Randy wrote:^ Kansas City deserves it. While it is not up there with some of the others on the list, they are taking local responsibility for development and really accelerating the growth in their central corridor beyond what STL is doing.
Perhaps I'm not fully understanding, but I don't know if I agree with the statement, "accelerating the growth in their central corridor beyond what STL is doing" completely. To me, it is mostly an exaggeration.
While there are great projects happening in KC's Central Corridor, St. Louis' Central Corridor is booming unlike anything in recent memory. Both cities Central Corridors are only doing things differently.
KC's streetcar, despite some issues, is turning out to be a great asset for the city. KC's streetcar, at this point, does seem to have a "wired" advantage in that I don't think The Loop trolley followed through on its plans to lay fiber along the tracks. Now that's a bummer. It's sad, too, that Metro won't do more to put WiFi on buses and trains fearing cost.
Yes, St. Louis is such a laggard in this regard. Hell, CTA in Chicago has 4G service.
But I don't think this deficiency necessarily "accelerates" KC's central corridor "growth" beyond St. Louis'.
Despite not having this great amenity, there is nothing in KC's Central Corridor like CORTEX, which is booming along with it's anchor institutions - St. Louis University and WU/BJC. Not to mention all of the new construction in relation to the boom at CORTEX - despite not having such amenities..........yet.
Now, I do believe St. Louis' leadership must do better in these types of competitions - as well as forming partnerships with tech firms - especially local ones. Such is the case with KC's Smart Cities Initiative. It partnered with Sprint and Cisco to have a wired street car line, which is awesome.
In KC, it was a $15.7 million public-private partnership. St. Louis could do this..........easily. There just have to be the LEADERSHIP pushing for it. WWT is a major partner with Cisco. I don't know all of the ins-and-outs, but why can't the city and CORTEX or Joe Edwards approach WWT to partner with Cisco to do such a project along the Delmar Loop or in CORTEX?
With that said, downtown St. Louis is loaded with fiber and has been for years, which is why so many tech firms have chosen to locate or stay downtown once leaving downtown accelerators. St. Louis doesn't "hype" it enough, in my opinion, which is a testament to its lethargic leadership.
Anyway, when you add the Delmar Loop Trolley and the forthcoming CORTEX MetroLink station, St. Louis' Central Corridor is doing pretty damn good. Also, when you consider Grand Center, the Locust Business District, Downtown West and the CWE - large scale and small - billions are being spent - including projects at Forest Park.
St. Louis just has some loose ends to tie up, but the infrastructure AND growth within the Central Corridor are there. No doubt.
