Delmar Station / Ssamziegil

It took a long time for the Delmar Loop to expand into the city and jump across Skinker.  A night club, a light rail station, and some streetscape improvements helped, but real change didn't happen until the next wave of businesses moved in like Miss Saigon, Chinese Noodle Cafe, Big Shark Bikes, and Pin-Up Bowl.  That filled out the street and made it look active. 

Every St. Louisan has probably found themselves in the Loop at some point looking east and wondering just how far it could go.  Let's push it towards downtown! 

Joe Edwards, the biggest property owner in the Loop, has been pushing these past few years for a streetcar to carry the development eastward.  The plan modestly stops at Debaliviere and turns south towards the History Museum.  Nobody is really happy with the plan for its price and limited length, but it does create the clear impression that Joe Edwards thinks the loop will be longer one day.

The problem is that there is no reason at all to cross Des Peres Avenue on Delmar.  That's where the loop stops.  The MetroLink station is accessed from the side street, not from Delmar itself. 

This is a shame because there's such a nice building sitting above the station waiting to be used again as a train station.

Early users of the station probably remember the staircase that once climbed up from the platform into the building above.  It was removed around 2001 and 2002, I think. 

Why cross this street?

If there's nothing on the other side but an empty building, why would you ever walk in that direction? 

Let's go to Philadelphia where there is a plan to build a giant bike station spiraling up out of what is currently a dull surface parking lot.

This is still just a parking structure much like the lot it is replacing, but every downtown needs a good bike station for people to shower before walking to work.  In this case they hope to make something massive and visible.  It is one of those 'infrastructure creates demand' instead of 'demand creates infrastructure' sort of cases.  Are there that many people who commute by bike?   Probably not, but maybe there will be if enough people walk by and see the giant parking garage.

What if this was built, not over a parking lot, but over a light rail station?  In the case of Delmar Station, several victories could easily come from it.  The platforms could be sheltered from the rain.  The old station building on Delmar Blvd could be made into an entrance, and Hodiamont could be better integrated into the station.  There would be plenty of bike parking, and even showers.  People driving by would see the structure and know exactly where the train station is.  As long as there is one bike station along the metrolink line, sweaty bike commuters can get off and shower there before getting back on the train and heading to work.  If it's tall enough, maybe people would climb up to get a view of Forest Park. 

Would people feel compelled to cross Des Peres Ave and enter on Delmar?  Most probably wouldn't. 

The Delmar Loop is a popular place with lots of foot traffic, and most people like it.  The same could be said about Insadong in Seoul, South Korea.  Insadong is a cultural arts street bursting with gift shops, art galleries, tea shops, and traditional street foods.  In the middle of Insadong, a large building looms behind a row of small shops.

There are a few side streets that can be taken to get inside in addition to the main entrance.  Inside is a vibrant courtyard and a gentle spiral of shops and gawking Japanese tourists.

Ssamziegil (쌈지길), as the structure is known, is the number one place to go in Seoul for people in the market for handmade accessories and bean-paste buns shaped like...

Ssamziegil is almost always showcasing artwork of some kind.  Things very often hang in the open space between the railings.

The 'gil' part of the name means, 'road.'  If you start walking up, you'll keep going and going along one long coiled up road.  It is just like the spiralling stacks at Seattle's public library.

Combine three things.  Ssamziegil and the bike station are remarkably similar to each other, and both showcase a central courtyard.  Why not showcase transit?  Why not put bikes where the trains are?  Delmar Station has plenty of air above it.  Combine the station with the bike garage and active, artistic shops.  Maybe make a few top levels into private residences or office space.  Make sure the road ends  in a sky cafe looking down on Delmar facing east with the Arch in far distance.

It doesn't matter who builds it, as long as they pay rent to Metro.

Does it have to be Delmar?  No.  It could be at Forest Park or any other place below a bridge.