The West Pine Laclede Neighborhood Association will meet this evening at 7 pm at Northwest Coffee, as previously announced.

Attached are the minutes from February’s meeting.  Please take a minute to review before the meeting as they will be presented for approval.  Also please note that membership dues are due.

 

WEST PINE LACLEDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION – Minutes Feb. 8, 2024

Harold Karabell brought meeting to order and introduced Developer Divyesh Panchal of Sandpiper Listings. Mr. Panachal formerly worked in technology. He is proposing to buy 4417 Forest Park Ave., a 24-unit apartment building.  He would like to covert the existing 24 rental units to12 rental units and 12 bed and breakfast units. The apartments are all studio apartment size and are 400 sq. ft. The apartments rent now from $1,00.00 to $1,100.00 per month. Plans are to not sign new leases for the 24 at that rate and charge a higher rent to cover upgrades

Philip Barron, a long-time owner and leasing agent in the Central West End is the seller of the property after beginning to divest and sell properties separately.

Panchal explained the rational for transferring to bed and breakfast (b and b) instead of short term rental  (AirBnB) is the ease of securing a city permit.

Mr. Panchal owns a white bed and breakfast house on the north side of Lindell east of Vanderventer.

When asked what the advantage to bed and breakfast is over short-term rental, he explained that at his existing b and b house tenants have to supply ID plus a copy of their passports.

Landlord can charge a deposit. Guests can’t stay longer than 2 weeks as opposed to AirBnB where they can stay 30 days. He inferred that the guests are less likely to cause problems when more restrictions and more accountability is in the mix.

The daily rate will be $140.00 a day at Forest Park apartments for bed and breakfast guests.

He will work in conjunction with neighborhood restaurants offering a discount thus providing business for that restaurant.

The city has a limit on the number of b and b’s. No more than 19 units can be used. The plan for Forest Park location is to have b and b guests on one floor and renters an another with codes to access the floors.

If you would like to visit his property to view present rental agreement at his b and b; book.sandpiper listings.com and his cell is 314 803 9475

He also owns one property on Washington Ave. and no address was given for that.

Feedback from some of our members:

Karen Karabell member, Apartment Manager and Owner made these statements and had these questions:

• It is hard to get b and b license.
• Doesn’t the city require 50 per cent of nearby neighbors signatures?
• Don’t they have to have a zoning variance?
• Don’t they need inspections every year?
• Don’t they require the owner to live on site?
• Don’t they have to have commercial occupancy?
• Don’t they have to participate in a zoning public hearing?

Angela stated that she thought short term rentals were worse and b and b better.

Mews resident asked: Is there a shortage of b and b apartments in our area?

Mr. Panchal claims there is a shortage of 500 hotel rooms in area.

Other question that was posed is a concern about displacing all 24 renters.

Ron Coleman (NIS) said there are more affordable housing apartments in this neighborhood than others:  6 north, Metro Lofts, Park Place, Park View.

After Mr. Panchal left the meeting, a discussion began as to what we as an organization want to do. Even though this isn’t in our direct jurisdiction the developer is interested in a letter of support.

A question arose by someone else is, What do the existing tenants have to say?

Harold Karabell asked these questions:

“Do we want to write a letter of support? Or we can simply write a letter not to support. We can be neutral and take no action. Individuals are allowed to send their opinions.”

We then conducted a small vote and results concluded that 3 want to support the letter and 3 don’t know. It was decided on what we know after this vote at this time, to do nothing.

Terry Werner Treasurer Report as of February:

• Checking                                $2399.28
• Savings                               $2,073.83
• Time deposit                        $4,485.82
• New Members Donated to      $273.00

Annual dues will be due in March

Beautification: Ron Coleman said that 10 new refuse trucks are being added and should help with trash removal. He stated that 30 per cent of materials are only recyclable.

He also stated that Trash Costs are $45.00 a ton and recyclable costs are $185.00 a ton.

Karen Karabell interjected that Republic Truck, the private refuse company has a camera that can tell if a recyclable is accepted or not.

Next subject:

The need for speed bumps was brought up for the alley of 4100 and 4200 hundred block located just south of Lindell between Sarah and West Pine. The flat smooth surface makes it easy for people to speed through very fast.

This temporary secretary (myself) explained my recent experience of being harassed by a speeder as I was emptying cut rose bushes from the median on West Pine and Boyle into the green dumpster in that alley. Our treasurer, Terry Werner had a similar scary encounter.

A discussion was begun to consider having a few speed bumps installed in that alley. In order to get permission to do so, it was explained by Harold Karabell that we need to get a 66% majority on the block to sign off on speed bumps. It was than suggested that everyone should receive a letter via mail slots or use technology in something called a doodle poll attached to letter via email requesting their vote.

Speed bumps similar to the ones we are interested in are behind Straubs between Kingshighway and Euclid north of Maryland. Costs are about $500 to $600 apiece.

Nothing was decided and is up for further discussion.

Meeting than adjourned.

Lorraine Simpson, Scribe