Finally Good News for St. Louis!!!

Kevin, this is a good article. I saw it this morning. Front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, too. It is nice to see that river towns are actually taking note of the steamboats. This is likely due to the efforts of the steamboat company. This is something that rarely occurred under the previous ownership, in my observation.

Darin, I was thinking the same thing...VERY well written!!! Now, if someone could help out our pathetic looking riverfront, we would totally be back in business!!!

You haven't heard? We're getting a spruced up Riverfront and Archgrounds by 2015. Of course, that's dependent on funding from the general public (tax increase) and Congress, plus private donations. Ballpark Village was going to be ready by 2009, and that's a nearly privately-funded project. So, it could be a while. I wish it were sooner, though.

Yes, I heard about the "spruce up" for the Archgrounds, but didn't see the plans for the Riverfront...do you have a link or know where I can take a lookie lou at em?

Hello Kevin. Just google Gateway Arch Redevelopment and there are several articles detailing the plan. Personally I don't think that any development could equal the grandeur of the riverfront in the '60s and '70s. The Admiral, Goldenrod Showboat, Becky Thatcher, Huck Finn, Sam Clemens, Robert E. Lee and all the rest made the drive down Wharf St. really special. Except for when there was a train clogging everything up! Here's a pic from the University of Wisconsin collection - very cool!!

Kevin, you can visit the official website at St. Louis Gateway Arch Grounds Project | CityArchRiver 2015. The overall project includes the St. Louis Riverfront, the Archgrounds, Kiener Plaza (west of the Old Courthouse), the lid over the depressed lanes of the interstate highway, and the Illinois riverfront. The lid is supposed to come first. Unfortunately, I fear that it might take until 2015 just to accomplish that portion. And, I'm sure money will run out before the project makes it to the Illinois riverfront. The overall project has been through several iterations, so it is likely that it could change again. Many people will remember the hilarious plans of about 5+ years ago. Thankfully, those died very quickly.

Now, for some other good news, the new Mississippi River Bridge, unrelated to the Archgrounds project, is moving along. They've recently topped out the towers and are apparently on time and budget. New Mississippi River Bridge Project. They're still shooting for a 2014 opening date.

Thank you for in the info gentlemen! I sure hope they go through with the plans...the only thing I saw yesterday that looked nice on the riverfront was the AQ!

I concur. The AQ did look good. And, I really hope that the improvement plans do occur. I like a lot of what is included. There's still a few tweaks I'd make, but overall, I think they should fund it and get started. And, they need to make sure that a different entity is charged with long term management. The current hodgepodge arrangement with the NPS, City Parks, City Streets, etc hasn't and isn't working. The CityGarden or the Forest Park Forever formula should be employed again, since it is working, in my opinion.