Thinking Out Loud

Site Work Begins Monday for New Hospital @JCMO

There were fifty ways this project might not have happened. Up until today we were just building an interchange on Highway179 that might have served a new hospital.

St. Mary's Health Center President Brent Vanconia announced today that final documents have been signed for construction. The prime contractor, Alberici Healthcare, has begun awarding bids for the $136 Million project.

Everyone -- St. Mary's, Jefferson City, Cole County, MODOT, adjoining landowners, and others --  stayed in the game even when prospects were dim.

The Lesson: Important things take committment, patience and a willingness to incur risk. That's how the Franciscan Sisters of Mary did it 107 years ago.

 

 

Re: New Federal Courthouse - Some Urban History

It was a cool fall evening in 1996 when a newly elected First Ward City Councilman met with a group of not-very-optimistic residents at an apartment building on Ash Street. That part of Jefferson City was, shall we say, "challenged."

No Prison Brews. No O'Donoghue's. No Mission. No Pedals For You. All the progress was going west. Not a lot of hope here. 

The Councilman told the group "There's talk of moving the Penitentiary and a new federal courthouse." The comments were justifiably rejected as political pie in the sky.

It was a cool fall morning yesterday when lots of important people participated in the dedication of the Christopher S. Bond Courthouse at the corner of Lafayette and State Street. The site of all the enthusiasm and investment was a sector of our city that fifteen years ago was ready for the scrap heap - an orphan of failed urban planning, sprawl and complacency.

Yesterday was a time for celebration and also a sobering moment of self reflection: Can we now embrace our historic urban center and devote resources strategiclly to invite people to live there? Can we create a quality of place that sets us apart? Will the State of Missouri promote its Capital City as the symbol of its heritage?

 

 

New Aerial Pics of MSP/New Courthouse

The Missouri Office of Administration published recent aerial photos of the Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment project showing the new federal courthouse and all the opportunities within the historic upper campus. Click on "view slideshow" for the full effect.

These photos should resolve all doubts about the breadth of this project and its significance to Jefferson City.

When will the State of Missouri realize that this is has become a local project by default?

1,587 Wreaths for Heroes

Kudos to Lorraine and Pete Adkins, their committee, and several hundred friends who placed 1,587 wreaths at Jefferson City's National Cemetery Saturday morning. There are only three national cemeteries in Missouri: St. Louis at Jefferson Barracks, Springfield and here. 

The Committee: Lorraine Adkins, Pete Adkins, Brad Bates, Mike Bernskoetter, Amy Freeman, Chris Jarboe. Kay Jarboe, Kathleen Kersting, Jay Kersting, Cathy Kolb, Larry Kolb, Sallie Jacobs, Darlene Mathews, Sharon Naught, Carol Poteat, Linda Ringo, Rosie Verslues & Loise White.

 

First Glimpses of New Federal Courthouse

The Central Division Judges, the Chamber and local attorney Michael Berry arranged for a preview of the new federal courthouse, still under construction and scheduled to open early to mid 2011. Nice reception in Housing Unit 4 in the historic MSP campus next door.

Click on MY PARKING LOT for some pictures of today's tour. 

My favorite view was between the very new and very old structures -- the extension of Lafayette all the way to the river. The words inscribed on the floor of the foyer will be "Justice Flows Like the River."

 

Lester Parker: A Balanced Life on Display at Rozier Gallery

For another two weeks The Elizabeth Rozier Gallery at the Union Hotel (aka the Amtrak passenger depot) will be displaying a unique collection of paintings by local artist Lester Parker (1860-1925).

With one side of his brain Parker founded a shoe company located within the state penitentiary. He enriched the other side by studying art in Europe. He was intrigued by the Capitol Building, depicting it in various styles. He also liked photography. 

I wonder what he would be doing if he was alive today?

 
 

Warwick Village Might Add Drive Thru Coffee Shop

Monday Night the City Council will consider a relatively minor rezoning application for Warwick Village, an historic inn on the East Side -- at the confluence of High and McCarty -- originally the Eastern gateway into and out of the city. Hank and Linda Stratman have already created several first class residential and office apartments at the historic site. 

They hope the rezoning will allow the next big step -- removing some cottages to make room for a coffeeshop / deli with a drive through window. 

This picture is looks east. The drive through will be on the left. The service window will be straight ahead. The cars will exit where the construction fence is now, back onto High Street or to East McCarty.
 
 

Old Munichberg Has a Corner on History

Dr. Walter Schroeder was the Master of Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Old Munichberg Association's dedication of the beautiful mini-plaza at the corner of Jefferson and Dunklin. About sixty attendees gathered in the mid-morning heat to witness the unveiling. Dozens of memorial bricks have been installed, and more available. Proceeds go to initial costs and ongoing maintenance.

 

 

Missouri River = Our "Big Nature"

OK.  I'm a little fixated with the Missouri River. Float trips. Adrian's Island. The latest installment of the addiction was at the dedication of the bike/ped attachment to the bridge last week, connecting the Katy Trail to the Capitol.

Sarah Stroesser was kind enough to post these remarks on the Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook page.

 It might not go down in history like "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,'" but it's about as close as I can come to "that Vision Thing."

Chamber MODOT River Mini-Cruise

Lately the Chamber has been pretty creative with their annual dinner for the Missouri Transportation Commission. Previous venues have included Housing Unit 4 at MSP (that took a little cleanup) and the "President's Home" adjacent to the Lincoln campus. This year the dinner was at the Noren Access on the north shore of the Missouri River, complete with a river cruise on a barge big enough to play an NFL game. I happened to catch a neat sunset. Think Lewis & Clark thoughts.