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Sidewalks Reopened Around Former St. Louis Centre

April 16, 2011 Downtown, Parking, Planning & Design, Retail 12 Comments
ABOVE: Former walkway over Washington Ave, looking west from 6th on May 19, 2010

St. Louis Centre, the former failed downtown enclosed mall, was an assault on the sidewalk and the pedestrians that use them.  In typical mall fashion, retail was turned inward rather than facing the sidewalk.  The walkways over Washington & Locust blocked views on both streets in both directions. 1980s thinking at it’s worst!

In the last year the structure has been transformed ground level retail and enclosed parking.  The work is nearly complete.

ABOVE: Looking west from 6th on December 10, 2010

Storefronts now face the public sidewalks on all sides of the building which occupies the city block bounded by Washington Ave on the north, 6th on the east, Locust on the south and 7th on the west.  During the last year the sidewalks were closed during construction.

ABOVE: Looking west from 6th on April 14, 2011

Thursday evening I was able to do a complete circle around the building. The only sidewalk not open is the raised part, shown above. Usually you don’t want to place steps between the main sidewalk and retail businesses because that can cut down on foot traffic, but sometimes you have no choice given the grades.

– Steve Patterson

 

Currently there are "12 comments" on this Article:

  1. G-Man says:

    The before-and-after shots are like night and day. Looks great.

     
  2. G-Man says:

    The before-and-after shots are like night and day. Looks great.

     
  3. Adam says:

    that is a beautiful streetscape (now)!

     
  4. Adam says:

    that is a beautiful streetscape (now)!

     
  5. Anonymous says:

    too bad the planters are not more sittable

     
  6. arkiben says:

    too bad the planters are not more sittable

     
    • JZ71 says:

      Probably by design – most private property owners don’t want “undesirable” people to loiter, and they certainly don’t want their hardscape to be attractive to skateboarders!

      What is missing are handrails, but since work is obviously not complete, I assume they’re coming.

       
  7. Anonymous says:

    Probably by design – most private property owners don’t want “undesirable” people to loiter, and they certainly don’t want their hardscape to be attractive to skateboarders!

    What is missing are handrails, but since work is obviously not complete, I assume they’re coming.

     
  8. Anonymous says:

    You’re giving the designer too much credit. the decision was probably more “that’s just how we build things round here.”

     
  9. arkiben says:

    You’re giving the designer too much credit. The decision was probably more “that’s just how we build things round here.”
    Obviously the change is a big improvement. But the scale at person level is bleak, it is something less than inviting, especially for the “desirables.” At least there in some space for some owner to set up tables and chairs a little off the sidewalk, that has potential.

     
    • RobbyD says:

      I agree. The wide sidewalks are a big plus here, but the credit goes to the buildings originals designers. I think if we ever get credible retail off the ground Downtown, the scene could become quite desireable for folks who work, live or are visiting. Assuming trees are planted, the Wash Ave streetscape is completed all the way to Broadway, tenants hang signs outside their establishments, and maybe even some public art is added, the entrance to 600 Washington and the retail facing will be very nice IMO. Remember too that a new movie theater is going in this building. I’m assuming they will create some interest and attractiveness as well.

      Any project needs to stand on its own two feet, but when you compare the dark, vacant cave this block was previously to the beginnings of what is there now!!!!??! The future continues to look exponentially brighter than what we had a decade ago.

       
  10. RobbyD says:

    I agree. The wide sidewalks are a big plus here, but the credit goes to the buildings originals designers. I think if we ever get credible retail off the ground Downtown, the scene could become quite desireable for folks who work, live or are visiting. Assuming trees are planted, the Wash Ave streetscape is completed all the way to Broadway, tenants hang signs outside their establishments, and maybe even some public art is added, the entrance to 600 Washington and the retail facing will be very nice IMO. Remember too that a new movie theater is going in this building. I’m assuming they will create some interest and attractiveness as well.

    Any project needs to stand on its own two feet, but when you compare the dark, vacant cave this block was previously to the beginnings of what is there now!!!!??! The future continues to look exponentially brighter than what we had a decade ago.

     

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