Please Do, Please Don’t: How Can We Address Violence in The Loop?

The Loop has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods in St. Louis. I love it as an example of revitalization without displacing low-income residents. I love that this revitalization was mostly effected from the ground up, by business owners in the area. I love the diversity of these businesses and their patrons. I love Chuck Berry at the Duck Room and Cicero’s BBQ pizza.

Because of this, I have been saddened by the recent news regarding the Loop. The storyline of “up to no good” teenagers causing problems is not a new one. I’d seen similar stories about the Galleria and the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. However, the recent brawl and shootings seemed like something bigger. These events could (but shouldn’t) be the tipping point that causes suburban St. Louisans, and city residents alike, to think twice before coming to the Loop.

The implications of this could be pretty big. I think of the Loop as a “gateway” urban neighborhood. People go there to leave their cars, walk around, and interact with others from radically different walks of life. Still, it has huge parking lots, and most of it is not technically in the city of St. Louis. It is a great neighborhood for those who want to dip their toe into urban life. Those who come to appreciate it might be inclined to explore lesser-known St. Louis neighborhoods. If the perception of the Loop shifts and the average St. Louisan decides it is too dangerous to visit, I fear that the effects would be felt throughout the City of St. Louis.