St. Louis in the National Media

STLrainbow · PostSep 23, 2016#12012016-09-23T15:40+00:00

imperialmog wrote:^ With those comparisons the Boston and San Francisco numbers have a couple of caveats that exist. Mainly the presence of oceans/bays that act as development barriers and also very high housing costs that's several times what it is here. also it would be interesting to note for different cities how much as a percentage of the land is places like parks and industrial areas that lower density overall, but are important land uses.

sure; each compact city will have it's own issues on how likely it is that it could have a high density population but I think that is a bit different exercise than whether that city could offer a good quality of life if it achieved that result (again in our case).

I do think it's interesting to compare those three cities with us btw as we imagine what the city could look like with a larger and larger population...

Minneapolis had a peak population of 521,000 so it has about 110,000 to go before it reaches that again.
Boston had a peak population of 801,000 so it still has about 135,000 to gain
San Francisco already has record high population

I think each of those three cities demonstrate that you can have higher density and good average quality of life. Of course, the important thing is for us to start growing again in a smart, sustainable fashion. Hopefully we're starting on our way.

MarkHaversham · PostSep 23, 2016#12022016-09-23T15:52+00:00

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't San Francisco in the midst of a housing crisis?

STLrainbow · PostSep 23, 2016#12032016-09-23T17:53+00:00

^ It does. Certainly a much more dense, in-demand Saint Louis City would have a different set of quality of life challenges from our current ones but again the point is that a good general quality of life can be offered here even if we were pressing our historic high population figures. (Also, as imperialmog points out, our geography would be to our benefit in such a situation of a high-density city... we'd need much better regional transit, but we're essentially surrounded by endless land to despoil and absorb housing price pressures, etc.)

imperialmog · PostSep 23, 2016#12042016-09-23T18:12+00:00

The more affordable housing and land issues might be what helps spur growth overall down the line, as people in other areas are priced out. Though it would be in some ways harder to infill and build up without having the barriers in building out.

As for barriers to development only ones of note is rougher terrain going southwest, which is likely why suburban sprawl was directed out 70 than say 44 or 55 (except in more confined areas with less steep terrain). But it also means you can have more natural spaces closer to the Urban core, which is good for recreation since those in a dense city environment should have a quick getaway to the woods. (great if some bike trails could be built that connect the city to the more wild areas say from the City to the Meremec River Valley and its trails and parks)

MarkHaversham · PostSep 23, 2016#12052016-09-23T18:28+00:00

imperialmog wrote:(great if some bike trails could be built that connect the city to the more wild areas say from the City to the Meremec River Valley and its trails and parks)

Grant's Trail gets you most of the way there, you just need a connection across Kirkwood from Grant's to Emmenegger or the like. Bridging 270 is the problem.

shimmy · PostSep 24, 2016#12062016-09-24T01:41+00:00

I was finally able to watch the abandoned schools episode on Vice and I was very pleased with it. I thought it was fascinating and very well produced.

But more than that, maybe it's because I currently don't live in St. Louis so I have a different perspective, but while depressing in a lot of ways I found it more inspiring. My wife and I are currently looking ahead, debating where we're going to settle, and generally New England has been coming out ahead of St. Louis (she's from Boston and I've failed to sell her on the Midwest, and having gone to college in Vermont I have ties there). But I research and look into places and it's so damn expensive. And I'm not even talking about Cambridge or the Back Bay. I'm talking about Maine and New Hampshire and Hartford, CT. So. Damn. Expensive. I don't understand how anybody middle class or lower can afford to live there. It's absurd.

And then I look at St. Louis and the answer seems so easy and obvious. There's real opportunity here. In cheap real estate, yes. But also to really be a part of something and have a real impact.

symphonicpoet · PostSep 24, 2016#12072016-09-24T05:40+00:00

shimmy wrote:I was finally able to watch the abandoned schools episode on Vice and I was very pleased with it. I thought it was fascinating and very well produced.

But more than that, maybe it's because I currently don't live in St. Louis so I have a different perspective, but while depressing in a lot of ways I found it more inspiring. My wife and I are currently looking ahead, debating where we're going to settle, and generally New England has been coming out ahead of St. Louis (she's from Boston and I've failed to sell her on the Midwest, and having gone to college in Vermont I have ties there). But I research and look into places and it's so damn expensive. And I'm not even talking about Cambridge or the Back Bay. I'm talking about Maine and New Hampshire and Hartford, CT. So. Damn. Expensive. I don't understand how anybody middle class or lower can afford to live there. It's absurd.

And then I look at St. Louis and the answer seems so easy and obvious. There's real opportunity here. In cheap real estate, yes. But also to really be a part of something and have a real impact.

I wish you luck, Shimmy. I know we can be a hard sell at times, but the place has good bones and there are good people here. And like you said . . . the price can't be beat. I've thought about retiring to Vietnam for the simple reason that almost literally everything is cheaper there . . . and yet it still feels vibrant and alive. We need vibrant and alive. I really think it's here. We stay inside a little too much, but this isn't a dead city. There's a lot here. And yes, the episode pointed to some of the life. Even while showing empty schools. This place has roots. We have music. We have poetry. We have literature to rival literally anyplace in the English speaking world.

Anyway . . .

I wish you luck. It's a good quest. This is a great town.

MarkHaversham · PostSep 24, 2016#12082016-09-24T15:13+00:00

symphonicpoet wrote:We have literature to rival literally anyplace in the English speaking world.

Like the works of award-winning sci-fi author Ann Leckie!

https://geekdad.com/2015/05/10-question ... nn-leckie/

symphonicpoet · PostSep 25, 2016#12092016-09-25T03:46+00:00

MarkHaversham wrote:
symphonicpoet wrote:We have literature to rival literally anyplace in the English speaking world.
Like the works of award-winning sci-fi author Ann Leckie!

https://geekdad.com/2015/05/10-question ... nn-leckie/

Been meaning to read that, actually. Didn't realize she was local. I'll kick it to the top of the pile forthwith.

leeharveyawesome · PostSep 26, 2016#12102016-09-26T19:38+00:00

We're #1. Blammo! Take that Bezerkeley!

http://www.livability.com/top-10/politi ... /st.-louis

gary kreie · PostSep 27, 2016#12112016-09-27T18:25+00:00

leeharveyawesome wrote:We're #1. Blammo! Take that Bezerkeley!

http://www.livability.com/top-10/politi ... /st.-louis

Since population is the denominator in all of these "per person" rankings that look at only city limits, I predict that St. Louis will soon be number 1 in every good and bad list as the population trends downward, eventually leading us to be labelled a liberal city with the most churches per person that loves to read while committing violent crimes.

STLrainbow · PostSep 27, 2016#12122016-09-27T19:57+00:00

^ something for everyone!

MarkHaversham · PostSep 27, 2016#12132016-09-27T20:44+00:00

The average St. Louisan consumes millions of toasted ravioli per year.

Chalupas54 · PostSep 28, 2016#12142016-09-28T14:23+00:00

I recently started going to college in the New York City and I have found that STL has a very positive rep out east. Everyone here associates the city with Andy Cohen, and I have noticed that Wendy Williams actually frequently gives St Louis shout outs on her show. I believe even the other day on NBC4 when they were talking about how the next debate is at WUSTL, the male anchor said that St Louis is a great city. Very cool

hebeters2 · PostSep 30, 2016#12152016-09-30T01:27+00:00

John Oliver on buy here pay here car loan scams
(Frank Leta tv auto ads come to mind)
St. Louis Post Dispatch is at the 3:41 time
WARNING NSFW LANGUAGE

symphonicpoet · PostSep 30, 2016#12162016-09-30T07:03+00:00

Funny. I once had a "Buy here pay here" lender suggest that I go look elsewhere. (I was paying cash.) I guess I didn't fit their demographic. Which . . . smacks of other problems we've had in the past.

leeharveyawesome · PostSep 30, 2016#12172016-09-30T11:57+00:00

gary kreie wrote:
leeharveyawesome wrote:We're #1. Blammo! Take that Bezerkeley!

http://www.livability.com/top-10/politi ... /st.-louis
Since population is the denominator in all of these "per person" rankings that look at only city limits, I predict that St. Louis will soon be number 1 in every good and bad list as the population trends downward, eventually leading us to be labelled a liberal city with the most churches per person that loves to read while committing violent crimes.

Gary Kreie, that's an all-time great comment. Thank you.

hebeters2 · PostOct 04, 2016#12182016-10-04T14:07+00:00

How Our Cities Impact the Future Incomes of Children
http://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-cit ... e-incomes/

Chalupas54 · PostOct 09, 2016#12192016-10-09T20:42+00:00

"The Eyes of the world will be on St Louis tonight."-CNN commentator

The debate tonight is so so so so big.

cteclipse · PostOct 30, 2016#12202016-10-30T15:30+00:00

Another BBC article with a focus on St. Louis "America's invisible Muslims"

hebeters2 · PostOct 30, 2016#12212016-10-30T20:09+00:00

For 60 years, the weekly Evening Whirl attacked the drug lords, whoring preachers, and hypocritical bourgeoisie of St. Louis’ black community, sometimes in rhyming Iambic couplets.
http://www.believermag.com/issues/20061 ... ticle_eden

urban_dilettante · PostOct 30, 2016#12222016-10-30T23:39+00:00

hebeters2 wrote:For 60 years, the weekly Evening Whirl attacked the drug lords, whoring preachers, and hypocritical bourgeoisie of St. Louis’ black community, sometimes in rhyming Iambic couplets.
http://www.believermag.com/issues/20061 ... ticle_eden

wow! awesome link. thanks!

gary kreie · PostNov 01, 2016#12232016-11-01T15:20+00:00

Francis Howell makes John Oliver's show on segregated schools.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

arch city · PostNov 02, 2016#12242016-11-02T21:23+00:00

St. Louis native was a pioneer in Silicon Valley.

UPDATED: August 12, 2016 at 6:02 am
Roy L. Clay Sr.: How a Silicon Valley tech pioneer came close to being Michael Brown
San Jose Mercury News

symphonicpoet · PostNov 03, 2016#12252016-11-03T00:38+00:00

Stories like that also make you wonder what businesses around here lost along with the people they turned away.

St. Louis in the National Media

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