Everyone knows of a place or places in built St. Louis where something is distressing, missing, or just not right. In fact, there is no shortage of such places that beg for replacement or remedy. There is also no shortage of well-conceived, if not thoroughly considered, ideas of improvement from imaginative citizens. While likely to remain only hypothetical, the generation of, and sharing with others such ideas only propels forward the interest in betterment of our built city, and a place to exchange good, graphic ideas becomes essential.
Good ideas can become better ideas with critical review and contributions that further concepts, and those better ideas may even become more than theoretical proposals with steady promotion and official interest. It’s easy to see an obvious problem and desire change, but it’s undoubtedly better to know what’s there, and to show what should be.
What Should Be 
I am interested in knowing more about any plans, proposals, or ideas for the seemingly abandoned Pelican Building on South Grand. Also next door is the abandoned and shuttered YMCA building. A wine bar, specialty food shop, or mixed use business would be suitable for Pelican Building. And with lack of gyms and fitness centers in the city, why not reconvert the YMCA into something similar (fitness center/gym)? I drive by both these buildings every day twice…if i had the money and capital…they’d be mine to spruce up this section of South Grand. I can envision an uninterrupted stream of business, commercial, and residential fronts from Comptom Hts Water Tower South. SLU, on the other hand is perhaps one of the worst things for Midtown. I have multitudes of ideas and will be happy to follow up with future postings. I work full time and part time Masters work, so try to squeeze in blogging and e-community activism when and where I can. Love your site by the way! Cheers