It's lamentable, but what's gone is gone. I'd leave it park land for now and focus redevelopment efforts on Laclede's Landings, Cupples Station, Downtown West, the remaining big buildings in the heart of downtown (Arcade, Chemical, Alverne, Jefferson Arms), and the north ends of Lafayette Square & Soulard.

I do love the Arch, but I wish the grounds were significantly smaller with everything north of Pine and south of Walnut preserved, including the street grid. At the very least I'd like to see the Old Rock House rebuilt along with some of the elevated warehouses along Warf St. (not directly in front of the Arch, of course).

mill204 wrote:^ The southernmost buildings in Chouteau's Landing closest to the MacArthur Bridge may need to go sometime in the near future.

How come?

This has been posted before. Here are some great pics of what was buldozed to make room for the arch.

**Warning*** - grab a box of tissues before viewing.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=162521

^Absolutely heartbreaking.

I don't know if this exists already, but a compilation thread in the photo section of the lost riverfront (as well as everything lost, in general) would be a great idea if it doesn't already exist.

Powerball fantasy - Replicate many of these buildings as closely as possible in other areas of the city/downtown where infill is needed. I know it misses the feel they would all have together in their original context, but many are just too cool not to try.

Wow. Never really though about the size of those buildings that were demolished.

moorlander wrote:This has been posted before. Here are some great pics of what was buldozed to make room for the arch.

**Warning*** - grab a box of tissues before viewing.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=162521

As I think I've stated before, the Saint Louis riverfront had the largest collection of cast-iron architecture in the USA rivaled only by Soho in New York City.

An unspeakable tragedy.

Is it crazy to suggest turning the Arch park into a more functional park? Add some tennis courts, handball connect some bike trails, to a revamped River Trail, etc.

I was just thinking about some ideas I've had to rejuvenate the St. Louis Riverfront (see: The Mississippi 1.2 Mile Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3) and decided to try out Google's Sketch Up app to give some life to 'em. What do you think?



I'd love to see the floodwall at Chouteau's Landing activated with something like this. The buildings within -- presumably home to restaurants, music venues, antique stores, apartments, etc. -- do something that the rest of the City doesn't...actually interact with the river.

Those back patios would offer great lookout points. An antique dealer could set up a selection of items at the base of the iron steps and sell from the street. A trolley (here's hoping!) arriving either from Trailhead Park or A-B can drop people off and pick people up, and the smells and sounds from the businesses waft out onto Wharf Street, encouraging people to explore the riverfront past the Archgrounds.

Kevin B wrote:I was just thinking about some ideas I've had to rejuvenate the St. Louis Riverfront (see: The Mississippi 1.2 Mile Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3) and decided to try out Google's Sketch Up app to give some life to 'em. What do you think?



I'd love to see the floodwall at Chouteau's Landing activated with something like this. The buildings within -- presumably home to restaurants, music venues, antique stores, apartments, etc. -- do something that the rest of the City doesn't...actually interact with the river.

Those back patios would offer great lookout points. An antique dealer could set up a selection of items at the base of the iron steps and sell from the street. A trolley (here's hoping!) arriving either from Trailhead Park or A-B can drop people off and pick people up, and the smells and sounds from the businesses waft out onto Wharf Street, encouraging people to explore the riverfront past the Archgrounds.

Great idea! I could see something like the Riverfront Line in New Orleans, connect it with Metrolink at Laclede's Landing

And not to be a big downer but without an accessible route (American with Disabilities Act laws) that development would be highly limited.

Not including the fact that the US Army Corps of Engineers is EXTREMLY strict with what happens with their levees and flood wall protection systems, i.e. the idea would go no where...

But I like the creativity - keep up the good work (if that's any consolation).

^ Ahh, but I considered that too, geoff. From my "The Mississippi (1.2) Mile -- Part 1" post:

Behind the flood walls, between Wharf St. and 1st St., the buildings' main entrances will be on a new, well-tended street protected from the waters and always accessible, even if Wharf St. is submerged. Honestly, it'd be just as intriguing if it were, as the back decks would then be suspended over the river!

There's more poorly done visuals about this idea in my "Clang! Clang! Clang! Goes The Trolley" post, showing that the "back porches" hanging over the walls is only a small part (but a cool part!) of the project. Within the flood wall, you have a central street and a group of buildings at which anybody can get in and experience it at ground level - including those with disability/accessibility needs.