2:54 PM Wed, Jul 09, 2008 | Permalink
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When Darlene Green wants to know what is going on, she picks up the phone, calls the
owners of the Baseball Cardinals and gets an immediate response.
And Green tells me , that is exactly what she did, when the Wall Street Journal quotes
DeWitt about a park on that land. It is a quote which is sparking new reaction about
whether we will ever see a Ballpark Village. And the pressure is on to make sure -- what
ever is created on that land--will be attractive for the 45 thousand fans, who will be in St.
Louis for the All Star Game in July of 2009.
It is often referred to as "Lake DeWitt" by critics of the paln known as Ballpark Village.
It is a 12 acre develoopment in downtown St. Louis, just north of the new Busch Stadium. It
sits on land between Calrk and Walnut Streets. It is a $65 million dollar development which
--if it ever gets off the ground -- will occupy the site, which was once the Old Busch
Stadium.
The primary developer is Cordish Company of Baltimore Maryland. They plan a 250
thousand square foot project which includes retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment
venues, 400 residential units, office and parking space.
The problem is the original plan with Centene Corporation, a health care compnay ,
failed back in March of 2008. Centene opted out of a plan to move its headquarters from
the suburbs of Clayton, into the proposed $650 million dollar complex.
According to the St. Louis City Comptroller -- Darlene Green -- Since March, the
understanding was that the owners of the Cardinal Baseball Team and the developers --
Cordish company of Baltimore ,Maryland --would proceed with the same plan --just
without Centene.
Now, there may be a change in direction. According to the Wall Street Journal, DeWitt may
now have a third plan in mind. No Centene. No Ballpark Village. Plan 3 would be just a
park.
In the WSJ article, DeWitt is quoted as saying --- " ... If we're not going to get the deal
done...that would suggest we'd cap it, grade it, seed it and maybe build a park."
Green says she has always been an advocate of making it a "fan friendly zone." She is
focusing on the All Star Game in 2009, and she wants to showcase the St. Louis City area,
for global exposure. She wants to avoid having a big muddy hole, on that site, when the
world is watching the All Star Games, telecasts from St. Louis in July of 2009. Green hopes
that area would be used for vendors and musicians, for fans to enjoy both before and after
games.
And Green tells me, she is hoping that we will have a slogan of "Meet me in St. Louis, at
the Ballpark Village, at the All Star Game, it's a happening place. " And she hopes to create
a "festival type of atmosphere" on that ground, by the time the All Star Game rolls around.
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