urbanSTL

Grid street systems are superior to broken grid, cul de sac, etc. systems. But let's not get too obsessive. I think the permanent closure of that one block of 9th and unifying the two blocks that contain the sculpture park would be a good thing....for retail, pedstrians, transit etc....Certainly wouldn't do them any harm.

vollum wrote:Why not leave it closed. The added traffic capacity that would be provided by opening it is certainly not needed. I agree with making the appearance of the closure better looking...more permanent.

Well, if we're talking traffic capacity, we can probably assume closing down each street that intersects the Mall -- from Broadway west to 20th (with an exception for 7th, Tucker, 14th and 18th) -- won't affect downtown St. Louis traffic capacity all too much. Then you could have almost entirely uninterrupted park space straight through the heart of downtown...

Sad as it may be, the car culture in St. Louis reigns supreme. It produces the most activity (albeit, impersonal) on the streets of downtown St. Louis. With 9th Street, sure -- put up some of those eye-catching CityGarden barricades during special events or high-usage periods, but it shouldn't be closed permanently -- or even for more than 3 hours at a time. The city grid was built to facilitate movement of all types. Every time a street is closed to the detriment of one of those modes (yes, even cars), it makes the City more separated and less livable.

I'm not one of those guys who cries murder about congestion or a lack of parking options downtown (in fact, I haven't actually owned a car in 7 or so years now), but I recognize that downtown is not stable enough yet on its own to create pedestrian-only stretches of street. Sure, it's only one block, but in the same way you can say it doesn't need to be opened because traffic levels won't be affected, it doesn't need to be closed because pedestrian access won't be affected either. We've got crosswalks there -- pedestrians AND drivers just need to learn to respect them (it is the law, after all).

Incidentally, Google streetview on 9th between Market and Chestnut still shows the lifeless pre-CityGarden view. It looks like 9th Street was closed to vehicles that day...otherwise, we'd have a complete view of the fantastic CityGarden on Google today. Just found that interesting/comical, considering the conversation...

If you're worried about speeding cars, make the street two-way (as it should be) and the existing bulb outs will take care of the rest. It's amazing what making the driver slightly uncomfortable does to vehicle speed. If you don't believe me, come sit in my office in Crown Square with me for a little while. No one speeds on 14th street because the bulb outs and parking create the illusion that the street is narrower than it actually is. There is also the benefit of reducing the length of street that pedestrians have to cross at bulb outs. A high level of pedestrian traffic will slow traffic in and of itself. Just eliminating the street is almost never the answer. We need to maintain multi-modal connectivity wherever possible.

This might be widely known, but I didn't know that the 'Eros Bendato' sculpture was donated by the sculptor to Krakow Poland years before it ended up in City Garden. Anyone know how it ended up in St. Louis and if it is a permanent sculpture in the park or on loan. Was it purchased?

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1 ... 2600994280


". Crawl inside someone else's head. When Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj donated "Eros Bendato," his massive bronze creation, to Kraków in 2005, he decreed that it had to be placed on the Main Market Square. Despite protests from historians and art critics, municipal authorities agreed to install it as a temporary exhibition. The problem is that "Eros" has been a hit: Kids love to climb in and out of the cavernous skull, while amorous couples have been surprised there in the wee hours. Eros seems to be here to stay. Southwest corner of Main Market Square "

One thing that makes me think this may be the original from Krakow, is the fact that the local art critics, historians and others, did not like the sculpture. It was a "temporary exhibition". I'd assume, after the exhibition, it somehow ended up here in St. Louis.
I'd love to know the story, whether it be original or not. It is one of the standout sculptures in City Garden. If it is the original, it traveled a long way from Krakow!

Despite protests from historians and art critics, municipal authorities agreed to install it as a temporary exhibition.

This article suggests there are multiples of the sculpture. It mentions the one in Krakow, the one in CityGarden, as well as ones in Vancouver, Canada and Lugano, Switzerland.

http://www.techonista.com/2012/11/the-s ... -eros.html

Anybody know what's up with all the pink tape blocking off the grass areas in Citygarden and all the pools being closed?

On another note, Kaldis has been packed out all morning, which is great to see.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Grass restoration (reseeding). Pools close on Labor Day.

Awesome, now lets get to work on the Serra sculpture

Amen, what a waste of space.

dweebe wrote: ↑

Jun 27, 2023

quincunx wrote: ↑

Jun 27, 2023

Amen, what a waste of space.

Move it out to Laumeier.

If I'm not mistaken, the views of the urban landscape from within the sculpture is part of the "art" in that piece.  If that is the case, then moving it to Laumeier would not be in keeping with the vision of the original artist. 

It is. Some the urban landscape it was meant to frame was destroyed (Real Estate Row).

Yes, Yes, Yes on Serra removal.

Fricking Life Changes, Art Changes and Spaces Change.   Time for collective agreement that Serra art installation has served its purpose & vision and now is time to repurpose the space towards City Garden.     

STLEnginerd wrote: ↑

Jun 27, 2023

Personally i think they should leave the road there.  Traffic is rarely bad enough for it to be an issue.  Though not sure if there have been safety issues with kids playing in the water.  I would prefer some passive speed control like speed bumps or cobblestones to outright closure.

Spending on Serra would be better spent.  And by that i mean removal.

the road has not be open for traffic for a decade now. 

^Google Maps no longer even shows it as an actual road.