2013 STL Top Predictions..

[prophett]

Ho Ho Ho…It’s that time of year again….Once again let’s commence a little controversy, by civilly debating the forums top predictions for 2013.

1. The Delmar Trolley project will finally break ground in the early Spring.
2. Clark Avenue between the ball park and tucker will begin to develop into a quasi Washington avenue club district. More new business will move into the area. The Ball Park Village will be a quasi floop. Overall attendance for the Cards will be down because of very poor play. A plan to redevelop the last remaining Cupples Station warehouse will be announced with funding.
3. It will become very clear by mid summer that AT&T will not renew there existing lease. ( Boooo )
4. Downtown will continue to loose larger office tenants while gaining smaller IT firms.
5. A new DT residency tower will be announced.
6. FIRST will sign another agreement to host the convention in STL for another 3 years.

That's all I have folks....

[stlhistory]

1. Slay wins reelection against Reed, becoming longest-serving mayor of St. Louis.
2. After reelection, Slay and Dooley endorse plan for city to reenter the county; plan goes to the ballot in 2014.
3. Rex Sinquefield funds a campaign supporting city reentry to the county.
4. St. Louis Public Schools regain accreditation and the SAB begins transitioning power to the elected school board.
5. At least one more county municipality eliminates its police force or entirely disincorporates: Charlack and Uplands Park are high on my list.
6. The Post-Dispatch eliminates daily delivery service, a la the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
7. Biondi is forced into retirement (or just quits).
8. The St. Louis CVC loses its case in arbitration with the Rams, and Rams announce that the 2014 season will be their last in St. Louis.
9. Metro announces new bus rapid transit lines with special on-off zones and lane assignments.
10. Parks tax fails in St. Louis County, never makes it to the St. Charles ballot, passes in the city --> CityArchRiver gets the axe aside from the already financed "cap" on I-70

[Joseph Huber]

1) Slay is reelected
2) Airport: Southwest and Delta continue to add more destinations and services; airport renovations are completed and boost overall appeal; no progress is made on the China/International Trade Hub
3) Metro: Daniel Boone Corridor is announced as the next metrolink expansion, Grand BRT line is announced, ridership increases
4) Biondi is fired
5) Brown Shoe Company announces plans to begin construction on its long postponed new downtown Clayton headquarters.
6) More development is announced for the neighborhoods in the Central Corridor extending all the way to Clayton -more conversations will occur on how Downtown St. Louis and Downtown Clayton can work together to promote responsible development
7) One mainstream national retailer announces that it will open a location in Downtown St. Louis
Crime will continue its decline in the city
9) Cortex expansion gets off to strong start and more investment will flow into this sector. More housing in the Central West End, Midtown, and the Grove will be announced as the employment surrounding Cortex and the Medical Center grows.
10) No progress on Ballpark Village will be made.

[RuskiSTL]

1. Slay wins reelection against Reed, becoming longest-serving mayor of St. Louis.
2. After reelection, Slay and Dooley endorse plan for city to reenter the county; plan goes to the ballot in 2014.
3. Rex Sinquefield funds a campaign supporting city reentry to the county.
4. St. Louis Public Schools regain accreditation and the SAB begins transitioning power to the elected school board.
5. At least one more county municipality eliminates its police force or entirely disincorporates: Charlack and Uplands Park are high on my list.
6. The Post-Dispatch eliminates daily delivery service, a la the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
7. Biondi is forced into retirement (or just quits).
8. The St. Louis CVC loses its case in arbitration with the Rams, and Rams announce that the 2014 season will be their last in St. Louis.
9. Metro announces new bus rapid transit lines with special on-off zones and lane assignments.
10. Parks tax fails in St. Louis County, never makes it to the St. Charles ballot, passes in the city --> CityArchRiver gets the axe aside from the already financed "cap" on I-70

If #7 and #8 happen, what're the chances SLU finally announces a football team to fill the dome?

[stlhistory]

If #7 and #8 happen, what're the chances SLU finally announces a football team to fill the dome?

That's a prediction too far if you ask me. But the dome would need some kind of use -- I was hoping MLS.

[geoffksu]

.
10. Parks tax fails in St. Louis County, never makes it to the St. Charles ballot, passes in the city --> CityArchRiver gets the axe aside from the already financed "cap" on I-70

So everyone is clear - MoDOT is paying for a substantial sum of work other than The Lid:
- Third Street Streetscape (between Washington and Lacledes Landing Boulevard)
- Washington Avenue Improvements (between Memorial/Third and Fourth)
- Memorial Drive, I-70 reconfiguration and other miscellaneous work

No matter what, the Memorial (barrier) corridor is getting a large facelift (but not that facelift).

And GRG (the folks with all the real green) will be paying for the Sullivan/Riverfront Boulevard improvements.

And what's the deal with all the negative predictions? Didn't everyone get that out of their system on the 21st? Just rename this thread Negative Nancy predictions already...

P.S. Hasn't it been pretty much proven with evidence that the Rams won't be leaving town? The NFL stated that they don't want any teams moving, they will have two new Expansion teams in the future.

[rawest1]

1. Slay wins reelection against Reed, becoming longest-serving mayor of St. Louis.
2. After reelection, Slay and Dooley endorse plan for city to reenter the county; plan goes to the ballot in 2014.
3. Rex Sinquefield funds a campaign supporting city reentry to the county.
4. St. Louis Public Schools regain accreditation and the SAB begins transitioning power to the elected school board.
5. At least one more county municipality eliminates its police force or entirely disincorporates: Charlack and Uplands Park are high on my list.
6. The Post-Dispatch eliminates daily delivery service, a la the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
7. Biondi is forced into retirement (or just quits).
8. The St. Louis CVC loses its case in arbitration with the Rams, and Rams announce that the 2014 season will be their last in St. Louis.
9. Metro announces new bus rapid transit lines with special on-off zones and lane assignments.
10. Parks tax fails in St. Louis County, never makes it to the St. Charles ballot, passes in the city --> CityArchRiver gets the axe aside from the already financed "cap" on I-70

Yikes, I sincerely hope you're wrong about the second part of #8.

[pjeckelkamp]

If #7 and #8 happen, what're the chances SLU finally announces a football team to fill the dome?

That's a prediction too far if you ask me. But the dome would need some kind of use -- I was hoping MLS.

Zero.

[south compton]

1. Agree that Slay wins reelection.
2. Agree that at least one of St. Louis or St. Charles County will fail to pass the Parks tax (BTW, isn't it about time for Jefferson County to start participating in these things?).
3. Agree that at least one more St. Louis County muni disincorporates (hopefully more).

Additionally,
4. Rams and CVC reach a deal for minimal renovations in exchange for a 10 year lease extension and a commitment for a new stadium in 10 years.
5. SLU joins the new Catholic school conference.
6. Ballpark Village breaks ground. All are underwhelmed.
7. SLPS sees an increase in enrollment for the 2013 school year as more underperforming charter schools close.
8. Redevelopment plans for Federal Mogul site on Forest Park Ave are announced
9. Funding announced for Soulard Market renovations.
10. At least one Alderman with 20+ years announces retirement or intent not to seek another term.

[urbz]

^I thought Target was looking at the Federal Mogul site at one point. Did I dream this? I think 2013 would be a great time for this.

[beer city]

1 – Large retail project announced in Mid-Town or West End will be urban in nature and anchored by at least one big box retailer
2 – Noticeable decrease in crime across metro
3 – Big uptick in neighborhood residential development, mostly rehabs some new infill – especially in Shaw, FPSE, Benton Park and BPW
4 By September downtown starts having a lot more activity day and night fueled by SLULS, an increase in residents and a small increase in daytime workers,
5 – Large residential (with very small mixed use retail) project announced for the former Praxair and Mack truck site in Lafayette Sq
6 – Union Station renovation plans are announced, nothing bad but nothing earth shattering.
7 – TOD projects announced for one of the Missouri and one Illinois Metro Stations
8 – By the end of the year the future of NLEC is uncertain
9 – Rams and the City reach a deal on the dome, more expensive then the city wants, not a cool as the Rams want, but moving the team is not an option due to NFL intervention
10 – Potential MLS ownership group announced
11 – Arcade gets funded, Chemical finally starts by summer

If I had to handicap it, I would say I will be 7-4 this year.
All in all the City and region will have a positive year, not a great year, but a great year may be coming soon

[gregl]

2) Airport: Southwest and Delta continue to add more destinations and services

Delta has actually started cutting destinations out of St. Louis -- Raleigh-Durham and Washington-National.

Greg

[roger wyoming II]

1. Biondi leaves SLU but not before erecting a statue of a giant middle finger on top of the downtown law building.
2. Visitors flock to the new library for its stunning architecture, wonder what all those rectangular objects with spines on shelves are.
3. Latest BPV plans fall through; to get something, anything, a QT and Museum of TIFs open.
4. Fearing dip in our high STD rankings, dedicated Saint Louisans go on a month-long unprotected sex bender.
5. Republican-dominated, veto-proof Missouri legislature passes bill requiring Governor Nixon to clean the toilets in the Capitol Building. Nixon retaliates with Executive Order requiring republican legislators to wear "I'm Stupid" badges when requesting any help from state agencies.
6. A new restaurant will open. And close.
7. Saint Louis Blues get more wins Oct-Dec than during same period in 2012.
8. Newcomers will continue to be befuddled by Provel cheese.
9. MODOT really gets into the "Lid".... draws up plans for "depressing" I-64 in Chesterfield Valley to connect the World's Largest Strip Mall with the new outlet mall with a beautifully landscaped park-over-highway.
10. We'll still love Saint Louis.

[gone corporate]

Here goes something...

1. Efforts towards the establishment of a global logistics Trade Hub, specifically air cargo through both Lambert and Mid America Airports, will progress strongly. In MO, new legislation will be introduced, different from the 2011 legislation, and it will be passed. This is especially as the primary obstructionists in the General Assembly are term-limited out, and with the finalization of changes to tax credits for Low Income Housing (and Historic). New routes between the STL area and other countries, especially China, will be created and filled with flights. These new flights will not be limited to East Asia but will also include South America, specifically Brazil (within two years). New businesses, new construction projects, jobs, and tax revenues will be recognized in the City and throughout the Metro Area.

This will be the most significant new economic growth in the region.

2. The Cortex District will continue to grow, both for projects currently planned & underway but also for expansion of conceived projects. This will strongly further the development of the biotechnology industry in STL (hopefully including the attraction of later-stage venture capital).

3. Ballpark Village will break ground and, when built, the Cardinals Museum and Budweiser-themed restaurant will recognize considerable patronage, especially from families. But, the real growth will be in the other venues nearby, including the new Flying Saucer in the Cupples 9 building. And while the Budweiser restaurant will have patrons, I doubt it will diminish the draw of Paddy O’s as the favorite place for fans to gather.

4. The Rams and the CVC reach an agreement for facilities at the Jones Dome, which may or may not require a vote for revenues. It better not be a popular sales tax increase, however, because that would have to compete with the Arch Grounds sales tax. (And I sure hope Steven Jackson is resigned and stays a Ram going forward...)

5. The Arch Grounds Sales Tax will pass in STL City and STL County, and maybe (but probably not) in St. Charles County. Afterwards, the group will pitch for taxes in St. Clair and Madison Counties in IL, primarily for work to develop the IL side of the Mississippi across from the Arch Grounds, and especially if/when St. Charles County votes against the tax. It is possible that Jefferson County, MO will be asked to contribute as well, although I doubt such a tax increase would pass there.

6. The Missouri Supreme Court will find in favor of Paul McKee and McEagle Development, stating that the Appeals Court overstepped its bounds in interpreting existing laws. With this ruling, NorthSide Redevelopment will be able to move forward and begin developing within its footprint, specifically targeting areas near the New Mississippi River Bridge’s entrance into STL as well as putting plans forward to completely redevelop the 22nd Street Exchange, all the while working on infrastructure developments in the remainder of their assembled lands.

7. Areas peripheral to the New Mississippi River Bridge approaches will recognize strong interests in new development. This includes the Tucker / 12th Street extension into North STL, and with interests by both NorthSide Redevelopment-related projects and others. More significantly, the IL approach will attract warehousing and trucking-related developments, bringing in industry to a largely undeveloped stretch of the Metro Area near the eastern riverfront. This will bring in revenues to the Near East Side unseen since the Casino Queen’s arrival.

8. Relations between the Central Library and NLEC get worse as the newly-renovated Library is regularly home to incidents involving homeless people loitering inside & outside, and some negative incident occurs soon that will make this fight newsworthy. From here, the full issue of homelessness in STL City & County gets redefined and addressed throughout the political communities. Meanwhile, another group will organically rise up supporting Lucas Park. Their argument: If the NYC Central Library can copy the STL Central Library’s expansion plans, then why not have Lucas Park copy what NYC’s done with library-adjacent Bryant Park?

9. New venture capital, private equity groups, and related funding mechanisms will continue to appear as STL recognizes more companies going from simple start-ups to successful companies. From here, enough capital begins to come in so that enough VC/PE is available to retain companies when they have grown big enough to attract capitol based outside STL, i.e. Silicon Valley. Lockerdome will be one of these companies recognizing attention. Certain Arch Grants companies will begin to gain market share and become cash-flow positive. The rising of these VC/PE sources continues as STL continues to attract financial services companies to the area.

10. The City will recognize continued growth in specific neighborhoods that are having resurgent turnarounds and seeing new residents/businesses come to them. The most popular of these include:
• The Midtown Business District;
• Morgan Ford (aptly named the MF District);
• The Grove;
• Cherokee Street;
• South Grand;
• The Mack (Macklind); and
• Delmar east of the Loop East Developments.
These sites will recognize organic growth that will continue to attract new blood to the City. Meanwhile, the Powers That Be will begin exploring the idea of whether comparable successes on Washington Avenue in Downtown can be continued on Locust. And, as more successful developments based on historic centers of commerce continue to grow, new districts will emerge in heretofore undiscovered redevelopable areas, including Broadway in Carondelet and Vandeventer south of the Grove. And, maybe even a concerted effort to cross the Delmar Divide with development capital.

[38N 90W]

Not much to add to what has already been stated.

1. Mayor Slay is re-elected.
2. The Rams strike a compromise on the stadium and continue on to build as team.
3. Hey the NHL comes back (in the fall) and the Blues don't lose a second and keep improving.
4. We West County folk look like an obese man at a Vegas buffet as we drown under more Chesterfield Valley retail, simply unable to breathe on our own. Why limit ourselves to one factory outlet...build them both! I used to play hockey when all there was were farms and the airport.


...Course I am still waiting for the 2014,15,16 predictions for a Missouri-wide prediction:

Jay Nixon 2016 for President.