Readers: Vacant Ballpark Village site now downtown’s biggest eyesore, I-70 close behind
The top winner for downtown’s biggest eyesore is the vacant site that was planned to be Ballpark Village. But second & third place were the depressed lanes and the elevated lanes of I-70, respectively. City to River’s idea will take care of I-70. Each person was allowed two picks.
Q: With the St. Louis Centre pedestrian bridge being removed, downtown’s biggest eyesore becomes? (pick up to 2)
- The vacant Ballpark Village site 106 [28.42%]
- The I-70 depressed lanes in front of the Arch 98 [26.27%]
- The I-70 elevated lanes North of Washington St 92 [24.66%]
- Other answer… 24 [6.43%]
- Twain 20 [5.36%]
- Lumiere Casino 19 [5.09%]
- The Kiel Center parking garages 7 [1.88%]
- US Bank’s parking garage (8th & Washington) 7 [1.88%]
Total Votes 373
“Other” edged out the other answers I had suggested.
- Kacie Starr Triplett
- Chouteau’s Landing
- Arcade Building
- Highway 40 and the railyard to the south
- The building to the right of I-64 , just before you cross the Poplar (name?).
- Downtown
- Lumiere’s digital sign needs to go!
- The vacant Arcade building
- Powell Square
- Kiener Center parking garages–particularly considering their prominent location
- The I-40 bridges running through the center of the city
- “Powell Square”
- The Stadium Parking Structures
- Kiel Opera House
- The countless surface parking lots
- All buildings on 70 Northbound from the Arch all the way to the Airport
- Powell Square
- The Peabody Building
- Statdium East and West parking garages
- Gateway One
- Powell Square
- Amrica’s Center
- Macy’s garage
- GatewayOne tower
I want to comment on a couple of the “other” answers.
Peabody is a tenant in the Gateway One building, occupying 7 of the 15 floors. The plan decades ago was to have four of these half buildings. I’m glad only one was built but I like obscured view of the Old Courthouse and Arch. It forces you to walk closer to get the full view. While Gateway One is not great architecture, it is not remotely close to being an eyesore.
I don’t consider Powell Square in downtown as I tend to think of I-64/40 as on the near south side. But assuming it is part of downtown it is an eyesore in it’s windowless state. But this is not an eyesore to be removed. This building just needs windows to be stunning.
– Steve Patterson
You are correct about Powell Square, it's part of the Kosciusko neighborhood, just south of downtown. But I think it would be a real psychological boost to have it remade with new windows. It's a highly visible eyesore in it's current state, and it's right on our front doorstep.
The I-55 lanes and off ramps to the Poplar Street Bridge are more ugly.
I agree with both, this is one very visible eyesore as out-of-town commuters drive into downtown. The bridge looks like a bad driveway with the asphalt.. and the Powell Square building has graffiti and no windows making it look dilapidated. Anyone know of plans to rehab the building?
There actually are plans to renovate several buildings in the near south side, including Powell Square. The area (I'm not sure what it's called, but I like the sound of Ballpark South) is supposedly getting a huge makeover to become more of an arts district. Who really knows if/when this will actually happen.
When you combine the depressed lanes and elevated lanes of I-70 – then the total is 50% of all responses.
In the bottom right corner of your picture of Powell Square, the parking lot of St. Mary of Victories church is visible. It is the second oldest church in St. Louis and it is a beautiful piece of architecture. I believe it is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the St. Louis City Landmarks Registry.