There's a problem with the Edward Jones Dome. All the action is on the inside. What's happening outside? The whole structure taken together with the America's Center presents a blank face to the city and an obstacle to foot and bike traffic that wants to get to the other side of it. The areas next to it have been deemed unsuitable for a "Football Village" Bottle Works District because of the noise and unsightliness that is the raised portion of I-70.
Obviously, I-70 should be removed as suggested by City to River, but let's jump to the other side of the world first.
This is the World Cub Soccer Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. It isn't downtown, but set off in a park on the outskirts of the city. There's not street life nearby to speak of, but it is a more flexible space.
Though it lacks a city grid, it does have its own subway station. It is also bizarrely accessible. It has a sunken urban stream running by that functions as a major bikeway connecting it to the rest of the city's trail network. It also integrates inself into the park and the surrounding highrise district with its own multi-faceted structure.
You can see in this image that the park is next to the river and the stream connects directly to the Han River Park.
Like the Edward Jones Dome connecting to the America's Center, Seoul's World Cup Stadium connects to a multi-storey mall. More correctly stated, the stadium is on the roof of a very large mall.
When the World Cup ended in Korea and the government realised the building wasn't turning a profit, they filled it with shops.
We all realise that the Edward Jones Dome is not turning a profit on its adjacent blocks. Perhaps it too could benefit from some a retail presence. Why is there no Rams Village?
Why is there no Ballpark Village?
The Ballpark Village concept, even if it never happened, is sound. Why wouldn't it be? It is ripped from the existing and fuctioning area around Wrigley Field in Chicago where adjacent property holders allow people on their roofs to view the games. Real estate developments owned by the Cardinals would have provided diversified income for the team and put more life into the area when games are not being played. The shops and stadium would both profit from the presence of the other. Everyone would be a winner, especially the city the team claims to represent.
Back to the Bottle Works District, which could fit between the Dome, Laclede's Landing, the Arch Grounds, and one of the NorthSide job centers. It would be mere blocks from the entrance to the North Riverfront Trail and several metrolink stations.
The Dome does not need a mall, but it does need to better connect to the park space nearby and the city's trail network. It does need adjacent retail developments. It must address the dead space around it.
City to River's highway removal plan is the best idea out there right now to do it.
Busch Stadium will be connected to the riverfront and the arch grounds.
The raised section of I-70 closer to the Dome will not longer be a great wall going though the middle of the city. Downtown would be healed and our sports facilities would be better connected.
View the City to River presentation here.
View Vanishing STL's picnic and baseball downtown trip here.
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