PAVING

Opportunities

• Basic sidewalk pavement should be strong and simple with non-glare finish, complementing the buildings while not competing with them
• Selected accent areas such as building entrances, cafes and sitting / art display areas may be paved more decoratively
• Preserve best existing examples of decorative storefront terrazzo and tile to provide variety and interest to the pavement
• Richly toned granite cobbles in side streets could be exposed where possible.

Constraints

• Existing sidewalks are deteriorating concrete with mismatched patch areas and zones of varying color
• Under-sidewalk vaults and curbside drainage patterns may limit proposed paving options

CURBS

Opportunities

• Widened sidewalks provide the opportunity to reset existing granite curbs in conjunction with the construction of new granite curbing throughout the district.

Constraints

• Existing granite curbs are of good quality but are not continuous infilled with poor quality concrete curbing
• Much of the existing curb is out of alignment and would require resetting

SIGNAGE

Opportunities

• Large vertical signs, and varied, layered facade signs should happen along the street, adding texture and character. Plastic backlit signs should be avoided. Signs fabricated of metal, carved stone, wood and brick, perforated metal, screening, terra-cotta, gold leaf, painted wood, and glass and using neon, halo lit, incandescent bulbs are encouraged.
• Large signs painted on vertical surfaces, Broida Bros., Bank & Trust, etc.
• Street name signs with character, perhaps of a different color or with an unusual pole, mounted to building facades and/or also imbedded or etched into the concrete at the corners
• Regulatory and informational signage should be either city standard and consistently placed, or signs designed to enhance the urban character
• Way-finding signage, especially directories, are not necessary unless looked at in the context of the downtown area
• A 'logo' for the area is not necessary; instead a graphic vocabulary which communicates the essence of the street is desired
• Graphics applied, layered, added would add to the evolutionary character of the street and should be encouraged Graphics which are temporary and announce upcoming events are encouraged. These can be both small (postcards in a metal pocket on the sidewalk) and huge oversized banners or elements strung across the street.
• Environmental graphics applied or painted on facades, sidewalks and streets are encouraged

Constraints

• Some existing facade signs do not add to the character such as: Levin's, Midco, S&E Parking and the Business Products Center
• Street name signs are standard green; they are often bent, poles lean and they are not consistently placed
• Regulatory and informational signed is inconsistent in design of the sign faces, placement and mounting method

LIGHTING

Opportunities

• Provide accent lighting to light significant architectural features on the buildings
• Provide for and encourage building owners to keep street level retail store windows illuminated at night
• Create a tow-tier lighting system for thew street; one level of lighting for the street and another for the sidewalk zone
• In buildings that are currently not renovated, develop a strategy for illuminating first floor and perhaps even second floor windows to give the appearance that the street is more active
• Side streets should be illuminated but careful attention needs to be given to areas beyond these, because if they are not well lighted, they are going to appear dark and foreboding
• Lighting of the Alleys in creative ways will play a key role in the future to the overall ambience and feeling of security in this area

Constraints

• Existing building facades along the street are not lighted with the exception of the top of the Washington building
• Since many of the storefronts are vacant or contain uses that do not require lighting at night, the street level appearance at night is one of no activity
• Side streets are very dark, and the areas beyond the side streets appear even darker
• The sidewalk zone has very low lighting levels
• The existing cobra heads provide lighting on the street surface but provide a lot of visual glare
• The high pressure sodium lamps in the cobra fixtures produce a light that does not enhance the overall visual quality of the space

Contact Us!
Downtown Now!
588-0458
e-mail:amyr@downtownnow.org
OR
City of St. Louis
622-3400
e-mail:dwntnnow@stlouis.missouri.org