LAFAYETTE SQUARE • BENTON PARK • COMPTON HEIGHTS • FOX PARK • GATE DISTRICT • LASALLE PARK • MCKINLEY HEIGHTS AUGUST 2008 Founded by the residents of Lafayette Square VOLUME 30, NUMBER 8 ‘Cars’ cruises into Lafayette Park By Jennifer Weston southwest through the county. Lafayette Square Originally, Route 66 went down Manchester Road, but it was eventually For the second movie of the summer rerouted down Watson Road, now named movie series, Movies in the Park proudly Route 366. presents the Disney-Pixar animated The creation of Highway 44 elimi- movie Cars at 8 p.m. Aug. 23, with nated the need for many of the small festivities starting at 6:30 p.m. businesses along the original Route 66. For those of you unfamiliar with the However, some original businesses remain 2006 hit movie, Cars is about a rookie to this day — one of the most popular racecar named Lightning McQueen. being Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on McQueen is on his way to winning the Chippewa in south city. Piston Cup and obtaining a lucrative deal Movies in the Park is going to show- with mega sponsor Dinoco. case not only the movie Cars but also But on the road to the fi nal race, he Route 66 in its pre-movie activities. accidentally takes a detour into Radiator Starting at 6:30 p.m., a fi re truck and Springs, a small and nearly abandoned a police car will be on display for the town on the old Route 66 highway. Used children, along with many vintage cars to doing things on his own, McQueen courtesy of Lambda Car Club Interna- slowly learns the value of teamwork and tional and George Randall of Randall’s friendship. And the audience is reminded Wine and Spirits. of how life was before the interstate high- There will also be other cars on ways were created. display, some owned by residents of Even those of you familiar with the Lafayette Square. All vehicles will be movie Cars may not realize that many parked on Mississippi Avenue near elements of the movie were based on real Lafayette Avenue. towns and places on old Route 66. The Inside the park, there will be games, fi ctional town of Radiator Springs was face painters, entertainment and activity based largely on three actual Route 66 books for the children. For the adults, towns that saw a rapid decline when the Jennifer Weston photo there will be a Route 66 trivia contest, interstate replaced the former highway. games, raffl e and entertainment. Several famous sites associated with Don Terrill (right), LSRC V.P./President-Elect, stands by his 1955 Ford Panel Truck with Zachary There will also be food and beverages Route 66 appear in the fi lm, including Weston to promote the next feature for this year’s Movies in the Park series, Cars, which shows sold by Vino Vitae Gourmet Wine Shop. in Lafayette Park Aug. 23. the Wigwam motels in Arizona, the The movie will begin at 8 p.m. Visit U-Drop Inn in Texas and the Cadillac http://moviesinthepark.org/sites/mitp for Ranch. International Harvester tow truck that Route 66 is especially relevant to our more information. Even the character Mater, the friendly still sits next to the original Route 66 in own town because it crossed through St. The Movies in the Park Committee but dimwitted tow truck, is based on an Galena, Kan. Louis, starting downtown and heading hopes to see you there! Starr Triplett creates vacant building initiative • Owners are required By Kacie Starr Triplett for large mounds of trash and debris. to post signage on building 6th Ward Alderman All these factors exterior, providing contact Vacant buildings are an extremely contribute to a decline information for owner or large nuisance to our neighborhood. in property values, which authorized agent for the They serve as attractive locations for results in an unfair conse- building. criminal activity, breeding grounds for quence to the neighbors • Owner is required insects and rodents, and welcome mats who are considerate and to board and secure all who want to live in a nice entrances of vacant and safe neighborhood. building. Taking all these factors • Owner is required to into consideration, I maintain liability insur- Inside the recently introduced board ance for vacant property. bill 174 at the Board of • LRA properties, Aldermen, creating the privately owned properties Marquis St. Louis Vacant Building and properties foreclosed LSRC president’s letter ......................2 Initiative. This progressive on by banks or mortgage legislation, modeled after companies are all subjected LSBA News ........................................3 the city of Chicago, offers to the same guidelines JMO column ......................................4 a comprehensive approach specifi ed in the legislation. Ricardo’s employee .............................5 to how the city targets and Let me know your tracks vacant properties. thoughts about this piece Benton Park Community Garden .....6 Holding absentee prop- Image courtesy of Kacie Starr Triplett of legislation. Several Movies in the Park photos .................7 erty owners responsible and Starr Triplett’s vacant building initiative cracks down on negligent members of the Board of Soulard Oktoberfest ...........................8 accountable, this aggressive property owners. Aldermen have already legislation informs negli- agreed to serve as co-spon- gent property owners that the city will bill are: sors of the bill. September Marquis Deadline: no longer tolerate poorly maintained • Owners must register their vacant Together, we will work to promote Wednesday, August 13 buildings left to rot and deteriorate our building with the city annually and pay our city neighborhoods as wonderful community. Several provisions of the an administrative fee for each property. places to live, work and play. 2 Serving St. Louis’ Near Southside Neighborhoods August 2008 �������������� Leadership roles up for grabs 3904 JUNIATA $245,000 Great 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath in Tower Grove in upcoming LSRC elections South. Amazing woodwork, freshly painted interior, updated kitchen with appliances, By Pete Snyder sets it goals and objectives each year. beamed ceilings and stained glass windows in LSRC President Membership Secretary: during this dinning room. Master bedroom has a great bath one-year commitment, the membership and balcony to enjoy. Each year, the LSRC reinvents itself secretary will have the responsibility by turning over nine of 16 board seats. for collecting LSRC membership dues, JENNIFER BOBO (314) 753-5046 This year is no exception, so we are maintaining the membership list and looking for a few good folks who would taking the minutes of the general be willing to step into a leadership role membership meetings. following the Oct. 14 general member- Secretary of the Board of Direc- ship meeting. tors: a one-year commitment to take Nominations will be taken for these the minutes of the meeting of the board positions at the Sept. 9 general member- of directors for the LSRC. (The board ship meeting. The board positions we meets on the third Tuesday of every need to fi ll are: month). V.P./President-Elect: a three-year Director at Large: a two-year commitment; fi rst as vice president, then commitment, at-large members provide as president, and fi nally as past-presi- input and cast votes to help determine dent. The president is the spokesperson the future course of the LSRC. Direc- for Lafayette Square, sets the meeting tors at large may, but are not required agendas, keeps committees on track and to, assume other roles within the LSRC serves as a host for visitors. (for example, acting as the head of the V.P. Development-Elect: a two-year welcome or other ad hoc committees). commitment; the fi rst becoming better There are three director-at-large posi- versed in the historic code, and then as tions open. V.P. of development. This V.P. leads the In addition to these nine LSRC board committee that reviews proposals for positions, there are two at-large seats development within the neighborhood open on the seven-person Develop- and is caretaker of the historic code that ment Committee. At-large development keeps our neighborhood an historic, committee members are elected for a beautiful place. two-year term. Treasurer-Elect: a two-year commit- Please let me know if you are ment, the treasurer-elect steps into the interested in any of the above listed treasurer’s role in the second year. positions. I’d welcome your partici- V.P. Community Affairs: this is pation. You can contact me at a one-year commitment, leading the [email protected] or by Community Affairs Committee, which calling 773-6300. Editor’s Note It is the goal of this publication and those who support it to bring you the news about your neighborhood each month. This is your news, and we want to do our best to bring it to you in the most accurate and professional manner possible. So if you have something you’d like us to include, feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to accept article submissions, photos, press releases or story ideas from anywhere in our coverage area, and we’ll do our best to include them. As your community newspaper, we want your contributions and input. So keep us informed and we’ll do the same for you. — Laura McCarthy, editor 367-6612 x34 or [email protected] The Marquis is published monthly by Virginia Publishing Company on behalf of the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee. Originally founded by Lafayette Square Restoration Committee as a small newsletter, the paper has grown into the voice of St. Louis’ strong near southside neighborhood groups, serving Benton Park, Compton Heights, Fox Park, Gate District, Lafayette Park, LaSalle Park, and McKinley Heights neighborhoods.