urbanSTL

^ Well heck, that makes sense. I'll be on the back porch with my White Russian if anyone needs me.

dweebe wrote:

Arch City wrote:Agent09 is baiting you guys. Hello?!?!

You're right, I'm starting to smell troll.

I smell Michael@......

Agent009 wrote:

steve wrote:But that's the issue, agent. What, exactly, would Wash Ave or any other place have to do to make it "real" or "urban?"

And since i did say that it wasnt urban living, which i think was a mistake to say, i could of worded that better. Its obviously urban living.



I lived in toronto for a while, on west bloor. I had a butcher, a grocery, a bookstore, 2 banks and a few clothing stores and place to eat on my block. I had 2 bakeries, 2 grocers and a veggie stand within 2 blocks. Not to mention the metro, the movies, and about anything else within 4 blocks. I could walk blocks and blocks in any direction for more of the same.



I could spend months on my block and never have to leave....

And the block did not depend on those coming from outside the area to support it.



IMO that is urban living, and i look forward to, and hope to be a part of moving the city of st louis that way.



I think a lot of people here took what i said thewrong way, and i understand why...

Totally concur. I now see what you're saying. Give it time--it'll get there.

Yeah, except in most cities it's pretty difficult to live on the same block as where you work. Taking public transportation (or walking) a mile to work does not break up your definition on my view. It makes sense to have some areas focused squarely as major business districts and others as residential/commercial blocks as well as having some mixed areas.

Agent009-- the lifestyle you speak of is possible in places like the CWE. I have all of that at my doorstep as well. But of course there are only a handful of cities that can offer that en masse. Toronto is one of them.



And I definitely agree that Wash Ave needs more daily life amenities, as I mentioned before. I want a 24-hour pharmacy down there, along with a neighborhood market, book stores, etc. Restaurants are great, but downtown needs basic essentials for living too. If I want to bang some chick after being out partying, I want to be able to get some condoms at 4 in the morning without having to drive. If I need some Pepto Bismol and some toilet paper after eating at White Knight, I don't want to have to schlep to Lindell to get it.



But that's what I'm saying-- all that stuff is coming, because if you look at what was available in the Wash Ave corridor 3, 4 and 5 years ago, it has come a LONG way. There is more to it than just restaurants now. The gaps are starting to be filled, and it is very exciting.

JivecitySTL wrote:And I definitely agree that Wash Ave needs more daily life amenities, as I mentioned before. I want a 24-hour pharmacy down there, along with a neighborhood market, book stores, etc. Restaurants are great, but downtown needs basic essentials for living too. If I want to bang some chick after being out partying, I want to be able to get some condoms at 4 in the morning without having to drive. If I need some Pepto Bismol and some toilet paper after eating at White Knight, I don't want to have to schlep to Lindell to get it.

Thanks for giving us details concerning 2 out of 3 major bodily functions.

If I want to bang some chick after being out partying, I want to be able to get some condoms at 4 in the morning without having to drive.

That's SO urban!



Why can't be get condom vending machines - so euro urban.

[quote="Agent009---- Thanks for giving us details concerning 2 out of 3 major bodily functions.

I think the need for pepto could make it 3 out of 4...

[/quote]



I was talking outbound.



Though sneezing and puking should be 4 and 5. My bad.

I think there is a legit point to be made about Washington Avenue becoming a bit of a pastiche of big city warehouse area turned "vibrant" residential and restaurant district. And the Dubliner would be a prime example of cookie-cutterish authenticity. It's not my kind of place. But who cares? If somebody wants to spend their money there its his business and not mine. Any early loft buyer who doesn't like the gentrification has (or maybe "has had" would be better considering the market) the chance to cash out and make a tidy sum.



I think an even more glaring example of a city cousin to New Town (that is to say a place where everything will be tested in focus groups and the central planning of the design will make a Soviet resort on the Caspian seem spontaneous) will be Ballpark Village or -- if it would have gotten off the ground -- the Bottle District. But again, to each his own.



I'd like to think that Agent's point is that, whether you live in a large converted loft development meant to feel like Tribeca or a new home development designed to remind you of Mainstreet USA, it becomes a glass house when you start question the authenticity of someone else's choice.



Now Dutchtown South, that's the real deal yo.

Doesn't it seem like this guy is in need of a lot of attention??? He's not so interested in forming a coherent argument as he is just provoking people.



Washington Ave is an urban neighborhood on the upswing. It's inauthentic, eh? Well what's authentic? Gotta hate those damn, fake sports bars. Or the "fake" unique boutiques. The only real Irish bars are in Irishland! Uhh, get real dude....



Maybe Agent409 is just more comfortable living and hanging out in the county. Everyone has their preferences ya know.

I think it comes down to the architecture and the "urban fabric" of the city that makes it "real". Agent probably doesn't appreciate this because he's probably , quite honestly, uneducated. He probably never studied architecture and doesn't understand how to appreciate it. Looking down Washington Avenue is a truly unique experience. I guess, one could answer what is unique, but I find it comical that this guy equates suburbia housing stock with 19th century warehouse buildings that were converted to residences. Either Agent is a child or he's an unducated dolt that was brought up in a vinyl siding house and sadly really doesn't know the difference between that and quality architecture. He tries to characterize it as "fake" but sadly doesn't understand the concept of adaptive-reuse. sorry if i'm being too rough.

Probably some fat kid from St Chuck who likes to talk about drinking alcohol and "banging chicks" because, luckily for him, this is an internet forum where nobody knows who anyone is unless theyve met them in person.



Hey kid, go pick up some prostitutes in Grand Theft Auto and imagine its real life. Maybe you could blow up some police helicopters too.

Agent009 wrote:What??? Ive lived in more cites, states, and countries then likely the majority of this forums users, and i did my time at college.

...yet you can't use proper grammar...

Agent009 wrote:All i have said is its more of a product then a neighborhood

My bad... a third

Agent009 wrote:your going to attack grammer...

this is an internet forum, not english 101.



Whateve dude. Everyone knows what it really means when you go after spellilng and grammer...

It means that I take my time when I'm forming my arguments. A High Schooler who is in over his/her head on a forum of (mostly) college students and adults who know what there talking about is very likely to get excited and heated and lash out etc.



By the way... you should've typed "you're" instead of your. It means "you are"

Agent009, just an FYI-- nobody here is impressed that you have lived in other cities. Everyone has lived in other cities. You lose all credibility when you liken Washington Avenue to New Town St. Charles. Simple as that.

Ahh dude its a white russian man! Your Big Lebowsky reference is a pretty good indication of your age. I apologize for accusing you of being in High School. You obviously think you're really cool though. Going toe-to-toe with some very intelligent, experienced, forumers who obviously know alot more about alot of things than you is not making anyone think you're cool.