to Webster Groves and the City of St. Louis?
Also, when do they plan to pave the section of Big Bend from Manchester to Hwy 40? They did a nice job on the stretch south under the viaduct but need to finish it up to the highway.
@Mike – Im picturing a parking lane more like the one on McCausland leading up to Hwy 40 where it functions as a normal lane during certain hours but during the other hours you can park there. Similarly, in this case, the city can state “no parking between 7-8” in the right lane when school drop off is occurring in the morning. The East bound traffic could use the right lane/parking lane as a dedicated lane for parents dropping off kids which will also help keep traffic on Manchester flowing. The West bound traffic would not change because all the cars headed for dropoff are waiting in the left hand lane to turn onto Laclede Station. All the cars continuing West are in the right lane already.
@Uncle Jedd- Big bend is St Louis County owned so questions about repaving would need to be directed at them, not MW.
Your nuts?? His genitals have nothing to do with this.
I do not see us doing much developing and work from Big Bend to the Metrolink station. If you look at that stretch what are you going to do with some of the businesses that are there. You have a car lot that takes up a large part of two blocks, an apartment complex, Steak and Shake, Aldi’s the new fire department, businesses that are not really set up for folks to walk into and purchase things. . Most of those places are not places like you have in the 7300 block of Manchester which encourage you to walk to your destination if you park somewhere else.
I know in other parts of the world you may be inclined to buy a small amount of groceries daily and then walk to your building for the meal you just bought. I am not sure that is the case in Maplewood. A good example of what a difference just a block or two makes to people go to one of the street festivals or activities that occur in Maplewood. Go down very far on Sutton as in towards Greenwood and there is almost no one going that far to see some of the businesses down there compared to what happens at the Sutton and Manchester area.
Ho’omaika’i ‘ana!
Topics I look forward to hearing about next year:
1. Elmwood restaurant
2. completion of renovations to the Woodside home (looking good!)
3. opening of the senior internet cafe
4. opening of Thai Table restaurant
5. completion of the firehouse (it’s also looking good!)
6. More housing developments in the Sunnen area
7. (maybe more personal desire than actual likelihood) but Maplewood making Manchester from Big Bend to Hanley one lane
If that stretch of Manchester were made one lane I would avoid it and avoid all the businesses along it. The others are good.
I would also.
Thanks for the thoughts, Joe. Any ideas from Brentwood or Richmond Heights?
Doug, I don’t know how you do it – you are truly the best “Town Crier” for a city whose motto is “Mayberry Meets Metropolis.” Keep up the great work. I’ll be listening!
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