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Revitalizing the Region’s
Central City
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Bringing
New Life to the Region’s Heart
As downtown St. Louis goes, so goes our region. As the center of
business, culture and recreation, a viable center city is critical
to the region’s overall health. The RCGA’s role in revitalizing
the region’s central city seeks to focus attention and support critical
partnerships, ideas and leadership to create a thriving centerpiece
for a growing regional economy.
Above:
Richard Baron Vice Chairman Central City CEO McCormack Baron
& Associates, Inc.
The RCGA has aligned itself with center city stakeholders and these
alignments have already begun to create positive results, specifically
in the four key target districts included in the Downtown Now! Action
Plan—the Washington Avenue Loft district, the Old Post Office district,
the Laclede’s Landing/Riverside North district and the Arch Grounds
district. RCGA Chairman John Bachmann, in addition, has played a
key role in convening key decision-makers to streamline efforts
and further the development of the Cardinals Ballpark Village and
Chouteau’s Lake district project.
Above:
Otis Cowan, manager community relations, Ameren and St. Louis
legislators Derio Gambaro and O.L. Shelton discuss new initiatives
to revitalize the center city.
In partnership with groups including Downtown Now!, TrailNet, Civic
Progress, the Danforth Foundation, Metropolis St. Louis, and St.
Louis 2004, the RCGA supported efforts to revitalize the central
city. The RCGA is a founding partner of Downtown Now!, and its collaborative
efforts of the past year included support of key Downtown Now! priorities:
- Raised
$1 million for proposed pedestrian improvements on the
Ead’s Bridge;
- The
construction of the Washington Avenue Loft district (includes
streetscape);
- Integrating
housing into the Laclede’s Landing /Riverside North district,
an area that has traditionally been regarded as an entertainment
district, but now is on the path to becoming a thriving,
mixed-use riverfront district. Lincoln Properties is proceeding
with initial 350 to 1,000 market-rate residential units;
- Opening
in March 2001 of 257-room Westin Hotel in three converted
Cupples Station warehouses, the first component of a $355
million master plan;
- Street
improvements and the completion of more lofts on Washington
Avenue
- Opening
in July of the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel &
Suites in the former Edison Brothers Warehouse building
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Above:
Left: An artist’s rendering of the new Ballpark Village, which
will be a boon for Central City economic developers.
Continue collaborative efforts with committed Downtown Now! partners
to:
- Complete
the streetscape design and plan for a 70-block revitalization
in the core of Downtown St. Louis;
- Advance
development of the Old Post Office district;
- Support
enhancement of the Gateway Mall/Arch Grounds district;
- Support
the development of the Chouteau’s Lake district and Technology
Campus project;
- Support
continued major focus on the development of additional
market-rate housing;
- Work
to attract additional Class A office space to Downtown.
- Complete
the 165-suite Renaissance St. Louis Suites Hotel expected
to open in March 2002 and work towards completion of the
new convention center headquarters hotel—the 916-room
Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis, scheduled to open in
February 2003.
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