tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post8241911499128759258..comments2023-10-02T08:28:06.724-05:00Comments on Ecology of Absence: World Leadership Award Nice, Progress Made GreatMichael R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17262548806079447404noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-49936126385429286902007-12-14T14:54:00.000-06:002007-12-14T14:54:00.000-06:00Ha. Preservation is still a somewhat geographical...Ha. Preservation is still a somewhat geographically-restricted idea. Doug and Anonymous are right that north city is not yet automatically part of the "historic preservation" mindset. However, that has a much to do with other prejudice against north St. Louis as it does with a lack of a real commitment to historic preservation on the part of political leaders.<BR/><BR/>However, it's ultimately only preservationists who will be fully committed to historic preservation everywhere in the city. Politicians will be committed as much as preservationists and developers hold them to account -- and the award suggests that we are doing a decent job. Of course, so are those who oppose our goals. The answer is not cynical resignation to the supposed power of other political lobbies but the continued development of our own.Michael R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262548806079447404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-31859720514206592452007-12-12T19:22:00.000-06:002007-12-12T19:22:00.000-06:00This is like the battle over the census numbers--t...This is like the battle over the census numbers--the data exists and those who are disbelievers should put up or shut up. On a more serious note, D.D. makes a good point--what is the relationship between the remarkable successes downtown and the continuing disabandonment and speculative acquisition of property a scant blocks to the north? Rollin Stanley says that the World Leadership Award signifies the emergence of downtown and the desire on the part of city leaders to expand the renaissance to Old North St. Louis. <BR/><BR/>Methinks that the answer is not preservation and that preservation is really ancillary to the overall trends--although very important in terms of downtown as Michael "the Slayman" Allen points out.<BR/><BR/>Just kidding, Michael...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-33273314997617297362007-12-10T19:30:00.000-06:002007-12-10T19:30:00.000-06:00Thanks for pointing out the obvious Doug - not eve...Thanks for pointing out the obvious Doug - not every building is being rehabbed in the city. Shocking. I, for one, am living in one home that sat vacant and was a gut rehab in 2001. I'm very grateful for all the hard work the citizens, individual rehabbers and yes, even some of the politicians, have put into reusing much of the building stock in the city. Now I'm looking for a new home in the city and home that the transition can be made in to new "urban" homes in neighborhoods that have seen much rehabbing. I'd like to stay in the city, but life changes and needs change. I hope that a developer will see that there's demand for new housing. I'm not ready to contract the building of a home, but have spoken with several homebuilders and encouraged them to build in the city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-29715803657301107652007-12-10T16:27:00.000-06:002007-12-10T16:27:00.000-06:00Only a few years ago the Century was demolished, w...Only a few years ago the Century was demolished, while Grand Center continues their orgy of demolition and Paul McKee still has not faced any fines even though he is illegally blockbusting the North Side. <BR/><BR/>How has the political environment changed?<BR/><BR/>Moreover, "according to Mayor Slay?" When did his numbers become the standard? I would love to see this data assuming it exists.Doug Duckworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684467055184767166noreply@blogger.com