Ballpark Village over rated? (St. Louis, Union: condos, crime, how much)

[mjtinmemphis]

I love ballpark village but it seems a little overrated. It doesn't seem to have any appeal outside of the sports bar enthusiast type.

I don't know what long term impact this may have on WashAve but it shouldn't be much. I think they can exist together and may eventually compliment each other if they move forward with the luxury condos and upscale shopping phase.

What are your thoughts.

[billiken]

It's not really my scene but I enjoy it for what it is. I've taken a bunch of people from out of town there since its a recent addition to downtown. The only thing that really bothers me is the sea of parking. Hopefully that changes somewhat soon. I'd imagine it impacts the other sports bars surrounding Busch a lot more than it impacts Wash Ave....but I'm not very into the Wash Ave scene, either, so I have no idea.

[Dawn10am]

I don't think it's overrated, but government-subsidized douchebag bait just isn't my thing.

[BioMechanical]

Thank god it's not for everyone. It's hard enough getting a seat now as it is.

As a season ticket holder, I was there was dozens of times this year, and I witnessed extremely little douchebaggery. Usually only in the form of that guy that had one too many, but he's in every crowd no matter where you go, and Ballpark Village is pretty quick to show him the door.

I'd hang out at Ballpark Village over Wash Ave any night of the week, but honestly I was over Wash Ave nightlife about decade before Ballpark Village was even conceived as I am well into my 30's now. At any rate there are better options than either of those two places. Outside of game day anyway.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by Dawn10am

I don't think it's overrated, but government-subsidized douchebag bait just isn't my thing.

How much further do we have to go before downtown can stand on its own without a welfare type of support for millionaire developers?

[Dawn10am]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

How much further do we have to go before downtown can stand on its own without a welfare type of support for millionaire developers?

I hope not too much, but lately I've been having a bad feeling about downtown. It seems to be losing its mojo and this crime wave, if it continues, could be potentially devastating. I guess the one bright spot is the city taking a stance against Larry Rice, but we'll see if they actually follow through on their threat.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by Dawn10am

I hope not too much, but lately I've been having a bad feeling about downtown. It seems to be losing its mojo and this crime wave, if it continues, could be potentially devastating. I guess the one bright spot is the city taking a stance against Larry Rice, but we'll see if they actually follow through on their threat.

O no. They are going to follow through. There has been a few shootings (not homicides) from homeless patrons of the Centenary Methodist Church on Olive at the 711 over the past few months. It doesn't seem that Larry Rice is giving in to the demands from the courts. He will be gone in a few months. I don't think that is going to solve the homeless problem in Downtown. It will make it more difficult for them find shelter so its not a resolution.

I wish Downtown could gain another 5 to 10k residents over the next 2 to 3 years. I think that is what will put the shot in the arm for some retail (like a City Target, Nordstrom Rack and CVS. I know Im dreaming a little too much with the Nordstrom Rack) and it will create a momentum that we need to see growth.

Mayor Slay needs to get off his behind and create a pro business climate for the Downtown St. Louis. CORTEX and the Central West End seem to be doing quite well. We need the Express Scripts and Boeing types of businesses for the Downtown area. We would do well to see a Downtown workforce of 150 to 200k over the next 10 years. I don't remember where I heard this but we are only a few downtowns that hasn't grown its workforce.

I don't think its all doom and gloom. We have some exciting projects coming up like the National Blues History Museum, Union Station and the Riverfront. If the people are too scared to come to St. Louis then downtown will not survive.

[SouthCitySam]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

Mayor Slay needs to get off his behind and create a pro business climate for the Downtown St. Louis.

Agreed. And how about taking care of the graffiti problem while he's at it? Someone needs to educate Slay on the Broken Window Theory.

[Dawn10am]

Do we have a graffiti problem? I see some random stuff here and there, but not enough to scream "problem" to me.

[SouthCitySam]

Yes. We have a graffiti problem.