Downtown Now! Development Plan
Gateway Mall & Arch Grounds

The Downtown Plan for the Gateway Mall and Arch Grounds builds upon the grand nature of the open space, providing Downtown St. Louis and the entire St. Louis region with first- class landmarks that will be recognized throughout the world. The Gateway Mall, stretching the full east-west length of Downtown, is integrally merged with the image and experience of Downtown St. Louis for residents, workers and visitors alike. This memorable urban park, as a site of local and visitor events and as the front door to Downtown’s future will reinforce the

clearest orientation to all of Downtown and link the two most visited sites, the Arch Grounds and Union Station.

The Mall, in concert with the Arch Grounds, becomes the organizing open space around which all of Downtown revolves. Each boulevard gateway to Downtown connects with the Mall, providing ease of circulation among government, business, recreation, cultural and residential venues. The District’s open space character must allow for a varied and distinctive personality as one travels west from the River to 22nd Street, while providing ease of circulation with
enhanced traffic, bicycle and pedestrian movements.

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is the site of one of the world’s most distinctive pieces of public sculpture, and a beautifully landscaped but dramatically underused open space. The plan calls for the reintegration of the Arch Grounds into the downtown through a landscaped lid over I-70 and enhanced activities in the open spaces of both the Arch Grounds and the Mall.

Year One Priority Actions

• Secure Missouri Department of Transportation sponsorship and funding of at-grade lid over I-70.
• Launch detailed design of Gateway Mall improvements, focused on specific opportunities in 2000.
• Work with congressional delegation and National Parks Service to evaluate and develop implementation schedule for recommended improvements to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
• Following completion of feasibility analysis of downtown Smithsonian-affiliate museum in fall of 1999, move forward with implementation, including establishment of board, funding, etc.
• Site and advance development of Class A office building.