It's great the Danforth Foundation is taking such interest in its home city, however let's not get carried away. Remember, St. Louis 2004 operated as a "government in exile," pursing private objectives and agendas and foregoing official approval (or participation) by elected city government officials. Maybe doing away with "red tape" and bureaucracy gets some things done, but privately-financed initiatives can hardly be touted as doing the "will of the people." Slay may discover that using someone else's money for a City project may ultimately risk City control over the project. After all, couldn't the Danforth Foundation pursue the project without City involvement, working just with the National Parks Service and MODOT?

tee hee. he called the riverfront a dump and downtown's lack of easy access to the arch a disgrace

I don't think you need to worry about the Mayor being cut out of the process. I think it's the public that will be cut out ala Downtown Now! By "handing over" development to a nonprofit, the administration is able to avoid freedom of information requests.

The Danforth Foundation has made yet another incredible contribution to revitalization of our community. Few cities have a private foundation willing to invest in such creative ways. We are so fortunate!