At Monday night's general meeting, we heard from Mike Petetit, chair of Lafayette Square's safety committee.  The neighborhood's approach to crime has proven wildly successful for them, taking them from the 27th safest neighborhood to the 9th safest in two years.  Without a taxing district. This is so much more than citizen patrols. The approach [...]

Last night, we posted a quick link to the Post-Dispatch's story on the Earnings Tax's overwhelming victory at the polls.  To be sure, this isn't the end of the debate - only the beginning. This morning, the Post-Dispatch's Tim Logan spells out two different studies commissioned by Show-Me Institute Founder Rex Sinquefield.  The first shows the package [...]

Whatever your opinions are about the 1% income tax the City levies on residents and workers alike, the votes show the will of the people...at least, for the next five years.  It's not necessarily SNIA's place to take a hard stance on issues like this, but given the dialogue we've had over the last year or [...]

Joan Jennings, SNIA's secretary, was kind enough to send a corrected link for tickets to the Grand South Grand House Tour, April 16th and 17th. Among several Shaw properties, we'll be featuring Magnolia Place Condominiums and St. Margaret of Scotland Church. Here's the new and improved link.

The newest renovation, 4059 Castleman should be available May 1st.  Garcia Properties is a solid developer, committed to the City, and recently has made significant investments in Shaw.  On a selfish note, this is right across the street from my house.  It was a problem property, when I moved into the neighborhood, 1 and 1/2 [...]

Part Two of our series further unpacks the mission and vision of the Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association, focusing squarely on tangible neighborhood improvement. Put simply: we're here to help.  If you see a need in the neighborhood, our job is to help the neighborhood meet it.  Organizationally, we're structured such that the quiet, tireless effort [...]

As promised: Part One of our series on how precisely the Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association...well...improves Shaw.  One of the most fundamental ways SNIA serves the neighborhood is through communication.  Once again, to paraphrase Board Member Sue Raney, we talk about both positive and negative issues and events, as they relate to the neighborhood.  It's a way to stay connected [...]

It's a question people ask, especially when they first move to the neighborhood.  Or, just as likely, a non-resident friend of yours has asked the question after you tell them the first or third Monday of the month won't work to have dinner.  Or watch football.  Or quilt.  It is, after all, your free time. SNIA, [...]

While, unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to attend last weekend's event, hosted by NextSTL, I know of several neighbors who did, and could follow along via Twitter.  The event link recaps much of the coverage and discussion.  And, it's worth digesting. But, rather than use this post to take a particular stance on how [...]

Steve Patterson, author of Urban Review STL, addressed the need for Thurman Avenue to become a through street, once again. We're sure that many in the neighborhood agree, and in fact, we know that Alderman Conway has been approached by the owner of the building that houses Sasha's on Shaw.  What's holding it back?    According to Conway, [...]