No it wouldn't. That bridge is ugly, pedestrian non-friendly and belongs spanning a river, not attempting to create an urban streetscape that welcomes pedestrian traffic from the north and south campuses of slu.
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No it wouldn't. That bridge is ugly, pedestrian non-friendly and belongs spanning a river, not attempting to create an urban streetscape that welcomes pedestrian traffic from the north and south campuses of slu.
ToastedRavioli wrote:
No it wouldn't. That bridge is ugly, pedestrian non-friendly and belongs spanning a river, not attempting to create an urban streetscape that welcomes pedestrian traffic from the north and south campuses of slu.
That bridge is dramatic, but it does look like something that belongs in a low-rise area with lots of open view -- say between two of the Florida keys. I have to agree that along Grand a new bridge should be more intimate and it should attempt to minimize the division between the north and south sides of the Chouteau "valley".
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My only real concern is that the bridge have WIDE pedestrian areas separated from traffic (preferably by trees) and that it be flat. In short - everything the Kingshighway bridges are not. It has to be inviting - not soaring - for people to walk it. I think you have to see what's on the other side for it to feel inviting. A big arched roadway may look impressive, but it's not friendly. Make it wide, make it flat - we're not going to see much of the supporting structure anyway.
Grover wrote:My only real concern is that the bridge have WIDE pedestrian areas separated from traffic (preferably by trees) and that it be flat. In short - everything the Kingshighway bridges are not. It has to be inviting - not soaring - for people to walk it. I think you have to see what's on the other side for it to feel inviting. A big arched roadway may look impressive, but it's not friendly. Make it wide, make it flat - we're not going to see much of the supporting structure anyway.
Exactly. Walking across the existing bridge looks about as fun as going to the dentist.
Grover wrote: I think you have to see what's on the other side for it to feel inviting. A big arched roadway may look impressive, but it's not friendly.
Interesting. Good point. I never thought of urban bridges like that. But then, everyone seems to love those high-arched bridges in Venice.
They walk across those (often the inclines are stairs), and they're small enough you can see around them.Framer wrote:everyone seems to love those high-arched bridges in Venice.
Why can't St. Louis build more things like the Chase Park Plaza and the old architecture around Forest Park like what Kansas City has been doing ?
We need more urban pioneers, like the people who brought the Olympics back in the day. Vintage Vinyl doesn't cut it. Real beer does not use rice as a sugar. (Thank you, Anheuser-Busch)
We need more urban pioneers, like the people who brought the Olympics back in the day. Vintage Vinyl doesn't cut it. Real beer does not use rice as a sugar. (Thank you, Anheuser-Busch)
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DaveKCMO wrote:Why can't St. Louis build more things like the Chase Park Plaza and the old architecture around Forest Park like what Kansas City has been doing ?
We need more urban pioneers, like the people who brought the Olympics back in the day. Vintage Vinyl doesn't cut it. Real beer does not use rice as a sugar. (Thank you, Anheuser-Busch)
Ummm... the 1904 Olympics Games were originally awarded to Chicago. St. Louis ended up hosting the Games of the III Olympiad by essenstially blackmailing Chicago: the Louisiana Exposition planned on eclipsing the Olympic Games with its own sporting events unless the games were moved to St. Louis.DaveKCMO wrote:We need more urban pioneers, like the people who brought the Olympics back in the day. Vintage Vinyl doesn't cut it. Real beer does not use rice as a sugar. (Thank you, Anheuser-Busch)
Ummm... the 1904 Olympics Games were originally awarded to Chicago. St. Louis ended up hosting the Games of the III Olympiad by essenstially blackmailing Chicago: the Louisiana Exposition planned on eclipsing the Olympic Games with its own sporting events unless the games were moved to St. Louis.
So... what's the problem? We had strong leaders in st. louis that strong-armed chicago and got what we wanted.
As for my bridge design. I agree with everyone else; that bridge does belong spanning a river. I just liked the cutting edge/ new design. Encouraging pedestrian use of the brigde should be a priority.
DaveKCMO wrote:Why can't St. Louis build more things like the Chase Park Plaza and the old architecture around Forest Park like what Kansas City has been doing ?
We need more urban pioneers, like the people who brought the Olympics back in the day. Vintage Vinyl doesn't cut it. Real beer does not use rice as a sugar. (Thank you, Anheuser-Busch)
OT: Didn't AB announce that Michelob would return to an all-barley formulation?
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DaveKCMO wrote:Why can't St. Louis build more things like the Chase Park Plaza and the old architecture around Forest Park like what Kansas City has been doing ?
We need more urban pioneers, like the people who brought the Olympics back in the day. Vintage Vinyl doesn't cut it. Real beer does not use rice as a sugar. (Thank you, Anheuser-Busch)
Why can't Kansas City mind its own business and quit trying to compare itself with St. Louis? Our little brothers on the other side of the state have a lot of growing up to do if they think their town will ever match the greatness of St. Louis. Yeah KC has "The Plaza" and Barbecue, but St. Louis has everything else. Hell, Downtown Clayton is about the same size as Downtown KC.
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stlmizzoutiger wrote:Why can't Kansas City mind its own business and quit trying to compare itself with St. Louis? Our little brothers on the other side of the state have a lot of growing up to do if they think their town will ever match the greatness of St. Louis. Yeah KC has "The Plaza" and Barbecue, but St. Louis has everything else. Hell, Downtown Clayton is about the same size as Downtown KC.
Don't go there. STL-KC pissing contests drive me nuts and are a sure way to get a thread locked.
That said, I'd be interested to hear exactly what the heck DaveKCMO was referring to. The area around Brush Creek?
I was partying with SLU kids and they didn't seem to understand the need for a new pedestrian bridge. Then again they do not use the Grand Metro.
DaveKCMO, all of the land around Forest Park is developed with the exception of a few parcels. When was the last time you visited St. Louis?DaveKCMO wrote:Why can't St. Louis build more things like the Chase Park Plaza and the old architecture around Forest Park like what Kansas City has been doing?
Anyway.....I think the rendering for the bridge is a great gateway for Midtown.
JCity wrote:what has kansas city "been doing" exactly?
I'm wondering this myself... What? An arena with no tenant? Sure it looks cool, but no one will go to it if there is nothing inside. A light rail plan that seems to be going nowhere? Or the building of crap megastores out in the 'burbs?
And I live in downtown KC...
i do like their 20's/30's highrises in KC, makes me wonder how in the F st. louis doesn't have as many.. I know we had height restrictions in the early 1900's but i'm not sure how long they were in effect.
I found another image with the old bridge in the background. From the side, the bridge doesn't look nearly as heavy as in the postcard gerwitz previously posted. I found it at the Wabash Railroad Historical Society along with other photos of trains leaving Union Station and following the Wabash line - you know, the line MetroLink currently uses - out to Forest Park.
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Nice bridge. I would prefer this over a "retail themed" bridge anyday. No offense to the winner of the bridge competition, but I don't see why we have to make everything geared toward making money.
The Golden Gate bridge would certainly lose it's iconic status with shops along the edge.
The Golden Gate bridge would certainly lose it's iconic status with shops along the edge.
gerwitz wrote:If only we'd left this one in place.
http://www.mayorslay.com/desk/display.asp?deskID=1098
A new post from Mayor Slay. Will be built in 2009.
The new Grand Avenue bridge is going to be safer. It is certainly going to be more useful. And it is going to reflect part of the history of the bridge it replaces.
A new post from Mayor Slay. Will be built in 2009.
The new Grand Avenue bridge is going to be safer. It is certainly going to be more useful. And it is going to reflect part of the history of the bridge it replaces.
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was the implementation of a CRITICAL grand streetcar line taken into consideration in the design of this bridge? all of this "hub bub" over its design is hollow to me, nothing was mentioned...
