urbanSTL

I understand why some are frustrated with downtown however i look at it like this. Downtown today versus downtown in the 90s is much more vibrant.Yes downtown has continued to lose jobs but thats nothing unique from other downtowns in this country.The plus is that downtown has more people living there than ever before which is a great positive.I do believe downtown as far as big developments and jobs will come whether they are from local expanding companies to rapidly growing start ups to out of town companies looking to relocate. Everything goes in cycles and thats true everywhere..I for one value you the smaller projects rather than the bigger projects cause those provide the best infill and provide a key component to a vibrant neighborhood. The bigger projects are always going to come in with a splash however that splash seemingly doesn't last long when some one had a different visual on how that project should be. Yes downtown is missing a few key retail stores but eventually the retail will start to be addressed and all companies aren't just going to plop a store down just for the sake of any of us. Being profitable is important. Downtown needs more residents just as it needs more jobs. Downtown needs more new construction just as it needs more rehabs of older buildings. Theres a heck of a lot of great projects going on in Downtown Grand Center CWE and Clayton. Too be honest most of the city is seeing a very progressive resurgence it may not be the pace we all want it to be but at least theres real interest in city living not just with Millennials but Boomers are actually interested in city living as well.. The city has seen 60 years decline which no other city has seen other than possibly Detroit. St.Louis has come a very long ways and as mentioned the big projects get all the hoopla but its the smaller projects that make a city what it is and St.Louis is doing the right thing by focusing on all areas of the City and not just downtown... If you want to look at a example look at all of Washington Ave. Yes theres still lots of work that needs to be done downtown but things will proceed and get better even if the street car won't get built till 2020 6 yrs will be here before you know it and StLouis could look dramatically different with possibly a couple of new BVP high rises a beautiful waterfront a brand new Drury Apartment building and also possibly a newly renovated Millennium Hotel or completely rebuilt hotel brand new football stadium construction. The Central Business district will be buzzing and we could have a few key retail options downtown in that 6 yr span... Stay positive and upbeat things are happening here and for the better ... Although i live in the county i soon hope to eventually move back into the city and yes i work downtown play downtown and support downtown as much as i can...

What do you suggest happen? How can us forum members do something about it?

You can join the Downtown Neighborhood Association. You don't have to be a resident. It's free and I would suggest signing up. We are trying to gather enough members to have a strong powerful voice. Let me know if you have questions.

The problem with downtown is the residents have no voice. People move is people move out. Some don't stay long and don't bother getting involved. We are trying to change that. We have monthly happy hours and will start conducting meeting.

http://saintlouisdna.wordpress.com

You have every right to disagree however those occupied store fronts are much more vibrant than seeing Washington Ave back what it was in the 90s. Yes jobs were plentiful but residents weren't .. We lost Macy's At&t and other companies However how many of those workers were likely to patronize downtown in the 90s than what they are likely to do today? Theres more going on downtown now than in the 90s despite losing the jobs. Yes we can blame our leaders for the lack of not replacing them but sooner than later downtown going to win out .. I can look at the past and b**** and moan and reminisce about those companies leaving however theres little we can do and people who runs those companies are going to do whats best for the company.. I do believe our elected leaders need to be more active and aggressive about getting jobs downtown but it seems like they are more content with start ups..

Theres ups and downs! Right now we're seeing ups in residential and downs in job creation ...

downtown2007 wrote:You can join the Downtown Neighborhood Association. You don't have to be a resident. It's free and I would suggest signing up. We are trying to gather enough members to have a strong powerful voice. Let me know if you have questions.

The problem with downtown is the residents have no voice. People move is people move out. Some don't stay long and don't bother getting involved. We are trying to change that. We have monthly happy hours and will start conducting meeting.

http://saintlouisdna.wordpress.com

Metropolis org still kick'n down there? They did some good things back in the day (10yrs ago)

Not that I am aware of.

downtown2007,
I'm planning on attending the next DNA Happy Hour on May 28th. I recently bought a unit at the Marquette and I'm looking to get involved. Do many people from this Forum attend the events?

There have been 3 so far. I have been to the first 2 and it was a good turnout. Couldn't make the last one.

downtown2007 wrote: So if you work, live, or care at all about downtown please sign up.

I'm going to sign up simply bc I care, but out of curiosity, what do you consider the boundaries referenced on the application to be? I work at the Art of Living building just south of Purina. Technically, that's not downtown—it's Lasalle Park—but it's close.

jstriebel wrote:

downtown2007 wrote: So if you work, live, or care at all about downtown please sign up.

I'm going to sign up simply bc I care, but out of curiosity, what do you consider the boundaries referenced on the application to be? I work at the Art of Living building just south of Purina. Technically, that's not downtown—it's Lasalle Park—but it's close.

I just read back through the by laws posted on the site. I think you either have to be a student, own property, or work within the boundaries of downtown. You can email them to double check but that's how I read it.

Ah. Looks like your right. Oh well.

LIke it or not our downtown would probably also be like this.

http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/kansas- ... id=4168232

If people are willing to live in the suburbs and commute DT for work, then people will be willing to live DT and commute somewhere else for work. Most of my friends who are moving DT work in West County.

People either have short memories or no memories.

I work downtown and live in the city. I have worked downtown for 20 years straight.

Downtown today compared to downtown in the early 90s is night and day.

In the early 90s, downtown was dead. Sidewalks were empty. Storefronts were empty. Restaurant options were few. Loft buildings were empty. The revitalization of Washington Ave was a glimmer in Barbara Geisman's eye.

Yes, there were people working in office buildings, but those folks came downtown no different than if they were going to work in Earth City. Arrive at 7:55 am. Work til 5:00. Gone by 5:15. Done.

Today the place is packed with people, especially east of Tucker.

The sidewalks on Olive, especially around Culinaria, are always busy. There are street performers.

There is traffic. There are delivery trucks. There are places to go and things to do. There are people eating at outdoor tables and there is a daily presence of people walking their dogs and more and more parents pushing baby strollers.

About the only places to go in the early 90s were the Old Court House and the Mercantile Library. Today there are places all over.

The thing to remember is that back in the early 90s, downtown St. Louis could really have died; after all, it had been basically dead for about 25 years. Instead we have seen billions in new investment, thousands of people have moved downtown, and more are on the way. Credit a lot of people working together for a long time with a shared vision of a saved downtown for that happening.

Oh, and you know what? Larry Rice was here then and he is here now. Whatever.

Frankly, I wish more of the city were seeing the kinds of exciting improvements that downtown is.

Northside Neighbor wrote:People either have short memories or no memories.

I work downtown and live in the city. I have worked downtown for 20 years straight.

Downtown today compared to downtown in the early 90s is night and day.

In the early 90s, downtown was dead. Sidewalks were empty. Storefronts were empty. Restaurant options were few. Loft buildings were empty. The revitalization of Washington Ave was a glimmer in Barbara Geisman's eye.

Yes, there were people working in office buildings, but those folks came downtown no different than if they were going to work in Earth City. Arrive at 7:55 am. Work til 5:00. Gone by 5:15. Done.

Today the place is packed with people, especially east of Tucker.

The sidewalks on Olive, especially around Culinaria, are always busy. There are street performers.

There is traffic. There are delivery trucks. There are places to go and things to do. There are people eating at outdoor tables and there is a daily presence of people walking their dogs and more and more parents pushing baby strollers.

About the only places to go in the early 90s were the Old Court House and the Mercantile Library. Today there are places all over.

The thing to remember is that back in the early 90s, downtown St. Louis could really have died; after all, it had been basically dead for about 25 years. Instead we have seen billions in new investment, thousands of people have moved downtown, and more are on the way. Credit a lot of people working together for a long time with a shared vision of a saved downtown for that happening.

Oh, and you know what? Larry Rice was here then and he is here now. Whatever.

Frankly, I wish more of the city were seeing the kinds of exciting improvements that downtown is.

I disagree. Downtown is different not better or worse. One condo building opens, we loose 1000 jobs. One restaurant opens, we loose retail, etc, etc. There are some gains. We have switched daytime trafffic for nighttime. But i get sick answering the quetion "Why do you live down there". Most people view downtown as a place to drink and not really a welcoming place to live.

And this crap doesnt help me sell downtown living to my friends. Another shooting downtown

http://www.kmov.com/news/crime/2-injure ... 06851.html

Really? You don't think downtown is better now that in the early 90?? Seriously?!?

Were you around in the early 90s? The early 2000s?

What's your frame of reference?

Here's a data point for you:

In the early 90s, you could buy a loft building on Washington Avenue for $.50 per square foot. What that means is that you could have purchased a 100,000 square foot, 10 story building, for $50,000.

Today those buildings sell in the millions.

So you might not think downtown is better, but lots of other people do.

Northside Neighbor wrote:Really? You don't think downtown is better now that in the early 90?? Seriously?!?

Were you around in the early 90s? The early 2000s?

Yes i was around and im sorry thats just how i feel. Daytimes are dead(Mush more evident in the past 2-3years) if there isnt a sporting event or convention. Look at the posts, alot of people say the same. Even Washington is just mildly busy if there isnt a convention or game. Is Washington better than before, absolutely. But other areas are down, like the landing, area around macys, etc. I wish i was trolling but im not. If you would have asked me 3 years ago if it was better i would say yes but lately something feels off.

Do you work downtown? Are you downtown every day?

Daytimes are not "dead".

LL is about the same as it has always been.

While the Macy's building is empty, the area around Mx has new life.

Downtown has an operating movie theater. When was the last time you could say that?

Another huge change is what's happening between Jefferson and Grand along Locust, Washington, and Olive. Those areas were really dead. Dead dead. Now they are jumping. You could say the area between downtown and Midtown is "filling in". That is huge progress.