urbanSTL

Require public art as a stipulation of all construction, new or rehab. It would be a ratio of a project's development budget. For example, for every $10K, the owner must contribute $100 to a public art enhancement fund.

I thought the idea was to encourage people to build and invest downtown. I don't think levying new taxes is a good way to do that.



Especially for people who aren't fans of art. Especially if it's weird postmodern crap. Which seems to be everywhere.

Matt wrote:Require public art as a stipulation of all construction, new or rehab. It would be a ratio of a project's development budget. For example, for every $10K, the owner must contribute $100 to a public art enhancement fund.

Don't forget, the Filippine Garden is a part of the General Services Administration's "Art in Architecture" Program and was designed by Valerie Jaudon. The GSA program commissions fine art for Federal buildings nationwide. You may get something like this again...

Chouteaus Landing.



The Landing South, a more family friendly Landing area within walking distance of the new ballpark.

I think it would be cool to have a quad-type area somewhere near the loft district. Close off a few streets, add some grassy areas with park benches, water fountains, etc.



In one post I read that someone didn't like the parking meter system. The City of Clayton just came out with "meter keys" where you put $20 on them at a time. All you have to do is put them in the keyhole on the parking meters around Clayton and it deducts the amount from your account. For someone like me that rarely has cash, including coins, this is a great solution.



As far as enterainment goes, it would be great to have a huge block party on Washington Ave next summer when there will be a large majority of the buildings ready for move-in. Close off the streets, set up stages, and have one big party.



I have a feeling that with the large number of people moving into downtown, particularly the WA loft district that we will see a lot of improvements in the next few years.

As far as enterainment goes, it would be great to have a huge block party on Washington Ave next summer when there will be a large majority of the buildings ready for move-in. Close off the streets, set up stages, and have one big party.

They did this either last year or in 2003. There were some really good bands if I remember (I think they had Soul Asylum?) No word on if they're doing it this year again.

St.Louis UAB alumni wrote:I think it would be cool to have a quad-type area somewhere near the loft district. Close off a few streets, add some grassy areas with park benches, water fountains, etc.

There are already plazas and parks downtown. Near the loft district, there are parks on both sides of the library. The gateway mall is a big one. And correct me if I am wrong, they are including a plaza in the Old Post Office district. It is nice to have areas for neighbors to meet & greet and have an occasional party, I don't think there will be reason to close off streets and create new plazas. As they build more housing, the existing parks are more likely to be used as intended.

Not creative at all, but more common sense. Parking on all streets downtown, and the city for that matter. There is no reason for no parking zones except where they are needed on skinney streets, and for establishing a line of site to prevent accidents.

I was just thinking the other day how cool it would be to bring back the flags and banners along Washington. Several new signs and banners have recently gone up, and of course the Nickerbocker sign is a knock-out at nighttime.



Does anyone have any pictures showing Washington Av. at the turn of the century? The street was awash in flags! Many of the old flagpoles are still there, they just need to be used.



I love the idea of using the General American building as a modern art museum. I always thought the St. Louis Art Museum should have an outpost downtown. Of course, this building was just sold, so I doubt any kind of museum will happen there.



The large-scale flower planting project this summer has had a great impact. I love it, and for very little cost, too. I hope whoever planned/sponsored the program will stick to it, so that we can enjoy beautiful, dense flower plantings every year. Also, the window boxes in some of the buildings along Washington look great. I'd like to see more of that.

I've always been a big fan of signs and flags. I already miss the AppleBottoms banner on the side of the building at Wash Ave and Tucker. I think the advertising on the sides of buildings needs to be brought back. Also, like Framer said, more neon, more flags. I'd like to see Buildings like the Dorsa Lofts use neon for their sign.



And this has probably been mentioned, but how about an urban mecca downtown, something similar to Times Square, only on a smaller scale. Just a corner or something where there is massive advertising, giant tvs w/ the news and stock info running constantly.

I was thinking of something a little closer to the center of the business district, the new stadium is on the edges...plus, when are they gonna release the new renderings for their village plans?

Old Post Office Square be replacing that one or two story building north of the Chemical Building, which the northeast corner of the OPO.

That building at one time was quite a but taller but had the upper floors removed. Does anyone have a picture of it taken before the butchering was done?

trent wrote:


And this has probably been mentioned, but how about an urban mecca downtown, something similar to Times Square, only on a smaller scale. Just a corner or something where there is massive advertising, giant tvs w/ the news and stock info running constantly.

Trent, this is an interesting idea. They could do it on a corner or block where there are too many parking garages creating dead space. For instance, Olive street behind the Keiner garages. Or maybe on the Keiner garages facing Gateway Mall. It would really add some color and make it more interesting to visit the retail on the first floor of the garages. It would be a good place to show flashy pics of attractions that are not downtown, too. Shows at the Fox, etc. You are on to something!

I am not sure if everyone is referring to the Columbia building or not. It is the building on the corner where Hamilton Jewelers is located.



Here is a link to Built St. Louis with both before and after shots...

http://builtstlouis.net/opos/columbia.html

^ Yikes! Why don't they put that building out of its misery!!!!!!

At this point, nothing taller than the building that houses Hamilton could replace it since the developer of the loft building next door cut out openings for windows in the north-facing wall - I hate it when that happens. The damn Columbia building should have never been truncated in the first place.

Man, that's just sad. What a stupid looking buiding it is now.



Expat, I like you ideas for the location. Use up space that is just dead space anyway. I think a location that is in the area of SBC, Met, and some other main businesses DT would be perfect. Make it a sort of business center attraction, but cool enough that it would bring in outsiders (residents, etc).

Expat wrote:

trent wrote:


And this has probably been mentioned, but how about an urban mecca downtown, something similar to Times Square, only on a smaller scale. Just a corner or something where there is massive advertising, giant tvs w/ the news and stock info running constantly.

Trent, this is an interesting idea. They could do it on a corner or block where there are too many parking garages creating dead space. For instance, Olive street behind the Keiner garages. Or maybe on the Keiner garages facing Gateway Mall. It would really add some color and make it more interesting to visit the retail on the first floor of the garages. It would be a good place to show flashy pics of attractions that are not downtown, too. Shows at the Fox, etc. You are on to something!

^Trent, I am bringing this down so people can see what you are talking about. I think your idea is a really good one and would brighten some of those ugly garages and dead spaces.

I can't remember exactly, but I think my idea involved the elimination of the top level of the Arch Grounds parking lot, and the creation of a small collection of restaurants or cafes. I think it should be directly connected to the arch grounds, so people can walk straight over and get a bite to eat. Keep the stairwells, so they can exit down towards their car.



I also had some ideas about connecting that to the Eads Bridge, but I don't think that is plausible at all.

Not at all trent. In fact i have had the same idea as part of the riverfront development. You can add parking for the landing and the arch by simply removing the warf and extending the arch grounds all the way out and putting parking underneath. At the end of the expanded grounds where it would cross under the eads bridge, your shops area could be expanded so that as a whole the shops and resturants would make an L shape in the North east corner of the arch grounds extending over and under the bridge. I think it could be a really beautiful spot, with tons of parking and even better imgaine the stair cases and whatnot that could be build from the landing up onto the arch grounds right underneath the Eads bridge.

I think we're on the same page.



And it's nice to see the thread back up!