Kirkwood Pulse • October 30, 2025

Autogenerated on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 12:07 UTC • 8 stories from the last 36 hours.

Kirkwood Pulse • October 30, 2025

Kirkwood is finalizing its application for a $6.8 million federal Safer Streets for All (SS4A) grant aimed at improving traffic calming, sidewalk infill, and pedestrian upgrades citywide. However, concerns have been raised that the grant application disproportionately focuses on a single area, potentially neglecting broader citywide safety improvements. grant: name: Safer Streets for All (SS4A) total_amount: 6804817.25 federal_funding: 5443853.8 local_match: 1360963.45 purpose: Traffic calming, sidewalk infill, and pedestrian upgrades across Kirkwood key_issue: More than half (52%) of the grant funds are allocated to a single half-mile stretch of Ann Avenue, raising concerns about neglecting higher-need neighborhoods and the citywide mission of the grant. background: vision_zero_plan: Adopted in 2022 aiming for zero traffic-related deaths citywide. previous_ss4a_funding: 480000 studies_informed: -: Southeast Kirkwood Connectivity Study -: Safer Routes to Schools Study -: Citywide Speed Study

Vibe-O-Meter

• Score (0-100): 50
• Sentiment (-100..100): 0
• Mood: Even Keel
• Why: Mix of 0 positive, 8 neutral, and 0 negative stories. Average sentiment lands at 0.

Stories worth a look

• Safer Streets for Kirkwood (Kirkwood Gadfly) — Kirkwood is finalizing its application for a $6.8 million federal Safer Streets for All (SS4A) grant aimed at improving traffic calming, sidewalk infill, and pedestrian upgrades citywide. However, concerns have been raised that the grant application disproportionately focuses on a single area, potentially neglecting broader citywide safety improvements. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• The $3.5 Million Sidewalk: How Kirkwood’s SS4A Grant Lost the Plot (Kirkwood Gadfly) — grant: name: Safer Streets for All (SS4A) total_amount: 6804817.25 federal_funding: 5443853.8 local_match: 1360963.45 purpose: Traffic calming, sidewalk infill, and pedestrian upgrades across Kirkwood key_issue: More than half (52%) of the grant funds are allocated to a single half-mile stretch of Ann Avenue, raising concerns about neglecting higher-need neighborhoods and the citywide mission of the grant. background: vision_zero_plan: Adopted in 2022 aiming for zero traffic-related deaths citywide. previous_ss4a_funding: 480000 studies_informed: -: Southeast Kirkwood Connectivity Study -: Safer Routes to Schools Study -: Citywide Speed Study

  project_breakdown:
  name: Ann Ave Utility Relocation
  location: Ballas to Couch
  type: Utility Relocation
  cost: 3300000.0
  -:
  name: N Kirkwood Traffic Calming
  location: Bodley to Swan
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 208585.0
  -:
  name: Washington Traffic Calming
  location: Harrison to Fillmore
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 246589.6
  -:
  name: Rose Hill Traffic Calming
  location: Couch to Fillmore
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 631218.4
  -:
  name: Couch Traffic Calming
  location: Big Bend to Adams
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 546555.2
  -:
  name: Ann Ave Traffic Calming
  location: Ballas to Couch
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 258250.5
  -:
  name: Dougherty Ferry Traffic Calming
  location: Essex to Geyer
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 491686.8
  -:
  name: Peeke Ave Sidewalks
  location: Geyer to Simmons
  type: New Sidewalk
  cost: 55289.45
  -:
  name: Romine Sidewalks
  location: Manchester to Kirkshire
  type: New Sidewalk
  cost: 242958.2
  -:
  name: Milwaukee Traffic Calming
  location: Big Bend to Memphis
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 203577.3
  -:
  name: Essex Traffic Calming
  location: Dougherty Ferry to Geyer
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 440041.0
  -:
  name: Orleans Traffic Calming
  location: Attucks to Memphis
  type: Traffic Calming
  cost: 180065.8

concerns: -: The Ann Avenue utility relocation project is the most expensive and accounts for over half the grant funds. -: The solution to bury electric lines on Ann Avenue may not be cost-effective compared to alternatives. -: Other neighborhoods with higher needs may be overlooked due to the funding concentration on Ann Avenue. -: Details on project selection and specific improvements remain limited. community_input: Projects were chosen based on rankings from citywide speed and connectivity studies and public engagement through Safe Routes to School. next_steps: Further examination of individual projects is planned, especially the Ann Avenue improvements. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

• Kirkwood Apartments: Episode II – Return of the Apartments (Kirkwood Gadfly) — project_status: Revived by new developer TriStar Properties after previous project was declared dead location: 300 N. Kirkwood Rd project_details: apartments: 60 retail_space_sqft: 2940 parking_spaces: 111 stories: 4 architectural_firm: Stock & Associates commercial_space_changes: previous_plan: restaurant_sqft: 2000 retail_sqft: 2000 office_sqft: 1300 total_sqft: 5300 new_plan: commercial_spaces_sqft: -: 1900 -: 1000 clubhouse_sqft: 1900 residential_mix: likely_units: -: one-bedroom -: two-bedroom uncertain: three-bedroom units inclusion hoped for approval_status: Likely approved by Council with minor site-plan modification for pedestrian access design_and_aesthetics: concerns: -: Lack of commercial space activation along Adams Street -: Parking garage screening dominates facades -: Use of broken-up massing design leads to incoherent appearance -: Architectural Review Board expected to improve design suggestions: -: Consider re-legalizing modest single-stair buildings for smaller, cohesive design -: Improve architectural design guidelines historic_preservation: Developer intends to rehabilitate historic stone wall from Pitman Elementary School project_naming: Hope Council encourages use of 'Pitman Place' to preserve local identity upcoming_events: Project scheduled for Planning & Zoning Commission review on Wednesday Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Tired of the Speeders? Turn on the Cameras. (Kirkwood Gadfly) — context: Kirkwood has invested heavily in making the city more walkable, including curb bump-outs, bike lanes, and other pedestrian safety measures. speed_study: date: May 2024 locations_studied: 75 key_metric: 85th percentile speed findings: exceeding_threshold: 55 threshold_definition: 85th percentile speed more than 5 mph over the limit recommended_actions: -: lower the speed limit -: redesign the street to slow drivers -: increase enforcement

  recommended_interventions:
  treatment: Speed Feedback Sign
  speed_reduction_mph: 3
  crash_reduction_percent: 70
  -:
  treatment: Roundabouts
  speed_reduction_mph: 6
  crash_reduction_percent: 75
  -:
  treatment: Raised Intersections
  speed_reduction_mph: 5
  crash_reduction_percent: 40
  -:
  treatment: Horizontal Deflection (e.g., curb extensions)
  speed_reduction_mph: 3
  crash_reduction_percent: 30
  -:
  treatment: Lower Speed Limits
  speed_reduction_mph: 4
  crash_reduction_percent: 25
  -:
  treatment: Speed Humps/Tables
  speed_reduction_mph: 10-20 at placed countermeasure
  crash_reduction_percent: 40

ongoing_and_planned_projects: -: Raised intersections at Clay & Argonne and Clay & Jefferson -: Lane reductions in Kirkwood Road project Phase I and II -: Mid-block crossing between The James and Global Foods -: Curb bump-outs on Lindeman, South Geyer Big Bend, and West Essex -: Sidewalk infill on East Essex between Dickson and Hill Drive (in partnership with Glendale) -: Purchase of eleven speed feedback cameras costing $59,815 -: Speed limit reductions on West Monroe (25 to 20 mph) and West Jefferson (20 to 15 mph) analysis: effectiveness: Interventions expected to reduce 85th percentile speeds by 3-6 mph and improve pedestrian safety significantly. limitations: Concerns remain about extreme speeders (99th percentile) who drive dangerously fast, with some recorded speeds possibly due to errors. criticisms: -: Lane reductions should extend further south on Kirkwood Road. -: Frustration over removal of sidewalks to avoid stop signs and opposition to some speed limit reductions. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

• Kirkwood minimum lot size (Kirkwood Gadfly) — The article discusses Kirkwood's tear-down crisis, attributing it to the high cost of land. It highlights that after spending around $500,000 to buy a lot, the additional $200,000 cost to tear down an existing small home and build a larger one seems relatively minor. The piece suggests that this trend is driven by expensive land prices rather than just housing demand. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• How To Revive the Starter Home (Kirkwood Gadfly) — The article discusses Kirkwood's housing challenge where expensive land drives the demolition of small starter homes in favor of larger, costly replacements. It argues that simply mandating smaller, affordable homes won't preserve starter homes unless land costs are addressed. Two main strategies to reduce land costs are increasing supply or reducing demand, with the article favoring supply increase through multi-family buildings or townhomes. However, many residents prefer detached single-family homes with yards, which complicates solutions. Another proposed solution is subdividing land into smaller parcels to lower individual lot prices, making homeownership more accessible. Yet, Kirkwood's zoning laws impose minimum lot sizes (ranging from 7,500 sqft to 1 acre), preventing lot splits and encouraging large home builds. An example at 511 W Rose Hill Ave illustrates how zoning restrictions forced a teardown and large home build instead of subdividing the lot for multiple modest homes. The article implies that zoning reform is needed to revive affordable starter homes in Kirkwood. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• String of Errors Leads to Rejection of Parking Solution (Kirkwood Gadfly) — event: Kirkwood City Council unanimously voted down a contract with Fybr for a parking technology solution on September 4, 2025. technology: provider: Fybr description: Sensors placed under parking spaces to provide real-time occupancy data, accessible via the Park Kirkwood app and used for parking enforcement. benefits: -: Real-time parking availability for visitors -: Automated alerts for parking limit violations -: Reduced labor-intensive enforcement background: original_contract: period: December 3, 2020 to December 2, 2021 scope: 275 parking sensors installed at no cost to Kirkwood purpose: Proof of concept for Fybr miscommunication: error: City staff incorrectly reported the original contract as covering 69 spots at a cost of $14,973 instead of 275 spots at no cost. impact: This mistake led to confusion and misunderstandings in the council's decision-making process. contract_lapse_and_issues: contract_expiration: December 2, 2021 maintenance: Responsibility transferred to city after contract expiration system_problems: Gateways went offline due to power issues, causing sensor battery drain and reduced functionality. reactivation_request: City requested reactivation in January 2025 sensor_relocation: quantity: 69 fee: 14973 purpose: Replace dead sensors on Argonne Street until a new contract could be agreed upon conclusion: The council rejected the new contract proposal amid confusion and lack of clear alternatives, despite the technology's potential benefits. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
• Pitman Place Heads Back to P&Z (Kirkwood Gadfly) — project: location: 300 N. Kirkwood Rd developer: TriStar Properties and Stock & Associates original_plan: apartments: 60 unit_mix: 1_bed_1_bath: 27 2_bed_2_bath: 27 3_bed_2_bath: 6 features: retail_space: original amount clubhouse_size: original size parking_spaces: original number revised_plan: apartments: 60 unit_mix: 1_bed: 23 2_bed: 24 3_bed: 13 features: retail_space: a couple hundred square feet more than original clubhouse_size: slightly smaller parking_spaces: six fewer but still compliant design: Concept P with gabled facade, balconies, and direct-entrance apartments on Adams facade historical_features: -: plaque next to old Pitman School fence -: development named after Pitman School process: status: Developer withdrew proposal before Council vote to restart approval process next_steps: -: Planning & Zoning hearing on October 15th -: Likely public hearing for zoning text change -: Return to City Council for final approval zoning_change: description: Allow residential use on first floor, currently banned informal_agreement: Council agreed to zoning code change in exchange for developer restarting process impact: Enables preferred design and more family-suitable larger apartments community_feedback: initial_reaction: Negative feedback on original flat, bulky design council_preference: Preferred Concept P design aesthetically author_opinion: Supports removing strict ground-floor retail mandate to allow more and larger homes zoning_context: current_code: Requires mixed-use with commercial on ground floor in Downtown Kirkwood main streets author_analysis: Strict retail mandate can be counterproductive; developers naturally include retail where viable parking_and_foot_traffic: Retail often requires more parking and may not be viable where foot traffic is low Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

Keep an eye on Safer Streets for Kirkwood from Kirkwood Gadfly.