It would also help if the Illinois side could find a way to start growing also. If only that it will help pull the population center more towards downtown. When I drive over there sometimes is amazes me we have large swaths of open land/farmland fairly close to our downtown. Imagine if some of that could be built out. Now I know some of it is in a floodplain and probably shouldn't be developed but for people wanting more space you can get it there and be 10-15 minutes from downtown instead of 45-60+ minutes from downtown way out west. So I have always wondered what it would take to get more momentum on the Illinois side.soulardx wrote: ↑2:22 PM - TodayTo reiterate my fundamental point that got this latest cat right rolling, I think many of the hardcore city folks need to evolve their thinking for the betterment of the region.
I was a hardcore city guy from a for a long time. (I've been posting on this forum so long, I'm sure you can find posts in which I bemoan Clayton for poaching....) I still live in the city, still own property in the city, run my business from the city, spend nearly all my $ in the city. I'm city through and through,
But, STL as a place will live and die with *regional* success not *just* DT STL success.
In 2026 America, urbanists are distinct minority. The vast majority of Americans want big yards and big houses and a SUV. The vast majority of Americans do not want to live in Manhattan. They want a place like suburban/exurban Dallas or Houston or Tampa. Population growth numbers prove it.
As such, if we are true urbanists and not just STL CITY ONLY urbanists, DT Clayton (a place legitimately in our urban core; not in Wentzville) needs to be seen a regional asset. Something that makes STL - as a region - more attractive to businesses who want to stay/move to the region.
All it would take to get the ball rolling IMO is some investment into DTESTL