^ Fully agree with that. Which is why I'm rather concerned in seeing this competition as an opportunity to get EStL going somewhere positive. Of course, this project is about the Arch Grounds as a National Park in a major Downtown first. Meanwhile, this is probably the greatest opportunity for EStL to experience any tangible economic redevelopment in decades (outside of the Casino Queen). There really isn't anything else out there that could actively prompt that city economically, let alone be a possible opportunity for growth.
As far as the rest of StL (and much of the US) is concerned, if given the choice, many people would be hard split between being which is worse off: Baghdad or EStL. And as the Near East Side slides further down, the harder it is for Downtown StL, being proximate, to continue to grow.
If by 2020 we can have families from Chesterfield driving to EStL, intentionally, for family fun, and then being able to stop off at a (believe it or not) local restaurant in EStL proper before heading home, then we really are working for the developmental change that we need. Aiming high? That may be above the clouds right now, but who knows where we'll be a decade from now.
As far as the rest of StL (and much of the US) is concerned, if given the choice, many people would be hard split between being which is worse off: Baghdad or EStL. And as the Near East Side slides further down, the harder it is for Downtown StL, being proximate, to continue to grow.
If by 2020 we can have families from Chesterfield driving to EStL, intentionally, for family fun, and then being able to stop off at a (believe it or not) local restaurant in EStL proper before heading home, then we really are working for the developmental change that we need. Aiming high? That may be above the clouds right now, but who knows where we'll be a decade from now.