Saint Louis
CitySide
St. Louis Front Page presents St. Louis CitySide, an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis. From time to time, we will take an indepth look at many of the projects in which the city is involved and how these projects will affect residents and visitors.
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Development of Riverfront Moves Forward
with Arch Grounds Connector
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), August 7, 2005 - St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay asked the Danforth Foundation to assist the City in its efforts to redevelop the Central Riverfront and construct the Arch Grounds Connector, better known as "the lid" over I-70.
"At my inauguration in April, I announced the development of the Central Riverfront and the Arch Grounds Connector as major priorities for my second term," said Mayor Slay in an announcement. "These projects are complex. They will cost millions of dollars and will take several years to complete. But if completed, they will transform the image of the St. Louis region, both nationally and internationally. For these reasons, I have asked the Danforth Foundation for support to advance the projects, and I have asked Senator Danforth to assess how they could proceed beyond the planning stages."
In his first term, Slay made Downtown revitalization a priority and had several successful results, including the redevelopment of the Old Post Office, the revitalization of Washington Avenue and the new Cardinals ballpark, which will open in Spring of 2006. Now the focus has expanded to revamping the Central Riverfront and connecting the Arch Grounds to Downtown. The City is working with the Great Rivers Greenway District, the National Park Service, Metro and Downtown Now! to finalize a master plan for the St. Louis Central Riverfront.
The vision for the Arch Grounds Connector is a three-block deck design covering Interstate 70's depressed lanes that separate the Arch Grounds from Downtown. The three-block deck design would create a plaza-like environment between north and southbound Memorial Drive, with easy and safe access between the Arch Grounds and Downtown.
The Mayor's request to the Danforth Foundation had several components. First, Slay requested that the Foundation contribute funding to the Great Rivers Greenway District's St. Louis Riverfront Master Plan design process. The additional funding will go toward developing detailed construction drawings that will accelerate the schedule for implementation of the plan. Second, Slay requested funding to complete the necessary surveys and engineering work that will be the basis for a realistic design of the Arch Grounds Connector. Third, Slay requested funding for a design competition for the Arch Grounds Connector. Slay also asked Senator Danforth for his advice and guidance on how the projects could proceed beyond design to construction, as well as to determine the interest of various agencies, organizations and levels of government in providing financial and professional support.
"I am happy to report that the Danforth Foundation Board has agreed to the Mayor's funding request to draft construction documents for the Central Riverfront. We will also provide the necessary funding for the Arch Grounds Connector preliminary engineering work and design competition," said John C. Danforth, Chairman of the Danforth Foundation and a partner at the law firm Bryan Cave.
"While the Arch has served as the backdrop for many great events on the riverfront, it remains disconnected from St. Louis. The Foundation sees great possibilities for our riverfront and the Arch Grounds Connector. This area holds great importance for our entire region. Therefore, we are willing to make this investment in the hopes that other interested parties will follow," stated Danforth.
The work is expected to be completed in approximately one year. During this time, Senator Danforth will also be making his assessment of how best to secure funding and the partnerships needed to complete these projects. "These are enormous projects in terms of scope and cost. At the request of Mayor Slay, I will meet with individuals in both the public and private sectors to explore the possibilities and to determine the level of support for this exciting and worthy effort. I plan to report back to the Mayor no later than summer of 2006," said Danforth.
"By summer of next year, we should have a final plan and construction documents for the Central Riverfront and a specific design concept for the Arch Grounds Connector. Most importantly, if Senator Danforth finds that there is enough interest and support for these projects, we will have a detailed strategy for actual implementation," said Mayor Slay.
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