Downtown Streetscape Improvements

innov8ion · PostJul 26, 2007#762007-07-26T18:06+00:00

^ If I had a nickel for every road in St. Louis that had a crack in it, I'd be rich. I'm not saying this is because of neglect, but roads do degrade over time...

I think this should be addressed, along with other road issues, but just wondering how this is a safety issue. Those cracks don't look like the Grand Canyon or anything.

publiceye · PostJul 26, 2007#772007-07-26T18:09+00:00

Hello I am a contributer to URBANSTL.COM forums and I have a comment and question concerning Washington Ave streetscape and maintenance of the bricks and center stones. Several of these center stones are broken and crumbling. They are in need of replacement.. to see my comments and a picture of the decline in the streetscape please see this link:

You suggested that other readers on this forum send this message. The message says that it contains a comment and a question. What's the question?

Just a friendly edit, not a critical comment.

citywatcher · PostJul 26, 2007#782007-07-26T18:31+00:00

^

what you see above is what I sent to the alderman.

NIX the word QUESTION I guess, as this is actually a STATEMENT, pointing out streetscape issues

It wasnt a suggestion for other forum members.

It was just posted to advise I had sent an email.

I was hoping the alder** is forum friendly and would follow the link to the topic and pic.

and again it was simply a prod for the city to get its act together and repair some of the obvious issues with the streetscape.

stones

lighting

bricks

light standards

etc...

doug · PostJul 26, 2007#792007-07-26T18:39+00:00

In order to improve the street scape I think we need hotdog vendors on every other corner.

publiceye · PostJul 26, 2007#802007-07-26T18:50+00:00

I think we need hotdog vendors on every other corner.

That was certainly the case last weekend in New Orleans. Those Lucky Dog carts were all over the Quarter -- and the airport.

MattnSTL · PostJul 30, 2007#812007-07-30T15:22+00:00

I've noticed that the buses on Washington tend to drive right over the stones instead of in the traffic lanes. I would think this is likely a large contributing factor to the broken stones.

arch city · PostJul 30, 2007#822007-07-30T16:36+00:00

I've always thought maintenance issues would arise with the street. Hopefully, they'll do something before it falls into further problems.

I think they should have just focused on decorative (four corner) crosswalks from the Eads bridge west, sidewalks, lighting, decorative trash recepticles, benches, planters and street signage. The brick and stone was a good idea, but maintenance is proving to be a b****.

The center street runway lights could have been implemented still, but the street itself should have been paved as normal. It's easier to maintain.

framer · PostJul 31, 2007#832007-07-31T04:46+00:00

I wonder how so many cities in Europe manage to maintain those cool stone streets for generations, even with countless tour-busses driving on them all the time? Maybe we could learn something from them.

thewayofthearch · PostJul 31, 2007#842007-07-31T06:11+00:00

Framer wrote:I wonder how so many cities in Europe manage to maintain those cool stone streets for generations, even with countless tour-busses driving on them all the time? Maybe we could learn something from them.

Romans.

stlmike · PostJul 31, 2007#852007-07-31T15:01+00:00

Am I the only one who thinks those stones are kind of unecessary? I'd rather the money went toward nicer sidewalks than a fancy street divider.

crbswiss · PostJul 31, 2007#862007-07-31T15:53+00:00

In general the road system has a much thinner base and top layer than European roads. However, they also spend much more money on the road system than we do.

cmd+h · PostJul 31, 2007#872007-07-31T16:08+00:00

They also don't drive huge SUV's (and other overwhelmingly large vehicles) over them as often as we do. The average weight of a Smart Car or scooter versus the average weight of an Expedition or Durango makes a big difference!

crbswiss · PostJul 31, 2007#882007-07-31T16:13+00:00

^Very true. Even the delivery trucks are often much smaller (I know this 'cause my grandfather used to drive one

)

thewayofthearch · PostJul 31, 2007#892007-07-31T18:16+00:00

stlmike wrote:Am I the only one who thinks those stones are kind of unecessary? I'd rather the money went toward nicer sidewalks than a fancy street divider.

This streetscape was designed to pay homage to Washington Avenue's history as a major retail and garment district. These large stones when viewed from an elevation or up the hill to the west looking east, are intended to replicate a zipper.

manchester · PostJul 31, 2007#902007-07-31T18:40+00:00

TheWayoftheArch wrote:
This streetscape was designed to pay homage to Washington Avenue's history as a major retail and garment district. These large stones when viewed from an elevation or up the hill to the west looking east, are intended to replicate a zipper.

Thats interesting, I didn't realize the symbolism that went along with the pattern. Does anyone know how far down Washington's garment district extended west? Was it past the 2020 or did extend past Jefferson?

jefferson · PostJul 31, 2007#912007-07-31T22:18+00:00

TheWayoftheArch wrote:
stlmike wrote:Am I the only one who thinks those stones are kind of unecessary? I'd rather the money went toward nicer sidewalks than a fancy street divider.

This streetscape was designed to pay homage to Washington Avenue's history as a major retail and garment district. These large stones when viewed from an elevation or up the hill to the west looking east, are intended to replicate a zipper.

I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years, how often do you look at the street from that far away? I hate seeing maintainence resources being spent on replacing these stones when so many other streetscapes in the city need help. I'm all for creating a homage to the area's history as a garment district, but how about doing it in a place where cars aren't driving over it every day? #-o

publiceye · PostJul 31, 2007#922007-07-31T22:53+00:00

Here's a link back to pre-history. Think things have changed along the zipper?

http://www.saucemagazine.com/article/3/61

jefferson · PostAug 01, 2007#932007-08-01T01:59+00:00

The city should do a button-fly for its next street.

what4 · PostAug 07, 2007#942007-08-07T10:21+00:00

noticed that someone has painted some outlines on washington between 21st and 20th (maybeup to 18th too i didn't notice). the outlines suggest angled parking along this stretch of washington. hopefully the new retail between 18th and 20th will keep the plethora of new parking spaces filled.

debaliviere · PostNov 29, 2007#952007-11-29T20:14+00:00

A blurb from MayorSlay.com:

And, finally, plans are also proceeding for comprehensive downtown streetscape improvements, thanks to a federal grant obtained by Senator Kit Bond, and cooperation from MoDOT. HOK is preparing the plans, which will include 2-way street conversion recommendations; coordinated lighting; and kiosk, landscaping, and trash receptacle standards. Those plans should be completed by the Spring.

Hopefully, this will build on the Downtown Now! plans from a few years back - I really liked the proposed improvements to 4th Street and 13th Street.

arch city · PostDec 09, 2007#962007-12-09T22:07+00:00

I think Olive St. from Tucker Blvd. to either Jefferson Ave. (or N. Grand Blvd.) should be scaped with center medians, flora, lighting, trash recepticles, and trees.

Back in the day, Olive St. was a such a heavily traveled east/west artery, but now it is dead by comparison. Perhaps a "boulevard" streetscaping might spur/spark new investments along the thoroughfare.

Here's a photo of Philly's Broad Street (aka Avenue of The Arts).

photo from SSP

moorlander · PostDec 09, 2007#972007-12-09T22:41+00:00

but olive is too narrow...The only street we have ^ that wide is tucker. Olive is so narrow now it barely works having 2 lanes in one direction!

framer · PostDec 10, 2007#982007-12-10T04:58+00:00

^You're thinking about Olive east of Tucker. Arch is talking about west of Tucker. Plenty of room for some landscaping in that stretch, and I agree, it's a good idea. Right now it's just a sea of asphalt.

Alex Ihnen · PostDec 10, 2007#992007-12-10T05:11+00:00

When I was downtown this past weekend it really struck me how empty the streets were. More than a couple should be narrowed. We should greatly reduce the number of one way streets and widen sidewalks. I guess if there's ever a great demand for more traffic capacity it can be reversed. The mistake seems to be that all roads downtown are made to allow people to drive to work (and sporting events) and then home while encountering as little traffic as possible. That's all well and good, but there are people who live downtown and quite a number that shop there or go for entertainment, etc. It's a trade off, but I don't think we would be sacrificing much to make a huge difference.

what4 · PostApr 19, 2008#1002008-04-19T13:07+00:00

does anyone know who is responsible for the landscaping work at the chestnut street exit off of 40/64E downtown? it just looks amazing. with the sea of grass around that exit, there is plenty of room for more of it.

Downtown Streetscape Improvements

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