Tour of Powell Symphony Hall and More

Urban Affairs at Powell Symphony Hall

Thursday, March 29 ~ 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

718 N. Grand Blvd.

Saint Louis, MO 63103

No registration fee! Please RSVP.

Light breakfast will be served.

Seating is limited!

Click here for parking directions.

Join us for a presentation about the rich history of Powell Hall, including a guided tour of the historic building. Erected in 1925 as the St. Louis Theatre, the building now known as Powell Symphony Hall, following an extensive $2 million renovation, became home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The 2,689-seat Powell Hall is named for Walter S. Powell, a St. Louis shoe manufacturing executive whose widow, Helen Lamb Powell, made the Symphony Society beneficiary of a $1 million charitable trust. These funds helped to match a $2 million Ford Foundation grant for the endowment of the new concert hall.

Entered in the National Register of Historic Places in May 2001, Powell Hall stands as a testament not only to the leadership and foresig ht of those who made its acquisition and renovation possible, but to the cultural heritage of St. Louis and the city's ability to renew and reinvent itself in the face of changing times, tastes, and trends.

Legislative Reports

Short Term Vacation Rentals - Aldermen Carol Howard, Tom Olderbug, Heather Navarro, Jack Coatar and Christine Ingrassia will host two hall meetings to discuss the short-term rental industry on March 24 and April 4. They will take public comment on community concerns, learn how other cities are balancing the opportunities and challenges of the STVR industry and hear from city teams working on the issue.

Richmond Heights STVR - City has taken no action; therefore, Short-Term Vacation Rentals are not allowed in residentially zoned districts.

Registration Fees in the City of St. Louis - On February 28, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Housing Urban Development and Zoning Committee heard Board Bill 171. This bill is an ordinance to revise Ordinance 686110 , approved March 16, 2010, which affects nearly 3,500 properties. The board bill will be up for passage after the St. Louis Board of Aldermen reconvene after recess on April 16.

City of Arnold Ordinance - The Jefferson County City of Arnold has passed a new ordinance on vacant properties. All properties must be registered with the city and owners must pay a $200 fee. If the property is not rented within the initial 30 days, there will be an additional $200 fee. While this remains outside St. Louis REALTORS® jurisdiction, we are coordinating with Jefferson County REALTORS® and sending a letter expressing concern to the bodies of governance.

‌

First-Time Home Buyers Savings Account Act - The hearing last Tuesday on HB 1796, First Time Home-Buyers Savings Account Act, in the Senate Insurance and Banking Committee went well. Senator Paul Wieman plans to have an executive session on the bill soon after the General Assembly returns from break. The Act authorizes an individual tax deduction for 50% of contributions to savings accounts dedicated to buying a first home.

Real Estate License Immunity from Liability - The Senate Committee on Professional Registration voted do pass on SB 920. SB 920 protects real estate licensees who use information about a property's area, improvements and size if the information is incorrect. To be protected, licensees must disclose the information's source, must not know of incorrect information at time of publication and may not act with disregard to whether information was true of false.

Short Term Vacation Rentals - House Committee on General Laws voted to send HB 2457 out of committee. Those heavily involved in short term rentals, mainly from the Branson and Lake of the Ozarks regions, believe this bill will harm a rapidly growing market segment. With this issue moving forward, you should expect a Call for Action. Click here to listen to audio from the public hearing held on February 27.

‌

NAR Urges Passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill - The National Association of REALTORS® urged the passage of the “ omnibus appropriations bill”, agreed upon by U.S. House and Senate negotiators, which is designed to fund the federal government through September 30. The 2,232-page bill contains important provisions including alleviating the weakening of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) from the new tax law and extending the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through at least mid-summer. President Elizabeth Mendenhall says Congress must now do their part to enact the bill before the current stop-gap spending measure expires on March 23.

NAR Testifies, Supports Association Health Plan - On March 20, The National Association of Realtors® offered support for expanded association health plans in testimony before the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. At the hearing, NAR spoke in favor of the Department of Labor's proposal to enable self-employed individuals to participate in association health plans. The rule opens the door to potentially allowing associations to offer health insurance coverage to its members through the large group insurance market.

RPAC Fun

Over 200 lucky trivia fans attended RPAC Trivia Night on Friday, March 16 raising $5625 for RPAC! Click here to see photos of the nights festivities!