Joe Edwards Talks Holiday Lights and Loop Parking

Joe Edwards said "a bunch of factors," were behind the holiday lights going up in the East Loop this past weekend, and it wasn't done "on purpose."

Some comments left reflected the opinion that it was too early for holiday decorations to already be up in The Loop area.

Edwards, the president of the East Loop Special Business District, said the street departments of St. Louis City and University City make the decision.

Speaking at a meeting of Loop business owners Tuesday, Edwards said the departments take into account many factors including weather, safety and working conditions. It also depends on whether trucks are available to do the job. St. Louis city had trucks available last weekend, that's why it went ahead with the installation, according to Edwards. University City did not have trucks available last weekend. However, Edwards said, University City plans on having trucks available to put the holiday lights in the University City portion of The Loop this weekend.

"Anybody who thinks it's too early, it's not done on purpose," he said.

PARKING ON MELVILLE

The Loop Special Business Districts voted on Tuesday to recommend to University City installing parking meters on about 7 to 10 spaces on south Melville that are currently free parking spaces—not metered. The aim is to discourage people from parking on the street all day long, while they attend classes at Washington University for example, and take away that parking option from visitors and potential customers.

The recommendation also calls for making the first two metered parking spaces on east Melville Avenue limited to 15 minutes. Business owners in that area have said customers complain about the lack of parking, especially ones who just want to dash in to grab carryout.

The recommendation also calls for making the metered parking space directly in front of Cheese-ology on Delmar Boulevard limited to 15 minutes.

The recommendation also called for getting rid of the three parking spaces behind the Vintage Vinyl building and making the area into a loading dock zone.