Skyline overlook to be built in East St. Louis
Bill Raack, KWMU
ST. LOUIS (2006-09-15) A ground-breaking is scheduled for Saturday in East St. Louis for a four-story overlook officials say will offer a great view of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis skyline across the Mississippi River.
The structure will be built in the park named for the late Malcolm Woods Martin. Martin's vision was to create the park to complement the 630-foot-tall stainless steel landmark. Mike Buehlhorn is the executive director of the Metro East Park and Recreation District.
"It's a 195-foot platform that's handicap accessible in eight-foot lifts all the way up to 40 feet and the 40-foot level will situated facing the Gateway Arch and it's going to be just a spectacular view of the Arch," Buehlhorn said.
The Gateway Center of Metropolitan St. Louis is paying for the $4 million project. Construction will begin in a few weeks and Buehlhorn says the overlook should be built by next summer.
New STL Arch & Skyline 4-story overlook to be built
New STL Arch & Skyline 4-story overlook to be built
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Of all the things EStL has to worry about, they spend their money on this!?
I know it's a NGO, but wouldn't the money be MUCH better spent on small business assisstnace grants and training? Or college grants for disadvantaged students?
Gateway Geyser gears up for busy sports weekend
Water will soar for Cards, Rams fans, cyclists
News-Democrat
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/128913.html
EAST ST. LOUIS --The Metro-East Park and Recreation District announced Friday a new schedule for the Gateway Geyser on the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park grounds for Sunday, to pay tribute to the loyal sports fans in St. Louis.
The geyser will erupt Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. when it will be visible to the thousands of fans gathered in downtown St. Louis for the Cardinals and Rams games, and to welcome the participants in the Tour de Missouri bike race.
The geyser will provide onlookers with a breathtaking visual, propelling water several hundred feet straight into the air.
The geyser eruptions will also mark the final day of operation for the 2007 season. It is expected to resume operations in conjunction with the opening of the new Mississippi River Overlook, which broke ground last September.
continue...
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/128913.html
Water will soar for Cards, Rams fans, cyclists
News-Democrat
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/128913.html
EAST ST. LOUIS --The Metro-East Park and Recreation District announced Friday a new schedule for the Gateway Geyser on the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park grounds for Sunday, to pay tribute to the loyal sports fans in St. Louis.
The geyser will erupt Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. when it will be visible to the thousands of fans gathered in downtown St. Louis for the Cardinals and Rams games, and to welcome the participants in the Tour de Missouri bike race.
The geyser will provide onlookers with a breathtaking visual, propelling water several hundred feet straight into the air.
The geyser eruptions will also mark the final day of operation for the 2007 season. It is expected to resume operations in conjunction with the opening of the new Mississippi River Overlook, which broke ground last September.
continue...
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/128913.html
migueltejada wrote:
Of all the things EStL has to worry about, they spend their money on this!?
I know it's a NGO, but wouldn't the money be MUCH better spent on small business assisstnace grants and training? Or college grants for disadvantaged students?
^Always the response that people give when East St. Louis builds anything. I admitt, I have to agree to an extent. But people on here constantly complain about the East Riverfront, and when something actually is done they say it shouldn't be done.
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Please. Small businesses are flocking to ESL? Offer all the "small business grants" you want, no one wants to live, work, or open a new business in ESL. I don't even want to go to the courthouse in ESL.
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add this one to the terrible waste of money list. Horrible idea imo.
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What ever happened to the multi-million dollar project to develop the ESL riverfront?
See the old topic here.
See the old topic here.
East St. Louis has great proximity -- it would be a good location for businesses or even hotels and condos -- if the city got its act together.
IMO, forget the riverfront parks. EStL should build a new central business and entertainment district right up on the riverfront.
IMO, forget the riverfront parks. EStL should build a new central business and entertainment district right up on the riverfront.
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Tysalpha wrote:East St. Louis has great proximity -- it would be a good location for businesses or even hotels and condos -- if the city got its act together.
IMO, forget the riverfront parks. EStL should build a new central business and entertainment district right up on the riverfront.
I think they could do a nice mix of riverfront park and business corridor. The clear example is Newport/Covington, KY across the Ohio from Cincy. Great views, greenspace, and business. There are a lot of differences between us and them including the number of bridges and the width of the river, but it is certainly the example to shoot for and very possible.
The only good thing I see about it is that there is universal failure in East Saint Louis now, so basically, everything can be torn down relatively easily once the tide turns. Basically, it is pretty easy to start from scratch there with a pretty large chuck of land, which will eventually entice a major developer. The developer would get the governor involved to avoid some of the local politics and to get some state redevelopment dollars involved.
It is going to happen eventually. Hopefully in my lifetime.
Shimmy wrote:migueltejada wrote:
Of all the things EStL has to worry about, they spend their money on this!?
I know it's a NGO, but wouldn't the money be MUCH better spent on small business assisstnace grants and training? Or college grants for disadvantaged students?
^Always the response that people give when East St. Louis builds anything. I admitt, I have to agree to an extent. But people on here constantly complain about the East Riverfront, and when something actually is done they say it shouldn't be done.
People said the same thing when St. Louis spent $15 million to build the Arch. Some expenditures transcend even logic and need. I hope this is one of them.
^Well, honestly, I think they could spend money on something better too. I was just saying.
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shadrach wrote:Some expenditures transcend even logic and need. I hope this is one of them.
Is this an argument for or against the project?
I thought I was being literary, clever and succinctly clear with that post. 
This is an argument for the project. Much like putting a man on the moon. You do it because it's cool and should be done.
(And honestly, the observation deck should have been completed that same year as the arch.)
This is an argument for the project. Much like putting a man on the moon. You do it because it's cool and should be done.
(And honestly, the observation deck should have been completed that same year as the arch.)
I went down to Martin's overlook this morning. The structure looks pretty good, at least better than I thought it would. The stainless steel railing isn't up yet, but the walk up to the top didn't bother me too much. It is a great view. One of the people in charge told me that it's a great place to watch a sunrise as the sun reflects off of downtown.
Unfortunately, the park itself isn't very wide. It's deep - goes all the way back around the fountain/geyser, but Cargill is just too the north and to the immediate south are fenced-off woods owned by a railroad company. The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
It wouldn't be a bad place to extend a walk/jog from downtown.
Unfortunately, the park itself isn't very wide. It's deep - goes all the way back around the fountain/geyser, but Cargill is just too the north and to the immediate south are fenced-off woods owned by a railroad company. The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
It wouldn't be a bad place to extend a walk/jog from downtown.
I went down to Martin's overlook this morning. The structure looks pretty good, at least better than I thought it would. The stainless steel railing isn't up yet, but the walk up to the top didn't bother me too much. It is a great view. One of the people in charge told me that it's a great place to watch a sunrise as the sun reflects off of downtown.
Unfortunately, the park itself isn't very wide. It's deep - goes all the way back around the fountain/geyser, but Cargill is just too the north and to the immediate south are fenced-off woods owned by a railroad company. The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
It wouldn't be a bad place to extend a walk/jog from downtown.
Too bad I didn't bring my camera.
Unfortunately, the park itself isn't very wide. It's deep - goes all the way back around the fountain/geyser, but Cargill is just too the north and to the immediate south are fenced-off woods owned by a railroad company. The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
It wouldn't be a bad place to extend a walk/jog from downtown.
Too bad I didn't bring my camera.
I went down to Martin's overlook this morning. The structure looks pretty good, at least better than I thought it would. The stainless steel railing isn't up yet, but the walk up to the top didn't bother me too much. It is a great view. One of the people in charge told me that it's a great place to watch a sunrise as the sun reflects off of downtown.
Unfortunately, the park itself isn't very wide. It's deep - goes all the way back around the fountain/geyser, but Cargill is just too the north and to the immediate south are fenced-off woods owned by a railroad company. The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
It wouldn't be a bad place to extend a walk/jog from downtown.
Too bad I didn't bring my camera.
Unfortunately, the park itself isn't very wide. It's deep - goes all the way back around the fountain/geyser, but Cargill is just too the north and to the immediate south are fenced-off woods owned by a railroad company. The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
It wouldn't be a bad place to extend a walk/jog from downtown.
Too bad I didn't bring my camera.
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B.A. wrote:The woods be the most obvious purchase/annexation, but who knows what has been dumped there over the years and how much it would be to clean it up.
If they cleaned up the woods in that area the company that creates "MISSING" signs would probably go out of business.
Mississippi River Overlook: What a view!
BY MARIA BARAN
News-Democrat
What is being hailed by some as the best view of downtown St. Louis is set to open to the public by the end of summer.
The Mississippi River Overlook, which broke ground in September 2006, is a 40-foot high concrete observation platform. It's being built on the East St. Louis riverfront just south of the Casino Queen.
The view is designed to show off both riverbanks and line up the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse and the Eagleton Federal Courthouse.
"What a great view," remarked Mike Buehlhorn, Metro-East Parks and Recreation District executive director.
The $4.2 million project is fully funded by the Gateway Center of Metropolitan St. Louis.
The observation deck is part of the 34-acre Malcolm Martin Memorial Park, which will include an amphitheater, road improvements at Front Street and Trendly Avenue, and a visitor seating area.
The vast lawn will likely attract visitors to watch downtown fireworks, and the impressive view could be an ideal place for wedding photos, said project spokeswoman Julie Houser.
The next step in the project is to finish the final ramp, perfect the concrete surface and install benches. In the coming weeks, crews will begin installing the 42-inch-high stainless steel and mesh railing.
The five-level ramp will be lighted on the underside of the railing to illuminate the structure, allowing it to be visible from the top of the Arch, along with the 600-foot-tall Gateway Geyser.
The tower was designed by the Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum architectural firm in St. Louis and will be built by L. Wolf Contractors of Granite City.
Guy Gettis, president of the Southern Illinois Contractors Association of East St. Louis, praised the minority participation in the project. Although the observation deck is not federally funded, contractors met the 15 percent to 20 percent requirement for federal projects.
"They exceeded what they set up to do," Gettis said.
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http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/339437.html
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There is also a video w/ the parks director.
BY MARIA BARAN
News-Democrat
What is being hailed by some as the best view of downtown St. Louis is set to open to the public by the end of summer.
The Mississippi River Overlook, which broke ground in September 2006, is a 40-foot high concrete observation platform. It's being built on the East St. Louis riverfront just south of the Casino Queen.
The view is designed to show off both riverbanks and line up the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse and the Eagleton Federal Courthouse.
"What a great view," remarked Mike Buehlhorn, Metro-East Parks and Recreation District executive director.
The $4.2 million project is fully funded by the Gateway Center of Metropolitan St. Louis.
The observation deck is part of the 34-acre Malcolm Martin Memorial Park, which will include an amphitheater, road improvements at Front Street and Trendly Avenue, and a visitor seating area.
The vast lawn will likely attract visitors to watch downtown fireworks, and the impressive view could be an ideal place for wedding photos, said project spokeswoman Julie Houser.
The next step in the project is to finish the final ramp, perfect the concrete surface and install benches. In the coming weeks, crews will begin installing the 42-inch-high stainless steel and mesh railing.
The five-level ramp will be lighted on the underside of the railing to illuminate the structure, allowing it to be visible from the top of the Arch, along with the 600-foot-tall Gateway Geyser.
The tower was designed by the Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum architectural firm in St. Louis and will be built by L. Wolf Contractors of Granite City.
Guy Gettis, president of the Southern Illinois Contractors Association of East St. Louis, praised the minority participation in the project. Although the observation deck is not federally funded, contractors met the 15 percent to 20 percent requirement for federal projects.
"They exceeded what they set up to do," Gettis said.
http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/339437.html
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There is also a video w/ the parks director.
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Framer wrote:Anyone up for a game of "Mousetrap"?
I knew it looked familiar. I have been looking at it for a while now and couldn't place it. But, that is exactly right! Hilarious. All we are missing is the boot and giant tub! Maybe once a year or so we could install curves on the landings and have silver ball races down it. We could be like Akron with the soap box derby ... you know, only Saint Louis style.
Ahh, the ADA. Lovely law. Look what it gives us. We could have had an ordinary, boring staircase overlook, but instead ... we get ... The Mousetrap.
Not a bad idea, but damn, it should have utilized curvilinear forms.
This looks too utilitarian. Maybe they can plant a bunch of trees to conceal the ramp system.
This looks too utilitarian. Maybe they can plant a bunch of trees to conceal the ramp system.
They should have built it another 300 yards further east!!
Joking. Why is it so far away from what it's show casing?
And it should have been built perpendicular or have more parallel viewing area.
Again, looks like another good idea executed without thinking it through.'
Joking. Why is it so far away from what it's show casing?
And it should have been built perpendicular or have more parallel viewing area.
Again, looks like another good idea executed without thinking it through.'
There are railroad tracks and a street between the platform and the river front.shadrach wrote:Why is it so far away from what it's show casing?
And it should have been built perpendicular or have more parallel viewing area.
Again, looks like another good idea executed without thinking it through.'
It has a parallel viewing area - of the Cargill facility to the immediate north.
This was supposed to be finished early last fall, but the construction has been plagued by changes, delays, etc...