CREATING PLACEIN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS

The key is that the city must find an inspirational vision for itself rooted in what it is and its own essential character. A great city, like a great wine, has to express its terroir. --Aaron Renn, The Urbanophile

The idea of authenticity has an undeniable cultural power. It has a real effect on our attachment to our neighborhood, on the stores where we like to shop, on the way we see some places as interesting and others as unworthy of our attention as cultural consumers. --Sharon Zukin, Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places

authentiCITY

Perhaps the hardest part has been accomplished. People have started returning downtown. Washington St. is a now destination. We have an excellent grocery and

outstanding public art. But, as a place, downtown clearly lacks an identity.

What then, is the best way to continue the momentum and transition Downtown into an authentic place that invites St. Louisans to linger?

Simply put, we must both spotlight the heritage of the this grand old Mississippi River Town while at the same time attempt to move Downtown forward as a unique, walkable, city village – a place with a distinct character like nowhere else

in the area.

EcoUrban believes this can be accomplished by developing a mix of Heritage Destinations supported by Urban Village Amenities.

Perhaps the hardest part has been accomplished.

Confluence Blues Museum & Peetie Wheatstraw’s Saloon

Detail: Imagine a small-scale museum full of R&B relics and information blended with a throwback saloon built on the scholarship of Devil at the

Confluence by Kevin Belford and the notion that the cradle of blues music may have actually been the levee at St. Louis.

Vision: Two levels featuring a small interactive museum detailing local contributions/bluesman, art and old school photography/video footage

highlighting STL blues influentials/history and STL’s primacy in the development of Blues/Rock history. A saloon with small venue (basement)

featuring traditional acts like Big George Brock, and Bluesmen of the future like Marquise Knox. Museum will build on current exhibit @ the Sheldon

that a needs permanent home and additional artifacts.

Potential Offshoots: Blues Heritage Trail -- a short tour that provides info markers connected by trails to famous sites in blues history (example: 11th/

Morgan – location of the incident that inspired one of the most famous songs in blues history “Stagger Lee”). The trail would be a great way to

pick up additional funding partners.

The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past. – William Faulkner

HERITAGE DESTINATIONS:

A Small, Satellite Bass Pro Shop

Detail: Envision a smaller, satellite version of the successful Bass Pro Shops outdoor superstores with a slightly more REI-like appeal. The company is currently looking at a similar approach. Would be a great outreach to the metro east and offer a much-needed family friendly opportunity in the city.

Vision: Create a manageable-sized outdoors outlet in downtown offering a large range of recreational products. Store would include a family-freindly café and aquarium emphasizing Mississippi River species and perhaps a large

display featuring a reproduction of the 93 lb. record Blue Catfish.

Future Potential: Coordinate a tie-in to a fishing area at the riverfront. Perhaps partner with the Archgrounds 2015 project to create urban fishing/riparian outreach with local schools. It’s time to reimagine St. Louis’

connection to one of the world’s most impressive rivers.

Regional River Reconnection

Detail: A small, pedestrian-friendly store-front museum/interactive/retail operation on Washington devoted to the builders of the earthen mounds that gave the city an early nickname (Mound City) and the largest pre-historical city in North America (Cahokia). We have a

World Heritage Site in our backyard, let’s capitalize on it!

Vision: Work with National Parks or UNESCO to create this small “satellite museum” in downtown that will be both a draw in St.

Louis and a primer for Cahokia Mounds. Create visuals that show the mounds on the Missouri side of the river prior to destruction. Track sustainability with what caused decline of Cahokia (most experts agree resource depletion). Map out routes to current and former

mounds on the St. Louis side of river.

Future Potential: Restore marker at Big Mound and partner with the Osage Tribe, owners of the mound off of Interstate 55.

Include maps and images of what area looked like before settlement up through current period. This may be another good prospect for the

arch grounds project or a possible tie-in at least.

Mound City Memorial

Locavore Crossing & P2P Farmer’s Market

Detail: A reliable accessible drop-off station where local farms would deliver fresh products directly to the consumer. This venture is built on the premise that there is a significant market desire for opportunities that al-

low individuals to personalize their relationship to food – a place where you can meet and interact with the people who produce your food.

Vision: Work with Fair Shars CSA and nearby healthy farming operations such as Patchwork Farms, Greenwood Farms, and Earthdance Farm to cre-

ate this urban “food hub.”

Future Potential: Consumers could utilize a web based P2P network that links directly to local farmers. Better choice for the consumer plus the

Farmer can better anticipate demand via requests on the interface. Think online Farmers Market, but you meet the actual farmers on drop off/pick-up

day. Also the market could offer pre-made packages for those who don’t have time to pick up during the market hours (this could be seasonal).

Urban VillageAmenities

“Moving forward sustainable cities and successful commerce will be interdependent.”

--Realdania

Detail: A small retail venture that sells locally made biking gear (708 Cycling), green gadgets, perhaps even local bio-fuel (Kelley Green).

Vision: Imagine a store similar to Brookstone or Sharper Image but with an emphasis on sustainability gadgets and local products. It would make sense to

team up with Bike Loft to achieve this.

Future Potential: An excellent possible branding/franchising opportunity for other parts of the region and beyond.

Sustainability Substation

Taken as whole, these proposed developments work together to continue to establish a new urban tone for Downtown St. Louis. Rather than a generalist approach to development, EcoUrban sees the proposed

endeavors as part of a unified thread that can tie together the uniqueness of St. Louis’ historical narrative while establishing a new, authentic, and smart growth-oriented “Front Porch” for the region.

Detail: Initially 3-4 “Portland Style” semi-permanent cart options serving well-priced “street food.” High quality food in a pedestrian friendly cart tradition.

Vision: Located in a highly visible, public gathering place such as Old Post Office Plaza, City Garden) diners would enjoy a diverse food experience that

helps establish a foodie scene downtown drawing on local favorites.

Future Potential: More carts/options could be opened if the first round is successful.

Street Vendor Food Carts