American Bottom city leaders strategize to increase populati

xing · PostFeb 14, 2008#12008-02-14T00:30+00:00

For those who don't know, the American Bottoms is the area of the Metro East below the bluffs. These are the mostly industrial towns, along the river; Alton, Wood River, Granite City, E St. Louis, Cahokia , Dupo...

American Bottom city leaders strategize to increase population

By KERRY L. SMITH

U.S. Census stats show that since 2000, the populations of the American Bottom communities - those in the floodplain of the Mississippi River - are stabilizing rather than decreasing. Leaders of these towns continue to initiate plans to revitalize their residential, commercial and industrial cores to bring people back.

As U.S. Census Bureau numbers prove that the populations of the American Bottom cities and villages have stabilized since year 2000, mayors and economic planners in Southwestern Illinois communities are actively engaging strategies to reinvent their towns and restore their populations.

Alton

Back in 1970 during the heyday of its steel production, the Census Bureau recorded the city of Alton's population total as 39,700. Mayor Don Sandidge says inner city revitalization and capitalizing on the tourism

cont...

http://www.ibjonline.com/american_botto ... rends.html

shimmy · PostFeb 14, 2008#22008-02-14T03:31+00:00

Hm, wasn't there an article about a year back saying how the riverbottom communities were teaming up to try to turn their communities around?

stl1991 · PostMar 05, 2008#32008-03-05T01:38+00:00

i don't think they need to do anything with rising gas prices more east st. louis and the surrounding area will naturally draw people there because of its location

xing · PostMar 05, 2008#42008-03-05T02:12+00:00

That's a good point, but I don't think those areas should rely on just that.

stlcardsblues1989 · PostMar 05, 2008#52008-03-05T08:24+00:00

As far as East St. Louis, it would be nice if they could renovate some of the savable buildings and create some nice infill in the empty lots.

I would think that would help, and as people moved back into East St. Louis, crime would hopefully drop.

Just a thought.

mark wegmann · PostMar 05, 2008#62008-03-05T12:25+00:00

huge incentives to revitalize the ESL area are needed or the risk is just to high to get it started. they also need to reduce the property taxes which were near 20% when i owned property there a few years back..

I could just go on and on .. about ESL

Dupo has turned the corner and is growing.

I don't know much about the nothern areas..

I will add, Columbia is certainly in the bottoms and the current council majority.. well they just don't want growth..

goat314 · PostMar 19, 2008#72008-03-19T17:47+00:00

The St. Louis area in general needs immigration that is what will bring about economical development and growth to the next level. St. Louis can market itself as immigrant friendly because of its low cost of living.

juiceinkirkwood · PostMar 19, 2008#82008-03-19T18:21+00:00

STLCardsBlues1989 wrote:As far as East St. Louis, it would be nice if they could renovate some of the savable buildings and create some nice infill in the empty lots.

I would think that would help, and as people moved back into East St. Louis, crime would hopefully drop.

Just a thought.

100 new buildings probably won't bring too many people in to ESL that aren't already there.

shimmy · PostMar 19, 2008#92008-03-19T19:12+00:00

You drive through parts of East St. Louis and you think you're driving through the country. Dead trees litter the streets, completely blank lots, roads just end for no reason...it's pretty bleak, to put it modestly.

tbspqr · PostMar 21, 2008#102008-03-21T01:56+00:00

Shimmy wrote:You drive through parts of East St. Louis and you think you're driving through the country. Dead trees litter the streets, completely blank lots, roads just end for no reason...it's pretty bleak, to put it modestly.

One might say its one of the few cases that (in this description) lives up to its reputation?

gone corporate · PostMar 24, 2008#112008-03-24T20:39+00:00

For anything to happen, Springfield, IL must first remember the Metro East exists and needs help. Then, maybe they'll throw some money this way, as opposed to just passing it to Chicago. The economic revitalization and reinvestment initiatives for this area are the responsibility of IL, as opposed to that of Saint Louis and Jefferson City, and the area can't rely on tax revenues from the Belleville, Fairview Heights, and Collinsville coffers alone.