A Mess 8.19.2007 | 0 Comment(s)

This afternoon, thanks to the Highway 40 shutdown, I took 70 into St. Charles for the first time in at least 8-12 months. We talk about the St. Louis riverfront being underutilized, but you never really hear anything about the St. Charles riverfront being a complete mess. Yes, St. Charles has a park & some old buildings along it's riverfront, but you can't miss the massive casino complex just to the south of all that.

I do find it hilarious that the first thing you see of St. Charles when you are on the 70 bridge is a huge parking garage. Oh wait, that's not true anymore.

I thought the St. Charles Convention Center was the most hideous structure along St. Charles' first couple miles of highway 70, but no longer. St. Charles County has its first skyscraper, a hotel at the river front casino. Currently under construction, the tower soars above the Missouri river and man is it fucking ugly. It appears to be made of red brick, which is normally a good thing, only the brick contrasts horribly with the architecture and clading of the existing casino. The top of the building reminds me of some kind of mutilated greek temple, it's just bad.

Hey, I'll be the first to admit that St. Louis needs to utilize its riverfront much better than it does now, but I'll take what's on our riverfront to that of our western neighbors any day.