I believe that I know the key to revitalizing the St. Louis Riverfront. Apparently we need to have the riverfront designated as "THE" location for hot air balloon enthusiasts. ![]()
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After looking at the Mississippi riverfront tour on Built St. Louis.net I really see that they need to get to work on it soon, the riverfront is a real turn off.
And yes Hot air ballons would be so awesome to have for some reason. But what i'm thinking is a second arch. eh? eh? anyone? yes? no? yes? no?
Okay i'll shut up.
And yes Hot air ballons would be so awesome to have for some reason. But what i'm thinking is a second arch. eh? eh? anyone? yes? no? yes? no?
Okay i'll shut up.
Since the City's founding, its riverfront has been more important as a commercial center than as a residence. Even today (post 9-11 and post-Katrina, especially today), the riverfront's most important contribution to the region is as a work environment generating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars for the economy.
There are stretches of that riverfront, particularly downtown and on the East side across from downtown, where other uses make good sense. But, combine economic realities with the river's own bad behavior along this stretch, and most of the riverfront is going to be industrial and commercial.
There are stretches of that riverfront, particularly downtown and on the East side across from downtown, where other uses make good sense. But, combine economic realities with the river's own bad behavior along this stretch, and most of the riverfront is going to be industrial and commercial.
publiceye wrote:Since the City's founding, its riverfront has been more important as a commercial center than as a residence. Even today (post 9-11 and post-Katrina, especially today), the riverfront's most important contribution to the region is as a work environment generating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars for the economy.
There are stretches of that riverfront, particularly downtown and on the East side across from downtown, where other uses make good sense. But, combine economic realities with the river's own bad behavior along this stretch, and most of the riverfront is going to be industrial and commercial.
That is no excuse for the poor access and general dinginess of the area. The Mien, Spree, Thames, Rhine and Seine are all working rivers all travel through urban areas and are subject to the same laws of gravity and natural forces, yet have grand paths, access points and development along them. What those rivers don?t have is the iron fisted Corps as the sole authority over them.
Ok, you guys have to use cities with Rivers like the Mississippi, at the point where it touches St Louis. The Mississippi in Minneapolis is not a good example, because' the river at the point is very small, and not nearly as unpredictable.
I've always felt a better example was Shanghai. Their river looks about as wide and rough as ours, maybe wider.
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Another good city to look at is Cairo Egypt. They also have a very large river running through. In addition to that, the Mississippi ranks up there with the Nile.
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As far as currents go, notice that the Shanghai river has no recreational boats, as it is in St Louis. The Nile in Cairo, might be calmer, since I see boats.
I've always felt a better example was Shanghai. Their river looks about as wide and rough as ours, maybe wider.
Another good city to look at is Cairo Egypt. They also have a very large river running through. In addition to that, the Mississippi ranks up there with the Nile.
As far as currents go, notice that the Shanghai river has no recreational boats, as it is in St Louis. The Nile in Cairo, might be calmer, since I see boats.
St. Louis Texan wrote:And yes Hot air ballons would be so awesome to have for some reason. But what i'm thinking is a second arch. eh? eh? anyone? yes? no? yes? no?
Is this what you had in mind?
I've gotta see Shanghai someday. Amazing! And those shots don't even show the biggest buildings!
Shanghai's river is much wider than the Mississippi, at least where St. Louis is.
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Ya cities like Shang Hai, Tokyo and Beijing really impress me with the astounding amount of buildings and the height of them all. One of their neighborhoods are probably bigger than Downtown St. Louis itself. Kinda sad.
trent wrote:Shanghai's river is much wider than the Mississippi, at least where St. Louis is.
True, but people are always comparing our river with rivers like the Chicago River, the river in Cleveland, and so forth. I just thought I would go the other route, and compare it to cities with HUUGE rivers.
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You know most big cities are near rivers or oceans, but i've looked at maps and i can't find any rivers or lakes by Atlanta.
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The founders of Atlanta arrived by the 12 lane highway. 
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As you will recall Georgia was settled as a debtor colony (like our own australia!) so hey really didn't get a whole lotta say in where they plopped down. Oh yeah, don't forget tobacco and cotton.
This might be a little off topic, but there was an interesting program on NPR a few weeks ago on the issue of why cities are located where they are. The guest is everybody's favorite - Joel Kotkin. St. Louis even gets a mention, in a positive light!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=5126342
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=5126342
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I lived in Atlanta for eight yrs,76-84 and there is no river but the
Chatahoochie similar to the Meramec...Atlanta's mayor Jackson touted
his city as the New York of the South as other cities north and south
called him crazy. Not any more. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy
since he convinced the entrepreneurs and civic leaders and business
community that there was no reason to look up to New York, Chicago
St. Louis or L.A. since he believed in Atlanta and the fact that "We can
do anything here we choose to do...."
I hope St. Louis can maintain its spirit and drive towards reestablish-
ing itself as a first class city and that people who live here will (like
Atlantans) be staunchly proud of their hometown.
Chatahoochie similar to the Meramec...Atlanta's mayor Jackson touted
his city as the New York of the South as other cities north and south
called him crazy. Not any more. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy
since he convinced the entrepreneurs and civic leaders and business
community that there was no reason to look up to New York, Chicago
St. Louis or L.A. since he believed in Atlanta and the fact that "We can
do anything here we choose to do...."
I hope St. Louis can maintain its spirit and drive towards reestablish-
ing itself as a first class city and that people who live here will (like
Atlantans) be staunchly proud of their hometown.
Xing wrote:trent wrote:Shanghai's river is much wider than the Mississippi, at least where St. Louis is.
True, but people are always comparing our river with rivers like the Chicago River, the river in Cleveland, and so forth. I just thought I would go the other route, and compare it to cities with HUUGE rivers.
Those are poor comparisons to any who use them. The Cuyahoga (Cleveland) and the Chicago River are very small rivers that run through the city, not by it. I know you knowthis, but compariing those rivers to the Mississippi, and how the city's show them off is unfair to St. Louis. The Cuyahoga is at the mouth of Lake Erie, and it's size makes the threat for flooding minimal at best, same with the Chicago. St. Louis position in the middle of the Mississippi as well as proximity to the joining of the Missouri and Illinois Rivers makes the Mississippi very susceptible to flooding. Another unfair comparison would be the San Antonio River.
Shanghai is probably more similar to New Orleans in the fact that Shanghai is near the mouth of a very large river (Huanpu River).
St. Louis is in a truely unique setting. The city sits on a bluff, the other side is more of a marshland, so development is difficult across the river. We are south of the meeting of the two largest American Rivers, but at a very narrow point of the river, so the water is deep, and swift. Most other US cities don't have the same concerns with the river that we do. That's why you can't compare St. Louis river front to Pittsburgh (the Allegheny) or Cincinnati (the Ohio) either. Their rivers are much more calm through the city, with very little undercurrent. Allowing for a more recreational setting.
That's why we have to think independently when it concerns our riverfront development.
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So when are they actually gonna start working on this project and start construction.
^Good question! I hate to say it, but don't hold your breath. These kind of projects, at least in St. Louis, take a while.
Texan,
Consider yourself lucky if you can take your (future) kids (shoudl you have them) to see the redevelopment.
Consider yourself lucky if you can take your (future) kids (shoudl you have them) to see the redevelopment.
I heard on the radio this morning that the Danforth foundation is releasing sketches of their vision for the riverfront. These include the man-made islands and skating rink, so looks like they're determined to go with either Concept 3 or 4 for this project. They will be picking an engineering firm in the next few days to give cost estimates.
I still think we need a museum for St. Louis City History. Maybe a 30 foot bronze statue of Pierre Laclede and Auguste Choteau.
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What about the Missouri Historical Society in Forest Park?
