Old Orchard Business District Advisory Commission

Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, September 9, 2019 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:00 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:13 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Joe Fichter, Chair X Angel Venegoni X Claire Winkler X Holland Saltsman X Robert Weber X John Barr X Steve Zielinski X Vacancy Vacancy Bud Bellomo, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the June minutes as was made by Angel Venegoni, seconded by, Holland Saltsman motion was unanimously approved. STREETSCAPE UPDATE • The final easement has been acquired. Work to move the utility poles should be starting soon. GAZEBO SERIES FEEDBACK • Overall the series was successful; one night was rained out. Crowds didn’t seem to change much with the absence of movies this year. • The number of sponsors was up, so the event is in the black. • Next year, the Gazebo Series Committee will need new members necessitated by the retirements of Joe Fichter and Claire Winkler. District businesses will need to get more engaged if the event is to continue. Page 1of 3 FALL/HOLIDY EVENTS Civil Alchemy’s Fall Festival • The event takes place on October 26th on the District’s south public parking lot. The number of vendors involved is twice as many compared to last year and will take up two thirds of the parking lot. • Vendors will be ready to welcome Trick or Treaters in conjunction with the Trick or Treating event taking place in the District on the same day. • Artisan vendors draw patrons into the area from the City of St. Louis. • Food trucks this year will be Mission Taco and Guerrilla Street Food. • Working on having some live music as well. • Going forward, this event could be expanded into a district-wide event and not just a Civil Alchemy event. Expanding the event will be revisited with budget discussion next year. Joint Events with the Old Webster Business District; • Trick or Treating in Webster Groves; October 26th from 3 to 5 PM. • Holiday Cookie Walk, December 8th from 11 AM to 2 PM • Businesses in the District will take part in the both annual events organized by the Old Webster Trade Association. Fran Sudekum will solicitate participation and coordinate logistics. The Novel Neighbor offered to be a promotional pickup location for Trick or Treat items and Real Leaf offered to be a ticket purchase location for the Cookie Walk. Santa’s Mailbox • It was decided to promote the arrival of Santa’s Mailbox to Gazebo Park to coincide with the Chamber’s Santas on the Loose 5K Run event on December 7 th. Letters from the mailbox may be used in some manner to share the spirit of the season; possibly via in print or on social media. ADDITIONAL BLUE PERMIT PARKING SPACES • Designating several parking spots on the Eden Seminary side of Bompart Avenue as additional Blue Permit Parking Spaces was before the City Council. Businesses at the west end of the District have grown significantly and need additional employee parking. Discussions are continuing at City Council and input from the Business District is requested. • Currently, the location of the proposed additional blue parking permits is being used by Nerinx Hall students who have access to designated parking in the Webster University parking garage adjacent to their location; the parking garage has enough spaces to accommodate the students; however, the students do need to purchase a parking garage permit. Nerinx Hall needs to be encouraged to ensure their students use the parking garage. • Commission Members explained the employee parking lot in the east section of the District is basically at capacity and isn’t able to handle the number of employees at the far end of the District. • Commission Members felt very strongly, that providing additional employee parking to businesses in the District is very important. Enabling healthy businesses to stay in the District is a priority. In addition, their employees contribute to the financial health of the Page 2of 3  District as they patronize the businesses in the area. • To continue to attract retail walkable businesses in the District, for example, filling the locations that will be vacated by Krueger Pottery leaving, employee and customer parking availability is key. • Commission Members plan to send email messages to the City Clerk with their support of the additional blue permit parking. CITY UPDATE • Le Macaron - Old Webster- Opening in the former Scoop Pilates Studio. Obtained their CUP and are working on construction plans. Hope to open in the next couple months. • Bridal House at the Boulevard - Old Orchard - Opened additional space in the back of their lot that used to be another hair salon. Space is for bridal parties and groups. • Clayton Medical Associates - Crossroads - Opened in the former surgical center and Everlove Day Club space. Moved from Clayton • EverLove DayClub - Watson - Moved from Crossroads and opened location down on Watson almost at Grant Road. Adult day care in stand-alone building. • Nehring Design - Crossroads -Added an additional storefront space further down in the block • Blue Dahlia - Old Orchard - In part of the former Scholar Shop. Had their Grand Opening on Friday August 23rd. • Real Leaf- Old Orchard - Former Naked Boot and Shoe location. CBD oil sales. • Story Seven - Old Webster - Former Hoopla location. Grand Opening celebration Saturday August 24th • Green Door Art Gallery- Old Webster - Change of ownership • Simmons Bank- Yorkshire - Change of ownership former Reliance Bank • The Elle on Lockwood - Former YMCA site. Apartment building under construction. • Regions Bank - Former Gerber Chapel. Federal paperwork has slowed down their progress; the retail is still pending. • Former Auto Beauty building- interior demolition has begun. The use of a crane to put items on the roof will close a portion of Lockwood for one day. • A permit request for a medical marijuana location may be received. • Planning Commission is working on multiple code updates. ADJOURNED Meeting adjourned at 9:13 AM. Page 3of 3