Fifth anniversary of Urban Review STL
Today is the fifth anniversary of this blog. Five years! My life has changed dramatically over those five years, partly because of the blog.
On a personal note my great-nephew was born just after I started the blog, an early post included a pic of him just hours old. Both of my parents have passed. I went car-free, lived through a stoke, bought a car, started grad school, and I moved downtown. In 2005 I ran for the Board of Aldermen, and lost. I have connected with so many great people over the years. Hopefully I’ve made a difference. Over these five years many more blogs have come on the scene locally. I love it. The more ideas and viewpoints being shared, discussed and debated the better off we are as a city and region.
Early on I still had thoughts about moving elsewhere. But I can tell you today that I will live the rest of my life in St. Louis. That means this blog will continue to evolve over the next five years and coming decades. Part of that evolution will be a new look that I hope to debut after the first of 2010. As more contributors join me I hope to make the author of each piece more obvious.
After I posted that first piece five years ago I sent an email to some friends — my first readers. This year over 80,000 have visited this blog. The numbers are staggering, I’m honored. When I started I had no plan for what I wanted to accomplish with the blog other than focus my attention at the moment.
In December I will graduate from Saint Louis University with a Master in Arts in Urban Planning & Real Estate Development (UPRED). Earlier this week I decided to leave real estate sales so I can focus on consulting to developers and municipalities. With a large number of municipalities within a 2-hour drive of St. Louis I hope to be busy.
Thank you for participating in my journey: adding your comments, giving me feedback, putting up with my rants and mistakes.
– Steve Patterson
that sounds awesome Steve, I would love to learn a lot more about real estate sales & marketing. I’d be very interested in doing that… any good tips?
Congratulations, Steve! Five years is a lifetime for a blogger :).
I read your blog quite often, but seldom post replies as Urban Planning is way out of my range of knowledge/experience. You and the others who post on this blog have provided me with quite an education of the perils of urban sprawl and the need for revitalization of our city. As a resident of the county (former city resident from 1973-1987) I visit the city for dining, arts, sports, etc. and want to see it thrive in the future.
I also appreciate the guest bloggers as they present alternative views and information.
Best of luck to you in your new career endeavor and keep the blog going for another 5 years!
Regards,
Bob
I don’t just like your blog, I appreciate it greatly. Thanks for the work you do. I moved to STL this year, and you helped me to have a better understanding of what is happening in our city.
Steve-
I’ve greatly appreciated your blog these past 5 years and wish you continued success!
Happy Anniversary-
you provide a great service to the city, and I hope you continue to flourish and grow in influence.
Samuel Voth Schrag
Saint Louis Mennonite Fellowship
CONGRATS Steve! Thanks for the blog and your work.
Happy Anniversary! What a valuable portal for interesting, necessary and refreshing discussions!
Steve, your commitment is inspiring. Keep up the great work—and the great attitude.
xo
Margie
To slp. I really appreciate your determination in your endeavor in life concerning your choice of occupational venues. Their is nothing more exhilerating than watching a ‘brick and mortar’ revolution in a city. It’s fascinating to conceptualize projects knowing that they are the particular ones to revitalize an area of a city. If I were you, I wouldn’t stop at pursuing the business side of the coin, but ‘PUBLIC POLICY’. Speaking for myself, when I go after a project or advice on the issue at hand-I NEVER STOP, EVER. I KEEP GOING. When a person gets down, that doesn’t mean that the concept is down. Tomorrow gets here and pick it up again. Persist, pal. Don’t ever stop. EVER. STICK IT TO THEM-AND YOU KNOW WHO I MEAN. THIS CITY IS ‘SORE LACKING’ IN VISIONARY THINKERS AND CONCEPT THEMES THAT WORK. These group of people, especially the politicians, are directly responsible for the lack of proper construction methods and concepts that work. The problem is each one of them is CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT THEIR OWN SELF AND THEIR AGENDAS AND HOW TO PERSONALLY PROFIT FROM IT,
Great job Steve, hope to continue reading for many years to come.
Congratulations on five great years, Steve. Your contribution to this region is so very valuable; you see things that no one else sees and you help us all to understand the importance of the details. Here’s to five – ten – twenty-five more great years!