^ I'm only confused as to whether this is an indictment of local leadership or of an effort to lead by people who don't dine at the Bogey Club?
Answer: AAlex Ihnen wrote:^ I'm only confused as to whether this is an indictment of local leadership or of an effort to lead by people who don't dine at the Bogey Club?
I would suggest that local "leadership" is self-appointed, self-perpetuating and unaccountable. The Bogey Club is simply Exhibit A.
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Agreed.bonwich wrote:Answer: AAlex Ihnen wrote:^ I'm only confused as to whether this is an indictment of local leadership or of an effort to lead by people who don't dine at the Bogey Club?
I would suggest that local "leadership" is self-appointed, self-perpetuating and unaccountable. The Bogey Club is simply Exhibit A.
I have to agree with Bonwich. He's entirely right about Real Estate Row and was when he wrote on the topic back in the day. Lipton wanted to rehab the buildings into essentially condos and lofts which we have today. But this plan was entirely rejected by City Hall. Generally, as a way to create a niche downtown and address our declining office market, this was suggested by people like at HUD since the 1970's. Will we wait another 30 years to remove the highway because our leaders aren't championing that cause too? We have a problem in St. Louis with regards to decision-making and implementation as it's still entirely top down. So one can promote and believe in City to River, while realizing that without the public support of those in power it has a greater chance of not happening. That's simply the reality of our City. It's not democratic and those ideas with highest merit are not often the ones chosen. We turned St. Louis Centre into a parking garage in order to cover their butts on the TIF repayment and appease Thompson Coburn. What else needs to be said?
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No, you said "grownups", which obviously has a different (and much more derogatory) connotation than "civic leaders". I'm quite sure everyone involved with City to River is of legal age.bonwich wrote:Oh, horsecrap, Alex. I said nothing derogatory about the effort underway. What I did say, and perhaps you could use your supermoderator status to rebut as opposed to calling names, is that there are NO civic leaders yet on board with this plan.
^Only if you read it without the context of the 1700 other posts I've made (not to mention the many that came after the one you quoted). It's also exceptionally funny that anyone would find it derogatory given that I'm pretty sure that Rick and I are exactly the same age.
" I can probably dig out any number of clips that pointed out that if Union Station's business model required it to charge for parking, it would fail."
That's not why it failed.
That's not why it failed.
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I see the issue as one of a lack of turnover of ideas, a lack of constant reinvention. I mean, I hear a lot about how people knew something was going to fail. The problem is that someone can say that in 1983 and then if at any time in the next 40 years x actually fails they can crow about how they're right.
I see the issue as one of a lack of turnover of ideas, a lack of constant reinvention. I mean, I hear a lot about how people knew something was going to fail. The problem is that someone can say that in 1983 and then if at any time in the next 40 years x actually fails they can crow about how they're right. It's not "failure" that I see as the problem, it's the lack of energy to keep new things coming.
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Sometimes there is just too many rules and regulations. The Delmar Loop is (was) the simple free-market at work. North City is just rules and regulations. My point is, people want to do things but sometimes it's just easier to sit on your ass.
I think downtown STL is MORE vibrant today than in 1985! Period.
Is there a decent list of downtown employers somewhere? I'd love to work there again.
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You can start here and find the bigger companies and most jobs. The Patnership likely has a comprehensive list as well. You should give them a call.
http://www.downtownstl.org/Work.aspx
http://www.downtownstl.org/Work.aspx