Grand Ave Water Tower Commercial Area Had Such Potential, Still Does
When I first spotted the “old white” water tower in the middle of Grand Avenue (Satellite image) I was blown away by the commercial buildings that surrounded the iconic white column. First, information on the tower:
Described as “the only perfect Corinthian column of its size in the world,” the Grand (“Old White”) Water Tower on 20th Street and Grand Avenue was built during the waterworks expansion led by Thomas Whitman (brother of poet Walt Whitman) following the Civil War. The 154-foot tower, designed by architect George I. Barnett, was completed in 1871 at a cost of $45,000. The tower is constructed of a brick shaft resting on a Chicago stone base and octagonal stone platform, topped with an iron capital cast in a leaf design. It was retired from service in 1912. In the 1920s and 30s, beacons placed atop the tower served as navigational aids to pilots seeking Lambert International Airport. Legend has it that Charles Lindbergh once used the lights to find his way home when he was lost in a Mississippi River fog. In 1933, after citizens objected to a recommendation that the monument be torn down, Mayor Bernard Dickmann came to the tower’s defense. “To wreck this tower would, to my mind, verge closely on an act of sacrilege,” the Mayor declared. (St. Louis Water Division)
The tower was safe, but the context wasn’t. It screamed potential. Even boarded, the buildings had such great massing, materials and proportions.Where else does such exist in the country? Nowhere I know of. In 1988, two years before I arrived, Freeman Bosley Sr. was elected to office as 3rd ward alderman.  The potential would be razed, rather than realized.
In 1990 South Grand was nothing, the Delmar Loop was just getting started, and the few customers on Cherokee St were looking for prostitutes. None of these three districts had  visionary elected officials but at least they didn’t see them as something to actively level.
Some of the land surrounding the tower is owned by the city agency, the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA). The rest of the land is owned by the Citizens for Community Improvement, Inc.
Citizens For Community Improvement Inc in Saint Louis, MO is a private company categorized under Career and Vocational Counseling. Our records show it was established in 1971 and incorporated in Missouri. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $400,000 and employs a staff of approximately 9. Companies like Citizens For Community Improvement Inc usually offer: Greenleaf Job Training Services, Jobs And Training Services, Job Training Services. (source)
So what do we do today?
- Begin a planning process for a series of concentric circles around the tower, the smallest circle would be the most detailed. Planning area would be more an oval, along Grand and include I-70 and Florissant.
- Develop a catchy name for the commercial district, begin marketing to build an identity.
- Develop form-based standards for new construction, Â buildings should be 2-4 stories high.
I see street-level retail with residential units above.  There may be some demand for office space in addition to retail.  No, Plaza Frontenac doesn’t have to worry about high-end retailers  leaving the upscale mall for this area. But where you have people there is a need for services.
Of course, this planning should have started 20+ years ago.
– Steve Patterson
The districts you mentioned have improved greatly from the early 90’s (left out Wash ave for some reason, probably the area most different from what it was like in the early 90’s), but none of them are anywhere near reaching there potential for greatness. All need more development and they are still relatively cheap (at least in the city side of the loop). Other areas such as FPSE (the grove), Morgan ford(sp) in TGS, Old post office square, midtown alley have been popping up as small areas of commercial activity more recently. This is good news, but they all need a lot more tlc and more investment to really come together. We need to rally around all the great neighborhoods and help them succeed. More power to people who wanna do that way up on north grand, but there are more pressing areas with much more potential closer to the central corridor (city), close to major institutions with growing population centers.Â
The districts you mentioned have improved greatly from the early 90’s (left out Wash ave for some reason, probably the area most different from what it was like in the early 90’s), but none of them are anywhere near reaching there potential for greatness. All need more development and they are still relatively cheap (at least in the city side of the loop). Other areas such as FPSE (the grove), Morgan ford(sp) in TGS, Old post office square, midtown alley have been popping up as small areas of commercial activity more recently. This is good news, but they all need a lot more tlc and more investment to really come together. We need to rally around all the great neighborhoods and help them succeed. More power to people who wanna do that way up on north grand, but there are more pressing areas with much more potential closer to the central corridor (city), close to major institutions with growing population centers.
True, we have many examples of commercial districts that have greatly improved in the last 21 years. All are south of Delmar, except 14th Street. Why is that? Racism? Lack of leadership?
Its both, and I feel for the northside. But to turn this ship around you gotta build off what you already have. If someone thinks they can do that up North good for them, and I do love the goings up up at 14th street, going to the coop on my lunch break (from midtown, have to drive to have time to go unfortunately) But its a very slow process, a tough fight. I think people who want to develop the north side would have all the help the city, state or you Steve (they need you, trust me) can give them. But has a public policy stance I still but priority to improve the great districts we already have. Or I guess more pertinently; if I had the dollars they would be going somewhere in central corridor or the near south side, most potential.
Racism is a part of it, but the biggest reason is simple economics – there are many better places to risk one’s (re)development dollars. If there’s money to be made, the only color developers care about is green. But if an area has falling or non-existent property values, low personal income levels and an extremely-high crime rate, it doesn’t matter if the residents are black, brown, yellow or white, dvelopers will be looking elsewhere.
Wrong once again. There is money to be made but nobody will invest in a old commercial district when the elected official wants to raze everything on sight and replace it with suburban strip centers.
I don’t think there are enough hip urban people to care about the entire city. If the “trash” in the city would at least not damage the progress that’s being made it would help. Some of the problems with St. Louis, and other urban areas, are the result of state and federal government. No investor wants to dump money into a condemned building in a desolate area if they’re the only one doing so in the area. I spent too much in Dutchtown and wish I had it back.
I for one think that crime would drop if someone dropped 10 million on
this area, putting in some goods and service which people in the
neighborhood actually needed to survive as human beings.
Steve, you can blame the alderman, but I’d bet that if Dollar Tree or Dollar General or Save-a-Lot wanted to take an existing structure and move in, the deal would get the alderman’s blessing and undying gratitude. But, guess what? They’re not asking! Not for a new suburban strip center, not for a boarded-up historic corner grocery structure! And IF “There is money to be made”, developers and retailers will always figure out how to be there.
They aren’t trying to locate on Cherokee, South Grand, or other pedestrian areas either. Those stores like lifeless strip centers. Poor example! Old neighborhood commercial districts are never revitalized by these types of stores. It takes locals interested in revitalizing an area to make it happen. And locals know to steer clear of Bosley and other destructive elected officials.
OK, for the sake of discussion, let’s accept your premise – we don’t need no stinkin’ chains (and their deep pockets) – I had picked those three because I thought that they were logical, typical, generic tenants, not the only “answer”. Where are the “locals interested in revitalizing [the] area”, the ones willing to invest their money and sweat to bring this area back? Why is this area different than Cherokee, S. Grand or the Grove? What do we need here and why aren’t THEY knocking on the property-owners’ doors? You want to blame and demonize the alderman for the crime and the redlining and economic demographics of the surrounding neighborhood. Why aren’t the corner bars, liquor stores, bodegas and chop suey shops still here? Why aren’t the coffee shops, art galleries and cool ethnic restaurants moving in? Why aren’t office users taking over the old retail spaces and upstairs apartments?
I don’t know any politician who wants to kill the economic vitality of the area they represent. They may not like certain types of businesses (liquor stores, problem bars, etc.) and they may not like certain people (crimnals and political opponents). They may even prefer certain types of architecture (strip malls) over other types. But I don’t know anyone who is deranged enough to think that levelling everything makes any sense when there are functioning uses and users. You only get incremental demolition (like this) when the buildings AREN’T being used and fire, termites and, especially, water damage them to the point where they need to be knocked down to protect the very pedestrians you claim are critical for their success – use it or lose it!
I agree, there is/was potential here. The loss of the historic structures was and is unfortunate. Recreating the scale of the previous buildings would be great IF they’re actually occupied. Educate me – were similar planning efforts done and needed to bring back Cherokee, S. Grand and the Grove? Or, did money talk? Did small entrepreneurs see opportunity? Did customers find what they were looking for and feel safe?
I’ve known many local business people in the 21 years I’ve lived here. Often they seek a low rent plsce to start their business. Logically they go where they will face the least political opposition. When the elected official sees zero value in the old district, a local would be foolish to attempt to turn it around. I do think thru Bosley of 2011 is different than the Bosley of 1988, but the damage is done. I want so much to have lunch at a sidewalk cafe with a view of this water tower. Bring together the right people, including city hall, and it could happen. It will take longer now given the loss of buildings, but it could happen. It won’t when one force is actively working against it though.
“I don’t know any politician who wants to kill the economic vitality of the area they represent.”
Results are what matters. People could forgive McKee and his supporters for simply messing things up, but you can bet that the number of buildings which caught fire, rustled, or demolished had a negative impact upon those neighborhoods.
Capitalists didn’t see opportunity in Gaslight Square. Does that mean it should have been demolished? Government has resources and regulations which can be used to preserve and plan for the future development of significant areas. This tower and area around is certainly one of them as it’s one of the most important landmarks in our City. Of course poverty, crime, and joblessness are a barrier to developing this area, but I am sure things were bad in Old North when they began as well. Hell they were once bad in Lafayette Square, Soulard, and the Central West End. Why can we not have the same leadership and attention paid to other areas of our City? Finally, look at what Sam Moore, RHCDA et al have done with Dick Gregory Place in the Ville. Things can happen on the North Side if people are working together with a coherent vision to fulfill shared goals.
Politicians don’t have a magic wand nor do they run around spreading fairy dust. If anything, they’re more of a hinderence than a help when it comes to grass-roots redevelopment. Private money talks – when people are willing to bet their own money, an area is probably on the upswing. When politicians want to bet tax dollars, OPM (other people’s money), absent any private investment, watch out! And yes, I do agree, “Things can happen on the North Side if people are working together with a coherent vision to fulfill shared goals.” Yes, “Results are what matter.” The real question is whether it’s any politician’s fault that results are so abysmal here?
Politicians do have access to federal and state funding. Grassroots efforts can really take off when they get such funding.
Without public money, good Tea Party sir, Old North, Washington Avenue, Soulard, Lafayette Square, Central West End and the aforementioned Dick Gregory Place wouldn’t really exist as they do today. If the private sector was the only game in town no one would be ‘betting’ anything and the City would look a lot different than today. I suppose that’s hard to see from Republican St. Louis Hills where ‘up by the bootstraps’ is the mantra of economic development? Did you build your own house with hammer and nails? I wonder have you ever benefited from FHA as it and other programs essentially created the middle class?
Of course projects fail when leadership falls short, but there’s a difference between some of the younger people getting elected to the Board of Aldermen while not every ‘old timer’ is a complete idiot. Regardless, even if Freeman Bosley Sr. had a completely different method towards developing his ward, and infinite public resources at his disposal, this would still be a huge challenge. Very few people are investing their own dollars in North St. Louis without government assistance for many reasons such as the inability to get financing because the area is viewed too risky. What we can say historically is that these areas were always viewed as risky so long as their racial compositions were minority white. Presupposing that attitude has changed in the banking arena, the fact that certain areas have been discriminated against and denied capital will have lingering impacts which place it at a disadvantage compared to other areas that developed sooner.
If we can agree upon anything it should be that government must have a strong role in developing these areas, while the results will depend upon how it’s done. Nothing will ever happen if we say government should stay out and let the market decide. Ask Ray Nagin. The free market has done wonders for New Orleans post Katrina.
Doug, wow, you sure are making some pretty crazy assumptions! Tea-party Republican? No, libertarian-leaning Democrat. St. Louis Hills? I wish! Reread what I wrote – “When politicians want to bet tax dollars, OPM (other people’s money), ABSENT ANY PRIVATE INVESTMENT, watch out!” (emphasis added). I didn’t say NO public funding, I said there needs to be public-private partnerships! And, yes, people wanting to develop in north city do face bigger hurdles. It’s not “fair”, but, as you noted, most projects there ARE much more risky. Build it and they will come may have worked in Field of Dreams (and didn’t involve any public money), but when it comes to spending my tax dollars I want more than just some wild-eyed dreams, I want some semblence of reality. You seem to think that the discrimination on the north side is solely racial, I disagree. Most of the discrimination (when it comes to development) is based on hard economic realities – poor people, whether they’re black, white, yellow, brown or purple, simply have less disposable income to spend and are either penalized or appropriately served (depending on one’s perspective) by the businesses that choose to locate close to them.
True, we have many examples of commercial districts that have greatly improved in the last 21 years. All are south of Delmar, except 14th Street. Why is that? Racism? Lack of leadership?
Its both, and I feel for the northside. But to turn this ship around you gotta build off what you already have. If someone thinks they can do that up North good for them, and I do love the goings up up at 14th street, going to the coop on my lunch break (from midtown, have to drive to have time to go unfortunately) But its a very slow process, a tough fight. I think people who want to develop the north side would have all the help the city, state or you Steve (they need you, trust me) can give them. But has a public policy stance I still but priority to improve the great districts we already have. Or I guess more pertinently; if I had the dollars they would be going somewhere in central corridor or the near south side, most potential.
great post, have you read stlelsewhere’s thoughts on the area? http://stlelsewhere.blogspot.com/2011/02/college-hill-monument-circle.htmlÂ
great post, have you read stlelsewhere’s thoughts on the area? http://stlelsewhere.blogspot.com/2011/02/college-hill-monument-circle.html
I’m always leery of spending money on plans that lack any funding or momentum to actually implement. While now would be the best time to establish standards, if the city / alderman doesn’t have the cojones to enforce them, why waste the money or the time? If nothing happens for 20 years, which is, unfortunately, most likely the case here, it will all be revisited and redone when money actually appears. And if we want to throw $200,000 or $500,000 at the neighborhood now, why not focus on directly supporting small businesses that might be convinced to set up shop there, with low-interest loans and reduced taxes?
I’m always leery of spending money on plans that lack any funding or momentum to actually implement. While now would be the best time to establish standards, if the city / alderman doesn’t have the cojones to enforce them, why waste the money or the time? If nothing happens for 20 years, which is, unfortunately, most likely the case here, it will all be revisited and redone when money actually appears. And if we want to throw $200,000 or $500,000 at the neighborhood now, why not focus on directly supporting small businesses that might be convinced to set up shop there, with low-interest loans and reduced taxes?
Racism is a part of it, but the biggest reason is simple economics – there are many better places to risk one’s (re)development dollars. If there’s money to be made, the only color developers care about is green. But if an area has falling or non-existent property values, low personal income levels and an extremely-high crime rate, it doesn’t matter if the residents are black, brown, yellow or white, dvelopers will be looking elsewhere.
Wrong once again. There is money to be made but nobody will invest in a old commercial district when the elected official wants to raze everything on sight and replace it with suburban strip centers.
There are at least two examples in Chicago of revitalized neighborhoods whose identities are tied to similar monuments. Logan Square http://www.notfortourists.com/hood.aspx/chicago/logansquare is built around the IL Centennial Monument, and has become a hipster haven over the last 10 or so years, thanks in part to tax incentives and fantastic planning and land use (traffic-calming, farmer’s markets, concerts on the square, etc.). Homan Square http://www.homansquare.org/ is in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods (North Lawndale) but public and private interests there have poured a ton of money into the old Sears-Roebuck HQ there, and have developed a vibrant, middle-class neighborhood. They’ve done a great job promoting the history of the tower there, and building a new neighborhood identity around it.
There are at least two examples in Chicago of revitalized neighborhoods whose identities are tied to similar monuments. Logan Square http://www.notfortourists.com/hood.aspx/chicago/logansquare is built around the IL Centennial Monument, and has become a hipster haven over the last 10 or so years, thanks in part to tax incentives and fantastic planning and land use (traffic-calming, farmer’s markets, concerts on the square, etc.). Homan Square http://www.homansquare.org/ is in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods (North Lawndale) but public and private interests there have poured a ton of money into the old Sears-Roebuck HQ there, and have developed a vibrant, middle-class neighborhood. They’ve done a great job promoting the history of the tower there, and building a new neighborhood identity around it.
Fantastic examples, thank you!
Did Logan Square though ever have the degree of demolition and poverty as this area has today?
Fantastic examples, thank you!
I for one think that crime would drop if someone dropped 10 million on
this area, putting in some goods and service which people in the
neighborhood actually needed to survive as human beings.Â
Â
Did Logan Square though ever have the degree of demolition and poverty as this area has today?Â
Steve, you can blame the alderman, but I’d bet that if Dollar Tree or Dollar General or Save-a-Lot wanted to take an existing structure and move in, the deal would get the alderman’s blessing and undying gratitude. But, guess what? They’re not asking! Not for a new suburban strip center, not for a boarded-up historic corner grocery structure! And IF “There is money to be made”, developers and retailers will always figure out how to be there.
They aren’t trying to locate on Cherokee, South Grand, or other pedestrian areas either. Those stores like lifeless strip centers. Poor example! Old neighborhood commercial districts are never revitalized by these types of stores. It takes locals interested in revitalizing an area to make it happen. And locals know to steer clear of Bosley and other destructive elected officials.
I don’t think there are enough hip urban people to care about the entire city. If the “trash” in the city would at least not damage the progress that’s being made it would help. Some of the problems with St. Louis, and other urban areas, are the result of state and federal government. No investor wants to dump money into a condemned building in a desolate area if they’re the only one doing so in the area. I spent too much in Dutchtown and wish I had it back.
I think you have to take a different approach with the reality that their is not enough population in the city to make every single commercial area viable again.  I simply don’t buy the blanket argument that if you rehab they will come. As JZ71 alludes too, you still need demand for commercial areas to work or what do you really gain when one area just siphons off from another area. Yes, you had some successes but their needs to be an honest discussion on to downsize the infrastructure of a city that has only half its population. In other words, what investment would help North Grand/Northside and still be beneficial to the rest of the city as a whole.Â
My thinking is that you drop the North South metrolink proposal and focus on a long range plan that picks one, two and maybe three north south street car corridors over the next 30 years.  In other words, you have to build upon the one part of the city where development is happening, residential growth still holds or even expanded, jobs can be had or you can build on metrolink without having to dream up a $billion dollar proposal to do it.   Â
My first choice for a north south streetcar line would be Grand Ave with turn arounds based on the water towers. In other words, put money into a project that benefits a big portion of the city, provides increase transit capacity to a corridor with the fullest buses that serve some well establish institutions from SLU, Cardinal Glenn, Grand Center, etc. and would provide an anchor for a mini TOD/residential area Â
I think you have to take a different approach with the reality that their is not enough population in the city to make every single commercial area viable again. I simply don’t buy the blanket argument that if you rehab they will come. As JZ71 alludes too, you still need demand for commercial areas to work or what do you really gain when one area just siphons off from another area. Yes, you had some successes but their needs to be an honest discussion on to downsize the infrastructure of a city that has only half its population. In other words, what investment would help North Grand/Northside and still be beneficial to the rest of the city as a whole.
My thinking is that you drop the North South metrolink proposal and focus on a long range plan that picks one, two and maybe three north south street car corridors over the next 30 years. In other words, you have to build upon the one part of the city where development is happening, residential growth still holds or even expanded, jobs can be had or you can build on metrolink without having to dream up a $billion dollar proposal to do it.
My first choice for a north south streetcar line would be Grand Ave with turn arounds based on the water towers. In other words, put money into a project that benefits a big portion of the city, provides increase transit capacity to a corridor with the fullest buses that serve some well establish institutions from SLU, Cardinal Glenn, Grand Center, etc. and would provide an anchor for a mini TOD/residential area
I’m grounded enough in reality to know just constructing new buildings won’t bring commercial tenants and customers. You are right, transportation and other factors must be addressed. As far as I can see, Bosley hasn’t addressed any. I can guarantee you that razing buildings also doesn’t attract.
Understand and you certainly understand my next point, the difficulty is that keeping buildings in a state of good repair to actually attract attentional costs money and most of the buildings simply have delinquent landlords, broke landlords or already owned by the city outright. In other words, its going to cost taxpayers money.
In either case, arguing to keep building in place is honorable and certainly worth making as you did with this latest post. Arguing for proposals on how to fund the upkeep vast number of properties owned by LRA (city for all intent and purposes) is what is needed. Either additional assessment on current property tax, 1/8 or 1/4 cent sales tax initiative, real estate fees on transactions? Don’t have an answer but any argument to save buidlings doesn’t go anywhere until it includes the money end, where the money is coming from, and why should it be spent? Hoping the Feds or state saves the day is a pipe dream for the foreseeable future. Obviously, private financing will always be dictated by those who lend it not those whose want to spend it. Sorry, but fines don’t work when the city already owns the property and legal pursuits are expensive.
Which gets back to my arguement that no one wants to address on any of the blogs, what should be prioritized on the north side?
I’m grounded enough in reality to know just constructing new buildings won’t bring commercial tenants and customers. You are right, transportation and other factors must be addressed. As far as I can see, Bosley hasn’t addressed any. I can guarantee you that razing buildings also doesn’t attract.
OK, for the sake of discussion, let’s accept your premise – we don’t need no stinkin’ chains (and their deep pockets) – I had picked those three because I thought that they were logical, typical, generic tenants, not the only “answer”. Where are the “locals interested in revitalizing [the] area”, the ones willing to invest their money and sweat to bring this area back? Why is this area different than Cherokee, S. Grand or the Grove? What do we need here and why aren’t THEY knocking on the property-owners’ doors?  You want to blame and demonize the alderman for the crime and the redlining and economic demographics of the surrounding neighborhood. Why aren’t the corner bars, liquor stores, bodegas and chop suey shops still here? Why aren’t the coffee shops, art galleries and cool ethnic restaurants moving in? Why aren’t office users taking over the old retail spaces and upstairs apartments?
I don’t know any politician who wants to kill the economic vitality of the area they represent. They may not like certain types of businesses (liquor stores, problem bars, etc.) and they may not like certain people (crimnals and political opponents). They may even prefer certain types of architecture (strip malls) over other types. But I don’t know anyone who is deranged enough to think that levelling everything makes any sense when there are functioning uses and users. You only get incremental demolition (like this) when the buildings AREN’T being used and fire, termites and, especially, water damage them to the point where they need to be knocked down to protect the very pedestrians you claim are critical for their success – use it or lose it!
I agree, there is/was potential here. The loss of the historic structures was and is unfortunate. Recreating the scale of the previous buildings would be great IF they’re actually occupied. Educate me – were similar planning efforts done and needed to bring back Cherokee, S. Grand and the Grove? Or, did money talk? Did small entrepreneurs see opportunity? Did customers find what they were looking for and feel safe?
I’ve known many local business people in the 21 years I’ve lived here. Often they seek a low rent plsce to start their business. Logically they go where they will face the least political opposition. When the elected official sees zero value in the old district, a local would be foolish to attempt to turn it around. I do think thru Bosley of 2011 is different than the Bosley of 1988, but the damage is done. I want so much to have lunch at a sidewalk cafe with a view of this water tower. Bring together the right people, including city hall, and it could happen. It will take longer now given the loss of buildings, but it could happen. It won’t when one force is actively working against it though.
“I don’t know any politician who wants to kill the economic vitality of the area they represent.”Â
Results are what matters. Â People could forgive McKee and his supporters for simply messing things up, but you can bet that the number of buildings which caught fire, rustled, or demolished had a negative impact upon those neighborhoods.
Capitalists didn’t see opportunity in Gaslight Square.  Does that mean it should have been demolished?  Government has resources and regulations which can be used to preserve and plan for the future development of significant areas.  This tower and area around is certainly one of them as it’s one of the most important landmarks in our City.  Of course poverty, crime, and joblessness are a barrier to developing this area, but I am sure things were bad in Old North when they began as well.  Hell they were once bad in Lafayette Square, Soulard, and the Central West End.  Why can we not have the same leadership and attention paid to other areas of our City?  Finally, look at what Sam Moore, RHCDA et al have done with Dick Gregory Place in the Ville.  Things can happen on the North Side if people are working together with a coherent vision to fulfill shared goals.Â
Politicians don’t have a magic wand nor do they run around spreading fairy dust. If anything, they’re more of a hinderence than a help when it comes to grass-roots redevelopment. Private money talks – when people are willing to bet their own money, an area is probably on the upswing. When politicians want to bet tax dollars, OPM (other people’s money), absent any private investment, watch out! And yes, I do agree, “Things can happen on the North Side if people are working together with a coherent vision to fulfill shared goals.” Yes, “Results are what matter.” The real question is whether it’s any politician’s fault that results are so abysmal here?
Understand and you certainly understand my next point, the difficulty is that keeping buildings in a state of good repair to actually attract attentional costs money and most of the buildings simply have delinquent landlords, broke landlords or already owned by the city outright. In other words, its going to cost taxpayers money.Â
In either case, arguing to keep building in place is honorable and certainly worth making as you did with this latest post.  Arguing for proposals on how to fund the upkeep vast number of properties owned by LRA (city for all intent and purposes) is what is needed. Either additional assessment on current property tax, 1/8 or 1/4 cent sales tax initiative, real estate fees on transactions? Don’t have an answer but any argument to save buidlings doesn’t go anywhere until it includes the money end, where the money is coming from, and why should it be spent? Hoping the Feds or state saves the day is a pipe dream for the foreseeable future. Obviously, private financing will always be dictated by those who lend it not those whose want to spend it.  Sorry, but fines don’t work when the city already owns the property and legal pursuits are expensive.
Which gets back to my arguement that no one wants to address on any of the blogs, what should be prioritized on the north side?
Politicians do have access to federal and state funding. Grassroots efforts can really take off when they get such funding.Â
Without public money, good Tea Party sir, Old North, Washington Avenue, Soulard, Lafayette Square, Central West End and the aforementioned Dick Gregory Place wouldn’t really exist as they do today. If the private sector was the only game in town no one would be ‘betting’ anything and the City would look a lot different than today. I suppose that’s hard to see from Republican St. Louis Hills where ‘up by the bootstraps’ is the mantra of economic development? Did you build your own house with hammer and nails? I wonder have you ever benefited from FHA as it and other programs essentially created the middle class?Â
Of course projects fail when leadership falls short, but there’s a difference between some of the younger people getting elected to the Board of Aldermen while not every ‘old timer’ is a complete idiot. Regardless, even if Freeman Bosley Sr. had a completely different method towards developing his ward, and infinite public resources at his disposal, this would still be a huge challenge. Very few people are investing their own dollars in North St. Louis without government assistance for many reasons such as the inability to get financing because the area is viewed too risky. What we can say historically is that these areas were always viewed as risky so long as their racial compositions were minority white. Presupposing that attitude has changed in the banking arena, the fact that certain areas have been discriminated against and denied capital will have lingering impacts which place it at a disadvantage compared to other areas that developed sooner.Â
If we can agree upon anything it should be that government must have a strong role in developing these areas, while the results will depend upon how it’s done.  Nothing will ever happen if we say government should stay out and let the market decide. Ask Ray Nagin. The free market has done wonders for New Orleans post Katrina.
Doug, wow, you sure are making some pretty crazy assumptions!  Tea-party Republican? No, libertarian-leaning Democrat. St. Louis Hills? I wish! Reread what I wrote – “When politicians want to bet tax dollars, OPM (other people’s money), ABSENT ANY PRIVATE INVESTMENT, watch out!” (emphasis added). I didn’t say NO public funding, I said there needs to be public-private partnerships! And, yes, people wanting to develop in north city do face bigger hurdles. It’s not “fair”, but, as you noted, most projects there ARE much more risky. Build it and they will come may have worked in Field of Dreams (and didn’t involve any public money), but when it comes to spending my tax dollars I want more than just some wild-eyed dreams, I want some semblence of reality. You seem to think that the discrimination on the north side is solely racial, I disagree. Most of the discrimination (when it comes to development) is based on hard economic realities – poor people, whether they’re black, white, yellow, brown or purple, simply have less disposable income to spend and are either penalized or appropriately served (depending on one’s perspective) by the businesses that choose to locate close to them.
To continue / reignite the larger conversation, here’s a great article from DC, about the relevency of their Historic Preservation Office: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/09/29/the-future-of-the-past/  It essentially says what I’ve been saying, that cities need to evolve, that while every old building has a history, not every old build can or should be saved. For cities to stay relevent and vibrant they need to evolve. Yes, preservation is an important part of the equation, but it is only one part. Fitting the new in with the old is equally as critical . . . .
To continue / reignite the larger conversation, here’s a great article from DC, about the relevency of their Historic Preservation Office: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/09/29/the-future-of-the-past/ It essentially says what I’ve been saying, that cities need to evolve, that while every old building has a history, not every old build can or should be saved. For cities to stay relevent and vibrant they need to evolve. Yes, preservation is an important part of the equation, but it is only one part. Fitting the new in with the old is equally as critical . . . .
Agreed, in this case the old buildings around the water tower have all been razed. This is entirely about fitting in new construction.
Agreed, in this case the old buildings around the water tower have all been razed. This is entirely about fitting in new construction.