The St. Louis Rams responded May 1 to the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission proposal from February 1 and today the public gets its first look at the organization's wishes for a "top-tier" NFL stadium. The existing lease requires the CVC, the stadium's owner, to keep the facility among the most lavish in the league. The proposal, released by Missouri Attorney General against the Ram's wishes, in response to multiple Sunshine Law requests, does not include a price tag, stating that the plan is "presented in sufficient detail to permit the CVC to price improvements."

What remains unclear is what changes actually constitute "top-tier" status. The Rams may terminate the lease in 2015 if the stadium does not rate better than three-quarters of NFL venues in 15 categories ranging from seating to advertising opportunities and concessions. The two parties have until June 15 to reach a deal. If the final judgment in the presumed arbitration process deems a retractable roof, additional seats and more as necessary, the lease that brought the Rams to St. Louis must be recognized as one of the worst in sports history.

In detail, the Ram's proposed changes are in effect a new stadium. The south, west and majority of the north facade would remain, according to the proposal. Instead of the CVC's small windows added to the existing structure, the Rams would like glass walls more than 30 feet high and a retractable roof, a "glazed building envelope". The varied facets of the tilted, moving roof would be a unique addition to professional sports stadiums.


{the Rams proposal calls for a nearly new stadium - rendering looking northwest}

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ARTCRANK - a poster party for bike people, gets rolling this Friday at the Atomic Cowboy in The Grove and cooincides with three days of professional cycling in the city. I'm lucky enough to have been chosen for the second year in a row as one of the 30 artists presenting an original poster at the show. If you missed my poster last year, check it out here. The show is meant to bring together the cycling and art communities, showcase local artists and offer affordable original works to purchase ($40). Proceeds will benefit St. Louis Bicycle Works.

Posters must be original and many feature some element of the event city. Last year I used a photograph I snapped at the Tour of Missouri as the peloton cut through Lafayette Square as the starting point for my print. Searching through past cycling photos and shuffling through sketches and other ideas had me at a dead end this year, until I happened upon a surprising photo.


{the poster displayed at the Atomic Cowboy for ARTCRANK STL}

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In January Saint Louis University announced it would be moving to downtown St. Louis. Today, SLU has revealed renderings for what must currently be considered a rather plain building. Unfortunately, it's current look isn't a re-skin of an historic facade that could be rebuilt or revealed. It is what it is, but if the final product remains similar to renderings released today, SLU is well on its way to prove that just about any building can be made not only better, but very attractive. Renderings show an additional floor added to the existing building (it was built originally to accommodate additional floors), a rooftop deck and space renovated for law classrooms. SLU Law plans to move to the new downtown location in August 2013.



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MoDOT held a public meeting April 10 to solicit public comments on the CityArchRiver2015 Foundation's plan to remove several blocks of downtown St. Louis streets including Memorial Drive at the Gateway Mall. The public was given 12 days notice of the meeting that was held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in City Hall. At the meeting, three "alternatives" were presented for addressing perceived inadequacies in pedestrian connections between downtown and the Arch grounds (click here to read the nextSTL summary of the public meeting).  

At the meeting, alternatives two and three were labeled "does not meet the need and purpose of the (CityArchRiver) project". And so no alternatives were presented. Now MoDOT is responding to individuals who suggested as part of the requested public feedback that I-70 should be converted to a boulevard. MoDOT is stating that there are "two key reasons why removal of the I-70 corridor is not feasible." (full text of MoDOT form response below)

Reason one is that the CityArchRiver plan "precludes eliminating I-70 and turning it into a boulevard." Why? Because, MoDOT states, a boulevard in place of the Interstate "would not solve the primary purpose and need for the CAR 2015 project. A primary purpose of the CAR 2015 project is to ease both pedestrian and bike flow from downtown into the Arch grounds.  A four to six lane boulevard would restrict pedestrian and bike access, not make it better. In addition, an at-grade boulevard does not link the Arch grounds with Luther Ely Square Park and the courthouse." Add a comment

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