For those that don’t know, the Gateway Mall is not a failed downtown shopping mall. That would be St. Louis Centre. The Gateway Mall is a failed grand outdoor space running from the Arch on the East to Union Station on the West.
Originally envisioned decades ago as a grand green space along the lines of The National Mall in Washington D.C., it has consistently failed to live up to expectations. The reasons for failure are numerous and complicated. As decade after decade past the reason for failure changed.
Keep in mind that clearance for what would become the Arch grounds didn’t commence in earnest until the early 1940s. Yet, in the decades prior to WWII plans were under way to begin creating a grand boulevard in downtown St. Louis. Early plans focused on Market Street from Tucker (then 12th) West to Grand. Yes, plans show concepts clearing a path all the way from 12th to Grand! Thankfully they only found money to raze 10 blocks from 12th to 22nd.
So first came the vacant blocks along the North side of Market Street West of 12th. Then one by one blocks between the Civil Courts building and the Old Courthouse were razed. During the same period the adjacent blocks were also raised for banal buildings and parking garages. One-way streets and other mistakes drove the life out of downtown.
[Gateway Mall in the 1980s. Gateway One office building and the Morton May amphitheater are not yet constructed. Area is dominated by wide streets, surface parking and lifeless parking garages. Photo courtesy of Robin Ringwald]
Gateway One, the 1980s office building that was built on the site of old buildings and in the middle of the greenway has received much deserved criticism. It wasn’t until I was reading through many newspaper columns and proposals did I fully understand what happened and why. The politics was ugly. One property owner had the best plan to restore most of his buildings but the call for open space was overwhelming. He lost, confirming the St. Louis tradition for razing buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. I never thought I’d say this but Gateway One is far better than some proposals on the drawing boards.
At the time the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects did not support the plan that would have preserved the historic buildings. Instead, they supported a plan calling for new buildings along the North half of about 4-5 blocks. The South half of these blocks were to be a walkway. While I would have preferred keeping the historic and no so historic buildings the plan supported by the AIA was not bad. It had the openness and views sought by many while having street level retail in the bases of the new buildings. While people didn’t think so at the time, this plan would have resulted in more pedestrian activity than what we ended up with.
Each generation over the years has developed a new plan to stimulate the area. All sorts of ideas have been suggested including ice staking, world-class museums, fountains and special paving patterns. Each and every time these schemes have failed to understand one important ingredient…
People.
If marketed correctly I could hold a successful event on the ruins of the former Pruitt-Igoe housing complex but that doesn’t mean it will remain active after the event. Same is true downtown. Events draw people for the event. Assuming people will return to a location after the event is the downfall of many schemes to revitalize areas. Pretty plans with decorative paving stones and retro lanterns will continue to fail.
[Gateway Mall in the 1980s. Two blocks still retain a few buildings but newer buildings on both sides of the image rob life from the street. Photo courtesy of Robin Ringwald]
Downtown St. Louis has too much open space.
Decades of razing buildings for surface parking and gratuitous green space has left too little urban activity. The current ratio of active buildings to open space is too low to sustain a lively downtown during non-event times. Washington Avenue is thriving partially because it feels like an urban street should feel.
Successful urban open space has lively edges. That is, the surrounding buildings are a haven of activity with lots of people coming and going at all hours. The best way to achieve this constant level of activity is street-level retail. But take a good look at what surrounds the Gateway Mall — parking garages, low activity office towers, and other buildings not adding to the area. Jurors in the middle of the area must leave to find food and beverage. The City Hall entrance facing Market is closed. The Kiel center remains closed.
The most recent of many plans is the Downtown Now! action plan from 1999. I think it correctly determines the problems the area faces but only offers window dressing for solutions. In some cases I think this plan would worsen things by turning Market Street into one-way Westbound. Thankfully they never found funds to make they recommended changes. To read the Downtown Now! 1.8mb PDF file on the Gateway Mall click here. More information on The Gateway Mall can be found on the St. Louis Parks Department website.
I’ve got some specific thoughts on the area but I’m going to save those for this weekend when the AIA is holding a design charrette to examine the area. The public is invited to participate in one of two ways. First, by serving on a design team for $10. Second is to view the results at a free Sunday afternoon open house. More information including the program and registration forms at AIA St. Louis.
This is your chance to participate in the process — don’t let it slip by.
– Steve
