Remarkably, the following words were written just over a year ago. And, yet, our civic leaders (and even civic gadflies) continue to neglect and, now, condemn this structure to an ignoble fate.

Is it too late to Save the Skybridge?

Cee Wisp Communications
Re: Save the Skybridge
Embargo: Thursday, February 4, 5 p.m.

ST. LOUIS – As reported in Martin Van Der Werf’s
column in the Post-Dispatch today, efforts are afoot
to remove the pedestrian “skybridge” from the St.
Louis Centre complex, thereby forever altering the
scenic streetscape along this burgeoning section of
Washington Avenue. In response, a group of concerned
citizens is planning a multi-pronged approach to keep
the historic skybridge intact.

“Changing the dramatic exterior of the St. Louis
Center skybridge would be a mistake,” says Franklin
Jennings, a spokesperson for the ad-hoc “Save the
Skybridge” effort. “Once torn asunder, the views in
this area of eastern Downtown would never be the same.
We consider the skybridge to be part-and-parcel of the
robust nature and dramatic vista of this working
neighborhood. It has been a part of Downtown for
roughly two decades. Our contention is that it should
be serviceable for at least two generations.”

With City Hall rainmakers likely favoring the
demolition of this structure – which linked the old
Dillard’s department store to the vibrant commercial
hub of the Centre – overtures will be made to
insurgent Mayoral candidates Bill Haas and Irene
Smith.

“These are people who regularly trade in the ideas
market,” says Jennings. “No ‘isms’ apply with them.
Particularly age-ism, which is clearly in effect with
this anti-preservation move. The thought that the
contemporary design aesthetics of the late-‘70s and
early-‘80s can be so wantonly tossed aside, shows that
our civic leadership doesn’t value Generation X, the
people who grew up with the architecture so vividly
brought to life by the skybridge. This seems to stand
in stark contrast with ballyhooed efforts to woo young
residents to the City.”

Jennings suggests that those interested become
immediately involved, first by purchasing goods and
services from the vendors that call St. Louis Centre
home.

“Nothing speaks louder than a consumer response,”
Jennings says. “And the range and scope of commercial
endeavors currently taking place in the Centre will
surely surprise those who’ve not shopped there in
several years.”

Meanwhile, online efforts will be undertaken through
the (in-construction) internet portal:
savetheskybridge.org.

“We’ve seen countless Downtown buildings saved through
highly-public internet campaigns, featuring
sharply-designed, highly-intuitive and
dynamically-interactive sites” Jennings says. “Why not
here?”

Now that information of the potential demolition of
the historic skybridge is becoming public, Jennings
hopes to tap into the goodwill built through other,
recent efforts to save important Downtown landmarks.
He stresses that “outside-the-big-box thinking” might
be required here.

“Take the trendy ‘windowless condo’ idea so prevalent
in the American Northwest,” Jennings suggests. “It’s
not necessary for Downtown lofts to have, for example,
40 windows per unit. In our research, windowless
condos are increasingly popular in rain-saturated,
low-light cities such as Portland and Seattle, where
adaptive reuse is treasured, not mocked. To target a
handful of units to those with solid incomes and light
sensitivity is simply good business.”

For more information, contact Franklin Jennings
through Cee Wisp Communications @
franklinjennings@yahoo.com.

-30-

In memory: Johnathan Swift, 1667-1742.

"stores on the ground floor"

Does anyone have any insight on what that means?

Maybe Tom Lampe can finally take a few photos without be threatened with incarceration!

Thank god they are going to do something constructive with the StL Center. I just hope the condo's or a little more creative than the usual plain old conversion. They should be a little more modern.

The save the sky bridge moron needs to shut up. That damn thing is an eye sore and is NOT historical.

Save the Skybridge is a joke, that followed closesly on the heels of Save the Century. I thought it was pretty funny.

Based on the PD story it sounds like stores on the ground floor will be turned inside out and face the street. They also said Golds Gym and Walgreens will remain as tenants, hopefully now with a street presence. I went to the Walgreens for the first time last week durning lunch. It was packed, yet very difficult to get to.