urbanSTL

Being in the 28th ward, I wrote to Lyda about Bill 83 and she seems to get the importance of highway removal. She is going to reach out to folks at GRG. I would encourage everyone to ask your alderpersons to speak up about it. Build what little momentum we can.

From Alex's write up : "Alderwoman Phyllis Young, D- 7th Ward, introduced Board Bill 83 that would move forward plans to remove Memorial Drive and build a “lid” over one block of I-70"

^ that's not removing the highway.

please refer to
http://nextstl.com/downtown/an-arch-gro ... f-aldermen

Bill 83 is apparently the only chance the Board of Alderman has had to question the single minded wisdom of the lid and to ask why a boulevard was not studied in its place despite public support.

Yesterday's email exchange between Phyllis Young and I:

________________________________________________________________________________________

Subject: St. Louis Development Corp and I-70

Hi Phyllis, Can you share any background on WHY this study was shelved?

________________________________________________________________________________________
From: "youngp@stlouis-mo.gov" <youngp@stlouis-mo.gov>
To: Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: St. Louis Development Corp and I-70

No,since it's SLDC's study you might contact it.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
_______________________________________________________________________________________

I've edited this post, as I need to make it clear that I write Phyllis a few times a month and she almost always responds and responds at length.

For all intents and purposes things would change in a heartbeat if one the folowing players in the immediate area comes forward with a vision that embrace to City to River. Obviously, Slay's administration is afraid of that vision by the actions recently taken.

1) Stan K/Rams proposed a new riverfront stadium and additional development on north riverfront with the raised freeway removed.
2) McKee proposes something meaningful for Bottleworks. I think his vision of a new 22nd street interchange is a lot better than what exists now and same principles could be applied in renderings, website, pushed by his architects. However, he doesn't carry over any vision to connecting Bottleworks to Lacledes Landing.
3) Pinnalce sells to an casino owner who has a grander vision for Laclede's Landing once it enters the St. Louis market. Maybe a locally based casino operator with no St. Louis presence will take that torch, who knows.

Expressing support then being silent about it on the political front is obviously not cutting it.

Isn't it time to just commission our own study? Who do I give my $50 to?

I was thinking kickstarter as well.

Isn't this what RallySTL is for? How about the urbanist in St. Louis put some money together to draft a comprehensive plan for the 21st century that can go in front of the voters.

^ If it's going to happen, a committee needs to explore funding methods - Kickstarter, an independent effort, etc. Join up with City to River and help push something forward.

How does one join up with City to River and help push something forward? I've emailed, but never get any feedback. Would love to help out more than just spreading the word....

From a 2010 StLtoday article:

Today, nearly everyone agrees that cutting downtown off from the river with an interstate 45 years ago was a mistake. "A disastrous decision," said Jeff Rainford, chief of staff to Mayor Francis Slay.
"What do you do about it?" he asked. "That's another question."

Apparently, doing nothing is the answer.

Is there any reason to use Kickstarter instead of RallySTL?

While it may help, you really don’t need a study. What you need is a mobilized collection of forum members, city residents, and urbanites to push the vision. We need to be a group that actively schmooze’s politicians, that educates the general public why this vision is important, and does a great job mobilizing the populace that is currently not on this forum to make a difference.

I know you don’t want to hear it but we need to be having meetings with officials and contributing to campaigns, otherwise nothing will happen. If a politicians job is on the line things will change in a heartbeat.

downtown2007 wrote:While it may help, you really don’t need a study. What you need is a mobilized collection of forum members, city residents, and urbanites to push the vision. We need to be a group that actively schmooze’s politicians, that educates the general public why this vision is important, and does a great job mobilizing the populace that is currently not on this forum to make a difference.

I know you don’t want to hear it but we need to be having meetings with officials and contributing to campaigns, otherwise nothing will happen. If a politicians job is on the line things will change in a heartbeat.

So, lobbyists?

ealfotd wrote:

downtown2007 wrote:While it may help, you really don’t need a study. What you need is a mobilized collection of forum members, city residents, and urbanites to push the vision. We need to be a group that actively schmooze’s politicians, that educates the general public why this vision is important, and does a great job mobilizing the populace that is currently not on this forum to make a difference.

I know you don’t want to hear it but we need to be having meetings with officials and contributing to campaigns, otherwise nothing will happen. If a politicians job is on the line things will change in a heartbeat.

So, lobbyists?

You bet. Nothing will change sitting behind a computer. Become a radical.

What we need is factual information. Concrete numbers. Proof. A study provides some of that. Is there another way to show that? Maybe do a specific cost estimate. Set up a meeting or forum with city officials and business.