urbanSTL

Nice 360 GoPro Video from the top of the Arch. I've always thought it would be cool if the Park Service could erect a small glass-walled cube up there, just for the summer, set back from the edge so it could not be seen from below -- > similar to the small glass cube set out from the side of the former Sears Tower in Chicago.

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/getinvolved/planning.htm

^that is a really good idea

I think the Lewis & Clark statue was perfect where it was as it relates to Lewis & Clark's geographical place in history (though I *think* their return actually occurred slightly south of Chouteau or even across the river?).

What I'd like to see them do is build out a platform on a level with the newly-raised river road and return the statue to its original location near the Eads Bridge. On the riverside, the platform would taper off as a series of half(ish)-circled steps leading down to the water (varying based on river levels). In that way, the statue would still be a part of the riverfront experience, but no longer underwater for 70% of the summer.

I'd really like to see someone with some top-tier Photoshop skills show how this might look and share it with C+A+R. With the new bike path and other riverfront amenities, the north Archground explorer's garden, a reinvigorated Laclede's Landing (let's hope!) and a state-of-the-art riverfront NFL stadium coming (again, hopefully!), the riverfront is primed for some serious activity and attention. I want the Lewis & Clark statue to continue as a centerpiece of that.

Edit: I can just imagine sitting on the steps below the statue, water lapping a few feet below as I read a book and take in the riverfront scenes of passing bikes, touring riverboats, a riverfront trolley going clang-clang-clang and more. The only thing that damages this peaceful vision is the constant thrum of helicopters taking off and landing...

One never know what world tourists might find intriguing. They love Route 66 for some reason. When I went to England a while back, locals could not figure out why we were interested in the Lock Ness Monster. And the bus driver at Stonehenge told us the mystery was solved a long time ago, so why were we here. I saw that Stonehenge stands out on the stark Salsbury plain, because that whole area is a tank training range for the British military, hence no apparent civilization nearby.

So if we want a mystery tied to the Arch, we should look at what they dig up when they excavate for the museum. Besides old settler artifacts, they should look for Native American artifacts to display in the museum in mid-air right where they were actually found in 3-D space.

gary kreie wrote:One never know what world tourists might find intriguing. They love Route 66 for some reason. When I went to England a while back, locals could not figure out why we were interested in the Lock Ness Monster. And the bus driver at Stonehenge told us the mystery was solved a long time ago, so why were we here. I saw that Stonehenge stands out on the stark Salsbury plain, because that whole area is a tank training range for the British military, hence no apparent civilization nearby.

So if we want a mystery tied to the Arch, we should look at what they dig up when they excavate for the museum. Besides old settler artifacts, they should look for Native American artifacts to display in the museum in mid-air right where they were actually found in 3-D space.

We have one of the best mysteries in N America in Cahokia Mounds - its even a UNESCO site - But for what ever reason it does not register much on the national scene let alone the global

I agree. Maybe the new Arch Museum should have a section about Native Americans, and include a narrated bus ride and tour of Cahokia mounds site.

gary kreie wrote:On today's groundbreaking of the expanded museum under the Arch, I know they are adding technology with videos of galloping buffalo coming at you, etc. But is that enough to bring tourists from far and wide? I'd still like to see some historic artifact, something like the Liberty Bell or whatever, that folks could tie to the enormity of the importance of the Louisiana Purchase. Real artifacts from Lewis and Clark would be great, like the ones recently displayed at the History Museum. Or the Louisiana Purchase treaty signed virtually on top of the museum. Or the French copy signed by Napoleon.

Having important documents/artifacts on display would be quite helpful but I am pretty optimistic we'll see a boost in visitors at least for awhile as the new amenities come online.... and perhaps just as important the new experiences and removal of the garage should extend stays and get more people into the neighboring commercial districts and spending money.

Longer term, GRG and the Landing stakeholders will really have to act smart on how to maximize the riverfront so as to lure more people northward from the Arch grounds.... there are some key vacant parcels and some poor existing structures that if redeveloped well could really make the area thrive.
(I really like Kevin B's idea of a plaza for the statue but that's on the Arch side of the Eads.)

I'd like to see the guts of the bridge utilized in some manner as Cincinnati does for their bridge. And fwiw, here is a pretty nice overview and interactive guide of their Smale Riverfront Park that will be having some pretty cool amenities opening over the next few months....

http://www.cincinnati.com/topic/29be7ed ... ront-park/

With things like a farmers market, esplanade, carousel and playground they seem to be a nice balance of attractions that work for both visitors and residents/workers and could help be a guide for future Landing enhancements. I really like the Rosenberg Swings.

I went down to the Arch grounds and riverfront last week. Pretty torn up. Visitors are all routed past the front of the Old Cathedral.
Throngs walking past Old Cathedral parking lot to the Arch. by Gary Kreie, on Flickr

The original plan from MVVA envisioned a European-style Cathedral square in front of the Old Cathedral, possibly with a restaurant facing the building.


According to NextSTL, that was eliminated:
"The MVVA design initially envisioned a small pedestrian plaza and possible restaurant facing the Old Cathedral. Those plans have been shelved…"

I know the Catholic Church is spending a lot of money to restore the interior and roof of the Old Cathedral. I've been to dozens of Cathedrals in Europe where they serve the dual role of Church functions and tourist attractions. And they almost always have a public plaza in front of the Cathedrals where feasible with tables etc. But I've never been inside the Old Cathedral here. Is that allowed for non-Catholics?

What is the plan for the parking lot in front of the Cathedral? Now that there is a covered walkway across the highway, couldn't most of the parishioners park in, say, the old KMOV building parking indoors and walk the very short distance to the Cathedral? The elderly and handicapped could still park or be dropped off in front of course.
Walkway from old KMOX building parking entrance to Old Cathedral by Gary Kreie, on Flickr

They widened the new overpass there to include a single East bound lane just so people who park in that lot could get to it from the West along with entry from the South. Wouldn't it be nice to consider the original MVVA plan for that area? What was the objection? Cost? Isn't that lot the only parking left on the Arch grounds?

Thanks. Just looked at the NPS site, and it looks like the Old Cathedral building and parking lot are not considered part of the JNEM at all. So I assume the church owns the parking lot outright.

roger wyoming II wrote:^ I think that's correct; and come to think of it, that probably is why there was a restaurant proposed for there as it would allow for the skirting of the NPS view that something like that can't go on the Arch grounds. Could have been nice.

Although not surrounding a church, I do think there is the potential to develop a nice square with a European-feel in the Landing on one of the GRG lots if there is context-sensitive infill around it.

That would be nice -- no traffic noise and could get glimpses of the river. Last week there was a food trailer selling food down on the new portion of Lenore K Sullivan, and they had tables and chairs out there. Don't know if they offered beer.

Tables and Chairs at the Riverfront. by Gary Kreie, on Flickr

They need bicycle racks along the new bike trail also.

Need bicycle racks along the new Sullivan trail at the Arch. by Gary Kreie, on Flickr

I believe GRG is sponsoring Food Truck Thursdays down there every Thursday from 11:30 to 1:30 PM too.

No, I was planning to but it was raining or something came up. So I went down with my daughter Saturday and took some photos.

roger wyoming II wrote:^ I bet you sat back in one of those chairs and envisioned a shiny new stadium in the distance.

And gondolas. And even though nobody knows how it happened, the stadium brought prosperity and eliminated guns in the city. And then I saw myself getting picked up by my driverless car which has just run over Morgan and Quitno.

Walter Metcalfe out, Andy Taylor in.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metr ... 211d5.html

Looks like they didn't raise Leonor K Sullivan enough to have held celebrations and concerts on the riverfront this year.

Here is the finished Southern portion. From the CityArchRiver Webcam.

I thought the C + A + R project was supposed to fix that? This is hardly a flood and its covered over? Wow.