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Took the dog to Tower Grove Park this afternoon before her bath...I've been away too long. I love the whole area around the park, it feels so...I don't know, citylike? Best thing about Tower Grove Park? You can always find a refreshing pool of shade when you need it.
You know, whenever something big is announced about the City or Downtown, the Post and TV news sites always seem to have polls on their various websites asking folks who probably haven't been to the city or downtown in years whether or not they think downtown revitalization is real and if redevelopment would draw them downtown.
While I understand Downtown's regional role, I still find it funny that the media never asks questions like "Will a downtown Chesterfield draw you to Chesterfield" or "Is a mega-mall on Lindbergh sustainable" and things like that. You rarely hear the talking heads on Donnybrook debating whether or not a development in one of the burbs in which they live is something that is important or not.
It all seems like a case of "my shit doesn't stink, but yours does" syndrome.
While I understand Downtown's regional role, I still find it funny that the media never asks questions like "Will a downtown Chesterfield draw you to Chesterfield" or "Is a mega-mall on Lindbergh sustainable" and things like that. You rarely hear the talking heads on Donnybrook debating whether or not a development in one of the burbs in which they live is something that is important or not.
It all seems like a case of "my shit doesn't stink, but yours does" syndrome.
A friend of mine gave me a song this week titled "Laduesier" by local artist Jesse Irwin. It kind of made me laugh, but better than that, it's sort of catchy!
The lyrics go a little somethin' like this:
You're rich and you're bright and you're pasty and white
You've got what it takes to succeed
You like cheeses and wine, and you're real good at buyin'
Lots of shit that you don't really need
And you live in a house for a family of ten
But you've got a family of two
You're a Laduesier, Laduesier - a hoosier that lives in Ladue
You help to congest highway 40
You slow my commute to a crawl
You make me want to move some place real far away
'Cause I get so damn sick of it all
Can you even see me when I'm flippin' you off
Way up in your Hummer H2
You Laduesier, Laduesier - a hoosier that lives in Ladue
Well your company buys all the seats at Busch Stadium
That's why it costs so much to go
And you'll pay fifteen bucks for a hot dog
Just to look like an average Joe
And you'll pay the ballpark whatever they want
And that's why we're all gettin' screwed
By Laduesiers, Laduesiers - the hoosiers that live in Ladue
Well if I was General Sherman
I'd go on a march through Ladue
I'd spend a week lootin' and burnin'
I'd leave a big mess there for you
I'd fuck you like you fucked St. Louis
When you left and took your money with you
You Laduesiers, Laduesiers - you hoosiers that live in Ladue
Anyway, I'll have to check this guy out. My friend said his songs were hilarious and well written and he put on a good performance.
The lyrics go a little somethin' like this:
You're rich and you're bright and you're pasty and white
You've got what it takes to succeed
You like cheeses and wine, and you're real good at buyin'
Lots of shit that you don't really need
And you live in a house for a family of ten
But you've got a family of two
You're a Laduesier, Laduesier - a hoosier that lives in Ladue
You help to congest highway 40
You slow my commute to a crawl
You make me want to move some place real far away
'Cause I get so damn sick of it all
Can you even see me when I'm flippin' you off
Way up in your Hummer H2
You Laduesier, Laduesier - a hoosier that lives in Ladue
Well your company buys all the seats at Busch Stadium
That's why it costs so much to go
And you'll pay fifteen bucks for a hot dog
Just to look like an average Joe
And you'll pay the ballpark whatever they want
And that's why we're all gettin' screwed
By Laduesiers, Laduesiers - the hoosiers that live in Ladue
Well if I was General Sherman
I'd go on a march through Ladue
I'd spend a week lootin' and burnin'
I'd leave a big mess there for you
I'd fuck you like you fucked St. Louis
When you left and took your money with you
You Laduesiers, Laduesiers - you hoosiers that live in Ladue
Anyway, I'll have to check this guy out. My friend said his songs were hilarious and well written and he put on a good performance.
So today I'm reading all the opinions on the newly announced Mercantile Exchange project and I've discovered I'm over other people's opinions.
Oh sure, as someone who writes a blog all about his own opinion on things, I'm totally aware that what I said in the previous paragraph makes me a hypocrite, but I'm OK with that, honest. I know I've contributed some negativity recently, but geez, the bad vibes that even "City Boosters" direct towards any new development these days is super annoying me.
As someone who actually spends a lot of time downtown, I was thrilled to hear that some retail was being planned down there. I'm done with all the high-end furniture stores and boutiques whose demographic is people who make more money that me and my co-workers combined. I'm all about local shops, but have no problem throwing a chain store into the downtown mix. Give me a downtown where I can walk from work and buy a nice sketchbook, a book, a plant & some pictures for my desk, a cheap salad...give me a walkable downtown that offers goods & services to the people who live and work there! Give me a downtown where the locals and the big guys all compete in harmonious bliss and all their cash registers are ringing. Give me a downtown where I can fucking buy everyday things...something other than food. Give me some stores that I can actually walk into and purchase something without feeling like a complete poor ass screw up.
I'm not about shoving my head in the sand and I do have many questions, but for fuck's sake, even I try to be a little optimistic. Someone want to follow my lead?
Oh sure, as someone who writes a blog all about his own opinion on things, I'm totally aware that what I said in the previous paragraph makes me a hypocrite, but I'm OK with that, honest. I know I've contributed some negativity recently, but geez, the bad vibes that even "City Boosters" direct towards any new development these days is super annoying me.
As someone who actually spends a lot of time downtown, I was thrilled to hear that some retail was being planned down there. I'm done with all the high-end furniture stores and boutiques whose demographic is people who make more money that me and my co-workers combined. I'm all about local shops, but have no problem throwing a chain store into the downtown mix. Give me a downtown where I can walk from work and buy a nice sketchbook, a book, a plant & some pictures for my desk, a cheap salad...give me a walkable downtown that offers goods & services to the people who live and work there! Give me a downtown where the locals and the big guys all compete in harmonious bliss and all their cash registers are ringing. Give me a downtown where I can fucking buy everyday things...something other than food. Give me some stores that I can actually walk into and purchase something without feeling like a complete poor ass screw up.
I'm not about shoving my head in the sand and I do have many questions, but for fuck's sake, even I try to be a little optimistic. Someone want to follow my lead?
So a vehicle has been parked out on my street for the past 3 or 4 days. Its windows down, a litter strewn front seat and no sign of an owner, I decided it was time for something to happen. So I called the non-emergency number of the Police Department (which clicked over to 911, that always freaks me out) and reported the vehicle.
A police office was dispatched and a ticket now lies against the windshield of the vehicle, held firmly by a single wiper. [Update: Actually, as I type this, the car is being towed]
And now I feel bad...sort of. I mean my actions (well, mind and the old man across the street who reported the vehicle yesterday) are about to cost someone money. Well, that's not entirely true, the driver's actions are going to cost him money, but did I really need to force the issue?
We're supposed to watch out for each other and vehicles that have been sitting on the street for days are illegal, right? These are the things we do to try and keep our neighborhood healthy and strong...right?
A police office was dispatched and a ticket now lies against the windshield of the vehicle, held firmly by a single wiper. [Update: Actually, as I type this, the car is being towed]
And now I feel bad...sort of. I mean my actions (well, mind and the old man across the street who reported the vehicle yesterday) are about to cost someone money. Well, that's not entirely true, the driver's actions are going to cost him money, but did I really need to force the issue?
We're supposed to watch out for each other and vehicles that have been sitting on the street for days are illegal, right? These are the things we do to try and keep our neighborhood healthy and strong...right?
A new City of St. Louis website is in the works. [PDF]
I thought about submitting some photos for the Photo Contest, but I don't know...there's no compensation, which is fine, but it doesn't even look like they're going to credit you if they use your photo.
I still may...I don't know...it sort of feels like they just don't want to pay for stock or professional photography. Would you enter?
I thought about submitting some photos for the Photo Contest, but I don't know...there's no compensation, which is fine, but it doesn't even look like they're going to credit you if they use your photo.
I still may...I don't know...it sort of feels like they just don't want to pay for stock or professional photography. Would you enter?
I'm normally not really interested in "war stories" however PBS' series on World War II has sucked me in. The magnitude of death and destruction that took place during World War II is just incomprehensible. The moving pictures, as well as the stills, show the brutality of war and what was at stake.
Hearing the first person accounts of WWII soldiers, now silver headed and wrinkled, is heartbreaking. The things these poor guys saw and endured, it's unbelievable, and those images and experiences still haunt them today. More American soldiers died in a week during World War II that have died altogether in Iraq...that's just mind boggling, the loss of life.
If you aren't watching, I really suggest that you do. It's history we all need to experience. If ever you needed a reminder that war is...ugh, just so violent, so merciless, you'll get a slap in the face with this special.
Hearing the first person accounts of WWII soldiers, now silver headed and wrinkled, is heartbreaking. The things these poor guys saw and endured, it's unbelievable, and those images and experiences still haunt them today. More American soldiers died in a week during World War II that have died altogether in Iraq...that's just mind boggling, the loss of life.
If you aren't watching, I really suggest that you do. It's history we all need to experience. If ever you needed a reminder that war is...ugh, just so violent, so merciless, you'll get a slap in the face with this special.
I'm going to skip the debates on financing and tax breaks right now and just congratulate downtown for landing its first super huge deal in years. The 1,200 jobs Centene will bring downtown will no doubt be a good thing. Hopefully more corporations will take a second, third, and even a final look at downtown.
Contrary to what the naysayers proclaim, life isn't half bad just west of the Arch.
Contrary to what the naysayers proclaim, life isn't half bad just west of the Arch.
I had to create this list. It seems like bad news and negativity are surrounding me and the City, and I've been contributing to some of that. So, in the interest of positive energy, Karma, and just getting back to why I started this blog in the first place, I present a list of things I love about the City.
- My house.
- My neighborhood.
- Alleys.
- Dumpsters! I'd never remember to put out my trash. And the Yard Waste dumpsters? Icing on the cake!
- I can recycle for free.
- The logical city street grid. I never get lost in the City.
- Tower Grove Park. It's been too long since we've seen each other.
- Carondelet Park. So tranquil.
- Downtown. It's not Clayton, thank God! I'll take a little dirt, grim, architecture & history over a bunch of $30,000 a year millionaires any day.
- Brick buildings.
- Art glass.
- Detached, back yard garages. I don't want the front of my house looking like one big metal door!
- The Chemical Building.
- The teardrop shape of our city.
- The Arch. I see it everyday, but not once have I failed to look at it and failed to appreciate its simple lines.
- St. Louis street names. We have some great ones...perfect to name your dog after!
- The Botanical Garden (and my proximity to it!). Really nothing more needs to be said, right?
- Our potential. This one may be weird, but where there is unrealized potential, there's the chance that something great will happen.
- South Grand.
- The view when you're headed north on Gravois.
- That we're not Chicago or NYC (not that we couldn't learn a thing or 2 from those places).
- The city's infinite inspiration for photographers.
I noticed this morning that the citywmn blog is back. If you haven't, check it out. I love the format of quick hit, everyday observations.
The PD is full of happy, wonderful "news" as always. It's too bad St. Louis gives the Post so much ammunition.
Fuck, why do people have to kill each other...and why do they have to do it so fucking close to me. Then there was the shop keeper who was killed in a robbery near Carondelet Park last night. He sounded like a great guy who was good for their neighborhood, gone for nothing. And we can't forget the countless shooting and slayings that occur daily in section of North St. Louis.
Words can't explain how tired I am of violence. Not just in St. Louis, but across the country, all over the world. How can a species that has achieved such incredible things be capable of such irrational and senseless behavior?
I'm sick of it.
Fuck, why do people have to kill each other...and why do they have to do it so fucking close to me. Then there was the shop keeper who was killed in a robbery near Carondelet Park last night. He sounded like a great guy who was good for their neighborhood, gone for nothing. And we can't forget the countless shooting and slayings that occur daily in section of North St. Louis.
Words can't explain how tired I am of violence. Not just in St. Louis, but across the country, all over the world. How can a species that has achieved such incredible things be capable of such irrational and senseless behavior?
I'm sick of it.
Dear motorists and bicyclists of St. Louis,
To obtain your driver's license, you took a test where you identified red, octagon shaped signs thereby indicating that you know what to do when you see these common traffic signs out on your daily travels. Why is it, then, that I rarely see you stopping at these signs. I see you slow down when you approach a stop sign. I've even seen you blow right through a signed intersection, but rarely do I see you stop. Why is that? Today you completely disregarded the stop sign you were supposed to stop at and you almost hit me as I pulled out of my parking garage. Why did you do that? Did I make you angry? Did I hurt you? Were you too caught up in your own, empty fucking mind that you didn't see or pay attention to what was in front of you?
Oh, I certainly feel your pain, dumb ass driver. I know the City has an excessive amount of stop signs on her roads. But, seriously, does that make it OK for you to disregard the rules of the road?
In closing, St. Louis motorist and bicyclist, there are rules you have to follow when operating your vehicle or bike. Pull your head out of your ass and stop when you see a stop sign.
XOXOXOXOXO,
Someone who actually does fucking stop.
To obtain your driver's license, you took a test where you identified red, octagon shaped signs thereby indicating that you know what to do when you see these common traffic signs out on your daily travels. Why is it, then, that I rarely see you stopping at these signs. I see you slow down when you approach a stop sign. I've even seen you blow right through a signed intersection, but rarely do I see you stop. Why is that? Today you completely disregarded the stop sign you were supposed to stop at and you almost hit me as I pulled out of my parking garage. Why did you do that? Did I make you angry? Did I hurt you? Were you too caught up in your own, empty fucking mind that you didn't see or pay attention to what was in front of you?
Oh, I certainly feel your pain, dumb ass driver. I know the City has an excessive amount of stop signs on her roads. But, seriously, does that make it OK for you to disregard the rules of the road?
In closing, St. Louis motorist and bicyclist, there are rules you have to follow when operating your vehicle or bike. Pull your head out of your ass and stop when you see a stop sign.
XOXOXOXOXO,
Someone who actually does fucking stop.
I was on my roof yesterday when balloons started lifting up and out of Forest Park. Grabbed my camera and the result is below. Another good think about city living, you get to see things if you aren't at the event.
Don't expect high art:
Don't expect high art:
After reading this entry over at Vanishing STL I have an awful feeling inside.
I wasn't very familiar with the Ambassador Theater Building or its history. Seeing the pictures, and knowing what replaced this gorgeous structure...ugh...it's heartbreaking. 7th and Locust is absolutely dead thanks to the unnecessary plaza/drivway that replaced the Ambassador. If you ever needed proof that lots of open space doesn't make a downtown, visit this intersection.
Thanks to Paul Hohmann the history lesson, it was fascinating and truly depressing. Someday we'll have a culture of preservation in this city, but I'm afraid by that time it won't matter much.
I wasn't very familiar with the Ambassador Theater Building or its history. Seeing the pictures, and knowing what replaced this gorgeous structure...ugh...it's heartbreaking. 7th and Locust is absolutely dead thanks to the unnecessary plaza/drivway that replaced the Ambassador. If you ever needed proof that lots of open space doesn't make a downtown, visit this intersection.
Thanks to Paul Hohmann the history lesson, it was fascinating and truly depressing. Someday we'll have a culture of preservation in this city, but I'm afraid by that time it won't matter much.
...the first hints of autumn. I've been waiting for fall to arrive for about 3 months now and we're getting our first taste of it today. Cool, beautiful weather, crystal clear skies, this weather never fails to put me into a euphoric state.
On the drive downtown I noticed how clear the air was. I could see the details of the downtown buildings from a few miles away, the Arch featured more prominently on the horizon than usual. It's a great day!
On the drive downtown I noticed how clear the air was. I could see the details of the downtown buildings from a few miles away, the Arch featured more prominently on the horizon than usual. It's a great day!
Now that crime is down, the middle class is moving back to the city and students are flocking back to our schools, Mayor Slay has decided it's time to address a pressing issues that's been on the back burner...the design of the St. Louis City flag.
In the most recent poll on his blog he asks burning questions like "Do you think it is time to re-design the City of St. Louis flag?" and "If the City of St. Louis changed its flag, which of the following symbols would you most like to see on a new municipal flag?" Of course the Arch is an option...yawn...and the favorite at 59%. I'll bite my tongue.
I know these polls are bogus & just for "fun", but seriously, why is he so intent on changing things for the sake of changing things? The Archgrounds, expanding on the failed idea of Gateway Mall and now our flag?
Our flag is a fantastic piece of design which perfectly explains what our city is about in one simple graphic. Its simplicity is stunning...our flag truly is a great one.
Are these polls glimpses of the mayor's true colors? I don't know, but I'm ready for the next mayoral election. Please, please, PLEASE powers that be, give us a candidate that 1) isn't crazy & 2) hasn't peed inside the aldermanic chambers. That's not hard criteria to meet!
This post was inspired by the Trouble in River City blog entry about the pressing flag issue.
In the most recent poll on his blog he asks burning questions like "Do you think it is time to re-design the City of St. Louis flag?" and "If the City of St. Louis changed its flag, which of the following symbols would you most like to see on a new municipal flag?" Of course the Arch is an option...yawn...and the favorite at 59%. I'll bite my tongue.
I know these polls are bogus & just for "fun", but seriously, why is he so intent on changing things for the sake of changing things? The Archgrounds, expanding on the failed idea of Gateway Mall and now our flag?
Our flag is a fantastic piece of design which perfectly explains what our city is about in one simple graphic. Its simplicity is stunning...our flag truly is a great one.
Are these polls glimpses of the mayor's true colors? I don't know, but I'm ready for the next mayoral election. Please, please, PLEASE powers that be, give us a candidate that 1) isn't crazy & 2) hasn't peed inside the aldermanic chambers. That's not hard criteria to meet!
This post was inspired by the Trouble in River City blog entry about the pressing flag issue.
I couldn't care less about the Cardinals, but while doing my morning news perusing, there are 2 different headlines on the homepage of the STLToday site that just cracked me up. I wonder if the Post finds their website as funny as I do.
1st up!
On Deck!
True or false, I just got a laugh out of the competing stories, good stuff!
1st up!
Sources: Ankiel got human growth hormone.
Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankeil, baseball's feel-good story of the season, received a 12-month supply of human growth hormone...
On Deck!
A star is reborn
Rick Ankiel added a couple home runs to the lore of his return to the majors, leaving his manager almost at a loss to describe Ankiel's heroics.
True or false, I just got a laugh out of the competing stories, good stuff!
Random notes from the day:
- I honked at someone from Michigan today on Memorial Drive. Not very "St. Louis Ambassador" of me, but they cut me off!
- On my walk to work, some lady was screaming at her male companion. The male driver, who had all the windows in the SUV down, was totally tuning her out, but she was just laying into him. I kinda of thought what happened to the days when people kept their business to themselves, but then I laughed. That poor sucker fucked up big time and he knew it.
- The Downtown St. Louis Partnership still haven't replaced their "Live, Work, Play" ripped and worn banners along Memorial Drive.
- The tower at the new riverfront casino extends the skyline quite nicely along 4th street.
- I still wish we didn't have a casino along the riverfront.
- The steel skin of the Arch, when contrasted with dark storm clouds, reminds me of what a spaceship would look like in space.
- When it rains, the walkway underneath 70 next to Washington Avenue which provides access from the archgrounds to downtown smells like pee super hardcore.
- While walking on the Archgrounds, I had tourists ask me where the Arch was.
- This has happened more than once.
- I still love working downtown.
- The weather guy on Channel 2 pronounces blog "blag".
- St. Louis City parks are the best in the region.
Let me begin by saying, argh, I freaking HATE Channel 2's website. Everything is fucking video and I can't find a transcript of the "What's On My Mind" segment that JC Corcoran does...which is what's got me writing tonight.
Anyway, the segment was all about the Danforth/Slay plan for the Arch grounds and he basically brought up a few points I already have, but then he goes into this spiel about "failed" developments (Bottle District, Ballpark Village). OK, whatever. Yes I think the Bottle District is pretty much dead, Ballpark Village, well, the jury is out on that one, but it's going to get done. However, the most ridiculous line he spouted out was something about that the Arch is safe to visit during the day but has the perception of being a placed where you'll get knocked over the head and carjacked at night...his words, not mine.
Huh, what the fuck did you just say? I may be living under a rock, but I've never met someone who has called the Arch grounds unsafe at any time of the day, and I know some pretty stupid people. I've been there at night, a non-event night, and the grounds are absolutely tranquil and gorgeous. Was Corcoran saying, in a round about way, that downtown is dangerous?
He brings up the point that it's the little guy that makes developments successful, not the big wigs, which I agree with, and goes on to list 2 or 3 large failed developments, all within the City and lists only one successful redevelopment project...that he places outside the city limits...go figure. It's the Loop, which he calls the "U-City Loop"...which now extends into the City...been there lately, JC? Doesn't sound like it. There are numerous examples of successful redevelopment all around the city...downtown, south city, etc, etc. but none of those areas were mentioned...just the "U-City Loop".
I mean if you're going to dog the city via Danforth, at least give the success stories some equal play.
OK, so I don't know why I got so steamed about this segment. I guess it was because a talking head actually had a chance to spotlight success in the City as well as failure, but in the end all we got was a pretty uneducated & unbalanced primer in City (and U-City) redevelopment. People listen to this stuff and take it as fact, another reason I got mad I suppose. Whether it's city issues, or something else, these kinds of non-researched opinion pieces just irritate me (sound like a blog you know?).
Corcoran ended his segment asking if Danforth has ever been to the Arch grounds, I found myself asking Corcoran if he'd been to the City outside his television studio recently. It's not perfect, but it's a bit better than he made it out to be.
Anyway, the segment was all about the Danforth/Slay plan for the Arch grounds and he basically brought up a few points I already have, but then he goes into this spiel about "failed" developments (Bottle District, Ballpark Village). OK, whatever. Yes I think the Bottle District is pretty much dead, Ballpark Village, well, the jury is out on that one, but it's going to get done. However, the most ridiculous line he spouted out was something about that the Arch is safe to visit during the day but has the perception of being a placed where you'll get knocked over the head and carjacked at night...his words, not mine.
Huh, what the fuck did you just say? I may be living under a rock, but I've never met someone who has called the Arch grounds unsafe at any time of the day, and I know some pretty stupid people. I've been there at night, a non-event night, and the grounds are absolutely tranquil and gorgeous. Was Corcoran saying, in a round about way, that downtown is dangerous?
He brings up the point that it's the little guy that makes developments successful, not the big wigs, which I agree with, and goes on to list 2 or 3 large failed developments, all within the City and lists only one successful redevelopment project...that he places outside the city limits...go figure. It's the Loop, which he calls the "U-City Loop"...which now extends into the City...been there lately, JC? Doesn't sound like it. There are numerous examples of successful redevelopment all around the city...downtown, south city, etc, etc. but none of those areas were mentioned...just the "U-City Loop".
I mean if you're going to dog the city via Danforth, at least give the success stories some equal play.
OK, so I don't know why I got so steamed about this segment. I guess it was because a talking head actually had a chance to spotlight success in the City as well as failure, but in the end all we got was a pretty uneducated & unbalanced primer in City (and U-City) redevelopment. People listen to this stuff and take it as fact, another reason I got mad I suppose. Whether it's city issues, or something else, these kinds of non-researched opinion pieces just irritate me (sound like a blog you know?).
Corcoran ended his segment asking if Danforth has ever been to the Arch grounds, I found myself asking Corcoran if he'd been to the City outside his television studio recently. It's not perfect, but it's a bit better than he made it out to be.
The STLToday site has a section in its multi-media section labeled "Unknown Future", a photo of the Arch set against a murky sky lies above this headline. The headline sounds kind of foreboding and gives the impression that the Arch is in danger or something. Gotta love the media in this town.
Boo!
Boo!
Mayor Slay's current blog entry addresses what he calls misunderstandings about the proposal to develop portions of the Arch grounds. His most significant statement, in my opinion, was this:
My thoughts:
This is great, because the city most likely can't afford to maintain the grounds properly.
Isn't there a Zoo/Museum tax that City & STL county residents "give" to in order to maintain our zoo and museums? I'm still trying to figure out how we're going to pay for this local control of the Arch grounds. Also, who will define "the region"? I'm sure more than just City and County residents use the zoo and museums, but City & County residents are the only ones paying the tax for those amenities. If a new tax is implemented, who will be paying it?
I disagree. I walked the grounds yesterday while taking some photos and was taken aback by what a loss this green space would be. We need less green space downtown and have too much of it for sure (perfect example, the new "urban plaza" being built across from the Old Post Office) but I believe the Arch grounds lie in perfect context with what it surrounds.
DING! I think this whole debate boils down to CONNECTIONS. Connecting the Arch to downtown, and as Bev commented previously, to Lacledes Landing and Chouteau's Landing on 4th street (if that happens) is super important. There are plenty of places to eat, drink and have fun just a block or 2 away from the Arch, it's just hard to get to!
If we deal with and reconfigure/beautify the whole Memorial Drive/Hwy 70 mess, provide more & better connections from downtown to the Arch grounds (I'm thinking around Wash Ave.), install some good wayfinding and find the money and will to all that, I think we could connect the Arch to downtown and direct all those tourists off the grounds and into downtown quite easily.
I do think developing the Arch grounds is an intriguing idea, it holds potential, but I also think it's an unnecessary one. I feel this plan puts the cart before the horse. There are plenty of neighbors that surround the Arch that could benefit from better connectivity to our steel landmark...why keep everyone on those 90 acres with some faux entertainment area? Let's get those tourists off the Arch grounds and show them what our City is made of.
"The City of St. Louis does not want to run the Arch, nor own the Arch grounds. However, the current configuration and use of the Arch grounds is a significant barrier to the revitalization of the riverfront and its reconnection to the rest of downtown. If the people of the region support it and Congress allows it, the region would set up an entity-- maybe something like the Zoo/Museum District-- to use some portion of the grounds to accomplish those things in a way that also enhances the experience of visiting the Arch."
My thoughts:
"The City of St. Louis does not want to run the Arch, nor own the Arch grounds."
This is great, because the city most likely can't afford to maintain the grounds properly.
"...the region would set up an entity-- maybe something like the Zoo/Museum District"
Isn't there a Zoo/Museum tax that City & STL county residents "give" to in order to maintain our zoo and museums? I'm still trying to figure out how we're going to pay for this local control of the Arch grounds. Also, who will define "the region"? I'm sure more than just City and County residents use the zoo and museums, but City & County residents are the only ones paying the tax for those amenities. If a new tax is implemented, who will be paying it?
"...the current configuration and use of the Arch grounds is a significant barrier to the revitalization of the riverfront"
I disagree. I walked the grounds yesterday while taking some photos and was taken aback by what a loss this green space would be. We need less green space downtown and have too much of it for sure (perfect example, the new "urban plaza" being built across from the Old Post Office) but I believe the Arch grounds lie in perfect context with what it surrounds.
"...its reconnection to the rest of downtown."
DING! I think this whole debate boils down to CONNECTIONS. Connecting the Arch to downtown, and as Bev commented previously, to Lacledes Landing and Chouteau's Landing on 4th street (if that happens) is super important. There are plenty of places to eat, drink and have fun just a block or 2 away from the Arch, it's just hard to get to!
If we deal with and reconfigure/beautify the whole Memorial Drive/Hwy 70 mess, provide more & better connections from downtown to the Arch grounds (I'm thinking around Wash Ave.), install some good wayfinding and find the money and will to all that, I think we could connect the Arch to downtown and direct all those tourists off the grounds and into downtown quite easily.
I do think developing the Arch grounds is an intriguing idea, it holds potential, but I also think it's an unnecessary one. I feel this plan puts the cart before the horse. There are plenty of neighbors that surround the Arch that could benefit from better connectivity to our steel landmark...why keep everyone on those 90 acres with some faux entertainment area? Let's get those tourists off the Arch grounds and show them what our City is made of.