Blew my mind overhearing some Seattle suburbanites on a Cascades train in 2017 saying "last one turn the lights out" in Seattle city, when it had gained 100k people 2010-16.
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The weird thing about it all is that there are very valid concerns about living in Seattle. I moved away because a recent Trulia report confirmed what I already knew: teachers in the greater metro area can only afford 10% of the homes on the market (in St. Louis they can afford 53%) and many of those homes were on the fringes of the region away from all amenities.quincunx wrote:Blew my mind overhearing some Seattle suburbanites on a Cascades train in 2017 saying "last one turn the lights out" in Seattle city, when it had gained 100k people 2010-16.
But suburbanites are convinced the city is this overcrowded (lol practically the entire place is zoned SFH), dirty (the city is failing to address homelessness, a product of the wealth inequality), dangerous (its a relatively low violent crime city, but high property crime), and that jobs are leaving constantly (Amazon is feuding with the city and sending jobs across the lake to Bellevue, but it’s not an issue).
The point is, suburbanites love complaining about the city they are anchored to and dependent on. It justifies the fact they spend 2 hours in a car each day. It reinforces their very way of life.
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I think local perception is changing and have posted multiple times I think that's one of the factors really preventing the city from taking off. I moved here in 2012 from Buffalo for the sake of moving here and it was quite difficult to tell anyone that and often would switch back to the story that I moved here for school. Now I/my wife say it loud and proud that we moved here to live in the city. For work or fun I am on the road at least 100 days per year and honestly 90%+ of the people I meet travelling have a positive view of STL. When I meet tourists in the city nearly all have a great experience. This campaign of changing local perceptions is a great idea and long overdue.
Anecdotally I've seen much more local optimism. I've seen more city related bumper stickers, hats, shirts etc, and STL style house claims they can't keep hats and flags in stock. Overhearing people in FP and neighborhoods about how cool the city is and that they are glad they moved here. Our city has so much history, neighborhoods, parks, and amenities already established that these smaller hype cities just can't touch. I think it's lack of experience with STL and other cities that causes local pessimism. As Seattle native said some older cities/suburbanites will just have the animosity built in and have seen it other places.
I've said it before that hype breeds hype. If we can keep building excitement on top of the momentum our city has I think we're going to make a strong national impression.
Anecdotally I've seen much more local optimism. I've seen more city related bumper stickers, hats, shirts etc, and STL style house claims they can't keep hats and flags in stock. Overhearing people in FP and neighborhoods about how cool the city is and that they are glad they moved here. Our city has so much history, neighborhoods, parks, and amenities already established that these smaller hype cities just can't touch. I think it's lack of experience with STL and other cities that causes local pessimism. As Seattle native said some older cities/suburbanites will just have the animosity built in and have seen it other places.
I've said it before that hype breeds hype. If we can keep building excitement on top of the momentum our city has I think we're going to make a strong national impression.
My (native St. Louisan) brother has lived in Seattle for close to 30 years now. He loves it. But, he's on the verge of moving back to St. Louis, mostly because of the cost of living. He can sell his apartment in Seattle and buy a decent place in St. Louis. Then, using the outrageous profit from the exchange, he'll be able to spend his retirement years traveling the world.
His (non St. Louis) partner is the one pushing for the move. During their visits here, he's come to really love the City, it's cultural institutions, it's neighborhoods, and its architecture. Yes, they are both fully aware of our issues, but they're still eager to make the move.
His (non St. Louis) partner is the one pushing for the move. During their visits here, he's come to really love the City, it's cultural institutions, it's neighborhoods, and its architecture. Yes, they are both fully aware of our issues, but they're still eager to make the move.
Yes, framer is correct- we sell out of STL flags faster than we can restock them. And yes, it’s very apparent that most visitors to St Louis (at least the ones who make it to our shop) LOVE this city, regardless of where they’re from. As we all know, cities like Denver, Nashville and Austin seem to be the hot cities that St. Louisans are moving to lately (Chicago is soooo 10 years ago- these days I meet more Chicagoans who moved to STL than vice versa). It’s funny though- when people from Denver or Nashville or Austin come to our store, they go on and on about how cool St. Louis is, and how they wish their cities could be more like St. Louis! They see all the qualities that most of us on this board see, but without the baggage that hangs over this region like a cloud. The grass is always greener, I suppose.
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St Louis is a fabulous place I love walking around downtown the arch grounds whenever I can I also love how much scenery and nature that surrounds us. I think we’re very fortunate to have 3 great major rivers and many smaller rivers in the area. Also the foot hills of the Ozarks literally at our door step. I honestly don’t think native St Louis residents don’t appreciate what we have and what we can offer each other as natives. We’re our own worse critics that’s the truth however our local media has a great deal to do with that.
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It’s a cool city, it’s kind of been overrun by the tech bro scene and doesn’t really have interesting architecture. The slow drizzle 8 months out of the year gives people depression.framer wrote:My (native St. Louisan) brother has lived in Seattle for close to 30 years now. He loves it. But, he's on the verge of moving back to St. Louis, mostly because of the cost of living. He can sell his apartment in Seattle and buy a decent place in St. Louis. Then, using the outrageous profit from the exchange, he'll be able to spend his retirement years traveling the world.
His (non St. Louis) partner is the one pushing for the move. During their visits here, he's come to really love the City, it's cultural institutions, it's neighborhoods, and its architecture. Yes, they are both fully aware of our issues, but they're still eager to make the move.
If St. Louis and Seattle were equal COL, I might consider moving back but only because of family. This city has WAY more culture and a way cooler feel to it. It’s so much more interesting.
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That's refreshing to hear! I imagine the oppressive Missourah politics is a deal-breaker for a lot of people who might otherwise consider relocating here. That's certainly been the case for a young couple I know who wanted so badly to move to St. Louis from Boston-- they love everything about St. Louis, but had serious misgivings about moving to a state that is so backwards when it comes to education funding, transit funding, abortion access and Medicaid expansion I mean, who can blame them?SeattleNative wrote:It’s a cool city, it’s kind of been overrun by the tech bro scene and doesn’t really have interesting architecture. The slow drizzle 8 months out of the year gives people depression.framer wrote:My (native St. Louisan) brother has lived in Seattle for close to 30 years now. He loves it. But, he's on the verge of moving back to St. Louis, mostly because of the cost of living. He can sell his apartment in Seattle and buy a decent place in St. Louis. Then, using the outrageous profit from the exchange, he'll be able to spend his retirement years traveling the world.
His (non St. Louis) partner is the one pushing for the move. During their visits here, he's come to really love the City, it's cultural institutions, it's neighborhoods, and its architecture. Yes, they are both fully aware of our issues, but they're still eager to make the move.
If St. Louis and Seattle were equal COL, I might consider moving back but only because of family. This city has WAY more culture and a way cooler feel to it. It’s so much more interesting.
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Which would help St. Louis more? A city-county merger OR a secession from the state of Missouri? Both would be fine with me
^ While this isn't really the thread for this type of discussion, obviously a City-County merger. I assume you're being a bit tongue and cheek with regards to secession, but that's a ridiculous idea. And while Illinois may be a blue state (in a near constant state of financial dysfunction), Southern Illinois is going to be A LOT more like outstate Missouri culturally, economically, and politically.
Lately, I've been noticing quite a few City of St. Louis flags flying outside of homes located in the County. Refreshingly ironic.
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^ Can you blame them, though? STL has got to have one of the most well-designed and coolest city flags in the world (and a lot of polls and surveys seem to confirm that). It basically is a textbook example of good flag design, and I'm incredibly grateful to have it and would proudly display it anywhere in the world.
Still need to buy me an STL flag and a pole to hang it on. A t-shirt too, I think.
Still need to buy me an STL flag and a pole to hang it on. A t-shirt too, I think.
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I can't think of many other city flags people get as tattoos. But I've seen ours serving that purpose. More than once, even. Yes, it's a fantastic flag. Best flag in the country, if you asked me. 
Agreed. As flawless as our city flag is, I’ve heard it’s been mistaken as the Confederate flag on occasion, and I’ve been asked numerous times over the years why we sell Boy Scout flags. 
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or just showing their support for merger...framer wrote: Lately, I've been noticing quite a few City of St. Louis flags flying outside of homes located in the County. Refreshingly ironic.
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A few episodes ago on The West Wing Weekly podcast (http://thewestwingweekly.com/episodes/607) , they were talking to a flag expert about well designed flags & he used STL as an example. I believe he even said it's one of his favorites, as well.Trololzilla wrote: ^ Can you blame them, though? STL has got to have one of the most well-designed and coolest city flags in the world (and a lot of polls and surveys seem to confirm that). It basically is a textbook example of good flag design, and I'm incredibly grateful to have it and would proudly display it anywhere in the world.
Still need to buy me an STL flag and a pole to hang it on. A t-shirt too, I think.
They should be flying this one instead: https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us-mo-sl).gif
St. Louis city flag is regularly featured in top10 rankings of best city flag designs.
St. Louis city flag is regularly featured in top10 rankings of best city flag designs.
^ Speaking of our flag, Charlie Marlow and the guys on TMA were talking about a picture of Bishop and Maroon with the STL flag in the background and there was a lot of national attention focused upon the STL angle with Maroon scoring the winning goal. ESPN had a graphic about Maroon being the first hometown player to score a game 7 winning goal since the late 60's. Here's the pic:
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Speaking of game 7, did you hear about the Blues fan with the perfect response to a certain female Dallas fan in game 6?
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/st-lou ... l-you-know
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/st-lou ... l-you-know
That is beautiful.pdm_ad wrote: ^ Speaking of our flag, Charlie Marlow and the guys on TMA were talking about a picture of Bishop and Maroon with the STL flag in the background and there was a lot of national attention focused upon the STL angle with Maroon scoring the winning goal. ESPN had a graphic about Maroon being the first hometown player to score a game 7 winning goal since the late 60's. Here's the pic:
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This isn't a St. Louis focused article, but does mention the Monarch Butterfly Project started in 2014 in great detail.
https://www.citylab.com/environment/201 ... ks/588922/
https://www.citylab.com/environment/201 ... ks/588922/
Dallas Newspaper Article:
St. Louis a gateway to opera, gardens and fine architecture
https://www.dallasnews.com/life/travel/ ... chitecture
St. Louis a gateway to opera, gardens and fine architecture
https://www.dallasnews.com/life/travel/ ... chitecture
^ Nice! It's always nice seeing the usual national or regional piece about the Arch and the Cardinals, or the food, or the Zoo. But St. Louis' architecture is what really sets her apart from other cities. It's nice to see that recognized for a change.
I didn't really know where to put this, but I thought it was pretty interesting, there isn't really a "Hospitals Thread" haha.
This is more Missouri focused than anything.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... s_headline
Missouri hospitals support over 310,000 jobs and more than $27 billion in GSP.
In St. Louis alone there are over 116,000 hospital related jobs.
Kansas City clocks in at 59,000.
The two cities account for 39% of the state's hospitals and 52% of its population.
This is more Missouri focused than anything.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... s_headline
Missouri hospitals support over 310,000 jobs and more than $27 billion in GSP.
In St. Louis alone there are over 116,000 hospital related jobs.
Kansas City clocks in at 59,000.
The two cities account for 39% of the state's hospitals and 52% of its population.