You hear it all the time: "St. Louis is a city of neighborhoods". It's true. Many people love their neighborhoods, and associate with it very personally. There are also many who don't know what neighborhood they live in and don't care. Do we have too many neighborhoods?
Some neighborhoods tell a story. Informing someone that you live in the Central West End immediately conjures up an image...whereas if you say you live in Fountain Park (right across the street from CWE) most will not know what the heck you are talking about.
Some neighborhoods are branded well and recognized throughout the region.
The Hill, would be a perfect example. Almost everyone in the city and the metropolitan region knows the Hill.
Soulard is another example of a clear regional identity that is well branded and defined. Maybe we should sell this "city of neighborhoods" thing a little more. Maybe this should be our city slogan. Mound City, Gateway to the West....The City of Neighborhoods. Who knows.
One thing I think would certainly help is to consolidate some of our neighborhoods.
79 neighborhoods is too much for a city of ~350,000 in my opinion. Readers of this blog may be in the know about the city, but I would bet if you polled a thousand St. Louisians and 10,000 suburban/metro St. Louisians, they would have no idea what neighborhood they are in; or, could not provide you with the boundaries of College Hill or King's Oak.
Many St. Louis county people think they are in St. Louis and couldn't tell you how to get to Marlborough or Bel-Nor. But the county's 91 cities are not my task to talk about...back to St. Louis.
Let's consolidate for Pete's sake. Reducing the # of aldermen never seems to resonate with voters, so let's use them more wisely; we need to get lean and mean. Give them more responsibility, raise the pay from $28,800, make it a full time, serious job. Here are my suggestions to take St. Louis from 79 neighborhoods down to a more meaningful 29.
Consolidate Ellendale, Clayton/Tamm, Franz Park and Hi-Pointe into "Dogtown"
I add Ellendale because it has a very similar feel to the other official Dogtown neighborhoods...lots of frame home, very hilly, right on the western border of the city.
Cheltenham, Kings Oak and Forest Park Southeast become "the Highlands"
I've never identified with these neighborhoods as unique entities. The Grove branding is one that never resonated with me. I mean, it doesn't even border Tower Grove Park....what gives?
Mark Twain, Mark Twain/I-70 Industrial, Walnut Park East and West become "Walnut Park"
This whole area has a similar feel to me.
Hamilton Heights, Wells/Goodfellow, Kingsway East and West become "Kingsway"
Patch and Carondelet become "Carondelet"
This seems a natural fit. When I was in the Patch, many described the area as Carondelet anyway.
Holly Hills and Boulevard Heights become "Holly Hills"
Boulevard Heights has never been well branded and the Holly Hills Neighborhood org. crosses into BH anyhow.
Tower Grove East, McKinley Heights and Fox Park become "Tower Grove East"
Baden and North Pointe become "Baden"
Two of the nicest north city neighborhoods...
Central West End, Academy, Fountain Park, Lewis Place and Vandeventer become "Central West End"
Talk amongst yourselves...
Botanical Heights, the Gate District, Midtown, Covenant Blu/Grand Center and Tiffany become "Midtown"
I love this one
Jeff Vanderlou stays as is...no good reason other than its really big (in area)
Carr Square, Columbus Square, Hyde Park, St. Louis Place and Old North become "Old North St. Louis"
realize these are drastically different neighborhoods, but the momentum and positivity of the ONSL Restoration Group should/could bleed over into the neighboring areas.
St. Louis Hills and Lindenwood Park merge as "St. Louis Hills"
I think this would cause quite a stir with the STLHillers, you?
Princeton Heights, North Hampton and Southampton merge as "Southampton"
Seems like a natural fit
Mt. Pleasant, Gravois Park, Marine Villa, Dutchtown and Bevo become "Dutchtown"
you see Dutchtown signs all over these parts anyhow.
Wydown/Skinker, Skinker-DeBaliviere, West End, Visitation Park and Debaliviere Place become "The West End"
Spread the wealth, join hands, cross the divide and become one
Downtown and Downtown West are now simply "Downtown"
That's an easy one
The Greater Ville and the Ville merge as "The Ville"
Again, a very easy merge
Riverview, Near North Riverfront and North Riverfront merge as "Riverview"
Sell/brand the beauty that is the Riverfront Trail and the Confluence and the Mighty Miss!
Shaw and Compton Heights become "Shaw"
The Hill and Southwest Garden merge as "the Hill"
Gulp...I hope I don't get relieved of my duties as a youth bocce ball coach
Hamilton Heights and Wells/Goodfellow merge
Tower Grove South stays as is
Kosciusko stays as is
Clifton Heights stays as is
for no other reason than I think this is one of the most unique areas of the city
Benton Park and Benton Park West merge to become "Benton Park"
Lafayette Square and Peabody/Darst/Webbe become "Lafayette"
The Georgian needs to be part of Lafayette, Truman boulevard needs to be crossable...maybe this would help...I don't think LS would go for this one (stoop so low)...but hey, I'm an idealist.
College Hill, O'Fallon, Fairgrounds Park and Penrose become "O'Fallon"
Whew...chop chop...I know your dander may be up; but, what's a blog post without a little personal provocation?
Seriously though, I like this for several reasons. As I already mentioned, it would build more of an identity within all areas of the city. It would allow more branding. It would infuse some diversity of economics, race, thoughts, etc. Many neighborhoods need help from people who want to help, but have no ownership or collective way to join together. It would be more manageable. It would help lessen the whole north/south divide thing that plagues our city. Damn it, it would just be easier to know where the hell you are.
Now I realize there are some historical and meaningful connotations with many of these neighborhood names and boundaries, but I'd be willing to overlook that. And more than anything, I'm keenly aware of the fact that St. Louisans are ultra conservative and fear change like the plague. But things change people. The city is not the same today as it was when I moved here in 1994. It's better and it's evolving and it's exciting.
I really think this would be a meaningful step forward for the city. Each new neighborhood would be comprised of a single non-political party affiliated alderman (with consecutive term limits), a neighborhood board and several NSO's. The budgets would be based on density/population...not income levels or influence. More people...more $$$$$. It's that simple. Maybe too simple, I'm just thinking out loud and having fun with the topic.
You know Internet statistics are very interesting. It's enlightening to track what people are visiting this site for and what they are reading. These neighborhood profiles are very popular and the most clicks are on the neighborhoods that people know and love, or are recognizable outside the region. No body is clicking on Penrose or Walnut Park East or Boulevard Heights or Mount Pleasant....if we had ~30 maybe that would change and we could more easily advertise and promote the ENTIRE city.
What do you think? What would you do?
