Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to spend about an hour just wandering around Washington Ave in the middle of the afternoon. All I can say is WOW...it is an entirely different place than it was even two years ago. It is now a real neighborhood, tried and true. There were several stores open and busy that I had never even heard of. I got a sense that it was almost like Tribeca in NYC, similar feel. Seriously, I knew a lot was happening down there, but what it was becoming just wasn't really my scene. But I was blown away, for real. The street looks and feels great, and the new Skyhouse tower is going to be another huge boon to the corridor.



I used to hang out on Washington taking pictures in the mid-'90s back when it was a garment/ho district and I kind of miss that old school desolation, although I must say the street today is not nearly as sanitized as I'd imagined it would be by now. I was pleased to see plenty of people still roaming around who looked like they haven't bought a single item of clothing since 1979.



Just thought I'd share.

Jive,



You should break out a few of those old pictures, and do some before and afters. That would be fun.

TheWayoftheArch wrote:And you should stop stealing Tribeca references from the Post Dispatch.



Washington not you scene?



You strictly a West Ender or what?

Yes, I stole the Tribeca reference from the P-D, but based on my observations, it's very accurate.



I was never into the whole Lucas Park/Rue-13, yuppie clubby scene that was the essence of Wash Ave two years ago. But now there is much, much more to enjoy for all tastes.

^I think you took care of that. I see absolutely nothing that compares the two places.

Agent009 wrote:It felt like New Town in St Charles, but worse... Totally fake.

a) New Town St. Charles isn't fake?

b) Nothing is worse than New Town St. Charles, you are quite obviously exaggerating.



btw, what felt like New Town-- the Dubliner or the street?

Agent009 wrote:People who consider that city living, have obviously not lived in a true urban situation.

lol, this cracks me up. I'll agree that there are certain elements about Wash Ave that are a bit sterile for my tastes, but I was completely impressed with the diversity of amenities that has developed over the past year. MacroSun is there now, as are several cool spots that are not found elsewhere in the city. To each his own.

How many homeless pushing shopping carts did you see in New Town?



How many bars and restaurants did you see in New Town?



How many people of color did you see in New Town?



How much public transportation did you see in New Town?



How many tourists did you see in New Town?



How many people did you see cruising up and down the main drags on New Town?



How many hundred year old buildings did you see in New Town?



Just because some of the streets in New Town and Washington Ave are paved with brick, it doesn't mean they're the same.

Agent009, I'd love to see how you answer dweebe's questions. Your assertions are beyond asanine.



Washington Avenue may not be your speed, but you sound absolutely ridiculous.

Arch City wrote:Agent09 is baiting you guys. Hello?!?!

You're right, I'm starting to smell troll.

Agent009 wrote:I wonder how much time the New Town bashers have actually spent down there?....

I've been out to New Town 9 or 10 times: a friend got a job at the Boeing missle plant and his wife got a associate principal job in the Fort Zumwalt district so they moved to New Town. Both hated moving from Maplewood but couldn't pass the big bumps in salary.



How many times you been out there?

Not only is Agent 09 baiting, he is giving the city boosters a taste of their own medicine. The city boosters are always showing up on the New Town thread and throwing down accusations & condemnations of the worst kind. I guess the bait can be thrown in both directions.



Anyway, I really enjoyed Jive's take on Washington Avenue. I respect Jive's opinion and feel that his stamp of approval is meaningful. Something big has happened in STL. Downtown is now a residential real estate market. A market that didn't exist before. It could slow down, it could speed up, but its existence is real and it won't go away.

People who consider that city living, have obviously not lived in a true urban situation.

[Grover's world imploding] NOT URBAN? I thought I was urban - thought I was livin' the urban lyfe style! AM I A FRAUD? Where do I move to experience urban? Shangai? Wait, no, that's so 1950's. Khartoum? Maybe. Istanbul? I'm so confused! [/Grover's world imploding]

Im not going to answer a barrage of questions, like that, simmer down dude... I will try to clarify what im saying.

Do you have something to say?



I guess what i was trying to say is that New town is selling a fake nostalgia, and washington avenue is no dif...



It is fake, and selling a product that really isnt even there... YET. Just like in NT.



The loft area seems to me like a high density, suburb, one that you have to either get in your car, or use public transport to do everyday things, just as if you lived in a subdivision in ofallon.



Im sorry to say it, but IMO, living on wash ave would be like living at the GAP, just like in new town. Obviously with homeless people, old buildings, and diversity, as dweebe was so nice to point out for us.

I gotta say, I'm not a fan of trolling.

Agent009 wrote:and to answer the others...



I live 5 minutes from NT. I have watched them build the entire thing.

I have a friend who bought the 4th house in new town, i used to fly my RC planes from the main street when it was the only thing there.

I would never live there, we call it spooky town.



And yes, i am kinda trolling...

But after all i here about the loft district this and loft district that, blah blah downtown living, in reality...

Its just another plastic development.

It's almost flattering that you expect so much from Washington Avenue in such a short amount of time. It wasn't that long ago that there wasn't $hit along Washington but vacant or underused buildings, a lot of wasted storefronts, a spattering of clubs (I'll admit the club scene there used to be better). Today there are plenty of restaurants, some interesting boutiques, hip furniture stores, coffee shops and, most importantly, RESIDENTS-- all of which I personally never envisioned 10 years ago. The street does not feel deserted like it used to. Sure, there's definitely room for more daily life amenities-- I'd like to see markets, dry cleaners, book stores, a pharmacy, record stores, etc. Based on how far it's come in the past year or two, it doesn't look like that stuff is far off.



And seriously, Agent009-- what would make Washington Avenue less "New Townish" in your opinion? Would you rather see abandoned buildings than what you see today? And what's stopping you from being part of its future direction? I wonder if you're this critical about emerging urban neighborhoods in other cities or just St. Louis.