Historical February 1996 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Everything is relative.
I have grown increasingly tired of the prophets of doom who say that our city is outdated, or on an irreversible course of increasing poverty and a declining quality of life.
The basis for their statement: presumed population loss. Isn’t it rather foolish to make judgments based solely on a number, and an unofficial number at that? Historically, cities have been the center of religion, learning, government and the arts. Isn’t that still true today? American cities are almost unique on this planet in that the wealthy and then the middle class have been moving outward since about 1810. That is not the case in Paris or other major European cities.
The rich may have a country home but their principal residence is in the heart of the city.
The U.S. had the inexpensive available land and a cheap method of construction that along with transportation innovation made the outward movement possible.
We cannot reverse the suburbanization of the United States. But, neither the suburbs nor the new edge cities will become the educational, cultural, political and religious centers that central cities like St. Louis are. Cities need to look to their strengths.
We will never be like we were in 1950 but we can still provide opportunities for many in various areas. Newsweek published a lengthy article last May discussing angst in suburbia—the lack of community, the long automobile trips to get anywhere, strip malls. There’s an up side and a down side to everything. Maybe if the doomsayers understand the quality of life here in Skinker DeBaliviere, they would stop wringing their hands. Our diversity and stability should serve as a national model. And, it’s something you can’t find west of 270.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1996.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1996_02.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
