Downtown St. Louis Full of Life

Tonight was the monthly First Friday Gallery & Design walk in downtown St. Louis. We have no Final Four or other major event to populate the sidewalks but the streets didn’t lack for activity. No major sporting event yet sidewalks were teaming with people.

OK, not Times Square levels but a lot more than you’d see in Clayton on a Friday night.

As the sun was setting the buildings were bathed in great lighting, including the Syndicate-Trust building on 10th & Olive.


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Suburbia: Not Making the Connection

I always get a great laugh when I visit our suburban hell (aka West of I-270). Last night I was on Barrett Station Road just South of Manchester. Driving along I spotted this sidewalk along the side of the road. As you can see, it doesn’t really go anywhere.

For those that don’t know the area, this is a well traveled cut through but it remains a two-lane road. I’m sure it won’t be long before it is widened. All the subdivisions along the mile-long road have sidewalks. They don’t really go anywhere but maybe it makes them feel better?

This new subdivision of about 8 homes doesn’t have any internal sidewalks at all. If a home owner wants to walk along this busy road they have to walk in their street to get there. I know, unlikely right. Maybe they will want to talk to see someone in the next subdivision over?

Here is the best part. The new sidewalk is about 40 feet from connecting to the sidewalk from the next subdivision. The grass was visibly worn so someone is walking back and forth.

What must these people think? Most can afford 3-car garages but they can’t manage a sidewalk? Thankfully I don’t have to live in such an environment.

– Steve

A Second Look at Washington Avenue Bike Racks

Back on April 18th I talked about bike racks on Washington Avenue. How they couldn’t be used as designed. Click here to review that post (and the pictures).

Last night I was back downtown and decided to try out some suggestions on locking the bike to the rack in alternative ways.

Part of the problem with the proper way is that the front wheel extended into the path of pedestrians. So alternates focused on locking the bike parallel with the curb rather than perpendicular. At right is one such example.

As you can see the bike is forced up against the back of the bench. But, I’d be able to lock up the frame and front wheel if I used a cable lock.

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Much Of Downtown St. Louis Is Not Walkable

Civic leaders wonder why more people don’t walk in parts of downtown St. Louis. They must be blind. It doesn’t take much to figure it out.

Bland sidewalks, auto driveways everywhere, blank walls, and limited building entries.

We’ve got to rebuild much of what replaced the original city. The depressing row of buildings between Market and Walnut is a good place to start.

– Steve

New GSA Park is a Dead Zone

To the East of St. Louis’ Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse is a dull and lifeless space. Green? Yes. Open? Yes. Well maintained? Yes. Interesting? Hardly.

The problem is we don’t need more open green spaces. We’ve got the entire riverfront and the Gateway Mall from the Arch Grounds to Union Station. We’ve got more vacant green space than we know what to do with it. What we are lacking are true urban streets and vibrant sidewalks.

Looking South along 10th Street the courthouse is to the right. The sidewalk is built for baseball game crowds which looks huge on non-game days. The neat row of trees would be better if they were between the parked cars and the pedestrian.

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