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In This Issue May 2010 Park Pacific St. Louis Centre Landshire Headquarters Downtown Annual Meeting Downtown Next: 2020 Vision Urban Roots Planting MADCO Performance Clean Air Festival Parties on the Plaza 2010 Downtown Dining Guide DT World Cup Celebration Annie Malone Parade Be a Tourist in Your Own Town Give Downtown Gift Cards New/Renewed Members Events Quick Links Become A Member Now Newsletter Archive Live Shop Dine Events Partnership For Downtown St. Louis New/Renewed Members UMSL Downtown Buzz is a monthly newsletter published by the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District for its members, downtown property and business owners, the downtown business and residential community and all others interested in downtown revitalization. Send all responses and inquiries to Shuntaé Shields Ryan, Marketing & Communications Director, via e-mail or mail to: 720 Olive Street Suite 450 St. Louis, MO 63101 Major Projects Close on Financing Two major projects equaling $140 million in new development are moving forward Park Pacific The Lawrence Group has completed financing for the $109 million redevelopment of the Park Pacific Buildings conversion to apartments, offices and retail space. The 22-story development will have 232 apartments, 45,000 square feet of office space, 35,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 580 parking spots. Construction is underway and completion is projected for mid-2011. For more information, click here. St. Louis Centre The former St. Louis Centre mall at 6th and Washington closed on its $31 million financing package on April 30th. Although the plans for development of the mall have evolved over the years, the project is now moving forward as a combination of 100,000 sq ft street level retail and a 750-car garage expected to be complete this fall. back to top Landshire Moves Headquarters Downtown Sandwich manufacturer Landshire Inc. has relocated its corporate offices and 40 employees to 14,500 square feet of space in the Raeder Place Building on Laclede's Landing. The new headquarters will feature office space and a test kitchen for product development. For more information about the company, click here. back to top Downtown Annual Meeting Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 17th, 2010 for the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis' Annual Meeting. This year's keynote speaker will be Mayor Tom Murphy, former Mayor of Pittsburgh. He is a ULI senior resident fellow and has extensive experience in urban revitalization. Pittsburgh's turnaround has also been a national story. Because of Pittsburgh's art scene, job prospects, safety and affordability, Forbes Magazine named it the most livable city in America, praising them for their strong emphasis on the "green economy", successfully converting from a rustbelt manufacturing economy to one based on information and technology. Invitations will be mailed soon. back to top Downtown Next: The 2020 Vision At Mayor Francis Slay's request and after engaging more than 1,100 community participants, The Partnership for Downtown St. Louis has released Downtown Next, the 2020 Vision for Downtown St. Louis. In 1999 the public/private initiative to revitalize downtown, the Downtown Development Action Plan (Downtown Now!), set forth specific goals to ensure a focused path to success. Far exceeding its original expectations, the results of Downtown Now! can be seen through the more than $4.5 billion in investment, 130 new shops and restaurants, 12,000 residents and 2,500 new hotel rooms. Downtown Next, Downtown's Vision for 2020, is a roadmap for Downtown's future, including goals, objectives and strategies for taking Downtown St. Louis to the next level. Some of the objectives for 2020 include: 7,500 new residents, 17,000 new jobs, 5,000 new residential units, 2 million sq/ft new office space, an increased educational presence and adding 200,000 square feet of concentrated retail. To view the Downtown Next Vision, click here. back to top Volunteers Beautify Downtown Urban Roots, a collaborative of non-profit organizations committed to greening/beautifying downtown, launched its annual Spring planting effort Friday and Saturday, May 7 & 8. Many volunteers came together to plant a mix of flowers in Poelker Park, Soldiers Memorial, City Hall and the Civil Courts building. This year, annuals, perennials and roses were planted in garden beds, hanging baskets, planters and window boxes. The Urban Roots partners include the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis, Downtown CID, Operation Brightside, Flora Conservancy, Gateway Greening and the City of St. Louis Parks Department. back to top MADCO Performs at the OPOPlaza If you missed MADCO's recent sold-out performances at the Touhill Performing Arts Center then you may be in luck! This dynamic dance company will entertain downtown St. Louis audiences with an encore performance on the Old Post Office Plaza (8th & Locust Streets) tonight, May 7th at 5:30 pm. Featured on the program is "Movement Activities: Response" which was named by Dance International Magazine as "The Best of the Best" at the Toronto International Fringe Dance Festival and excerpts of 60x60, a collaboration with thirteen New York composers. Both events are free and open to the public. back to top Clean Air Festival The 7th Annual Clean Air Festival, an event to officially kickoff off summer air quality forecasting, will take place in Kiener Plaza Friday, May 14, 11 am - 1 pm. The event will offer downtown St. Louis employees convenient access to free information on how they can go green and do their share for cleaner air. To highlight its green living message during the event, the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership is partnering with the City of St. Louis to color the fountain at Kiener Plaza green. The event will mark the first time the Kiener fountain has "gone green." More than 700 attendees are expected to gather at the event to enjoy live music, an appearance from radio personality Mark Klose, free Ted Drewes frozen and over 19 exhibitors. For more details on this year's Clean Air Festival, call the American Lung Association at 314-645-5505, ext. 1007. back to top Downtown's Parties on the Plaza Parties on the Plaza, the new FREE outdoor after work party featuring live entertainment, food and drink will kickoff Wednesday, May 19th with the sounds of American Idol Top 10 Finalist Nikko Smith. The party is being held at the Old Post Office Plaza (8th & Locust) from 5-8 pm. Ozzie's Restaurant & Bar will be on hand to supply light hors d'oeuvres and prize packages will be given away at the event as well. The fun continues the 3rd Wednesday of each month, May through September and features a variety of artists. To see the lineup, click here. back to top Downtown Dining Guide The all inclusive 2010 Downtown Dining Guide is now available. Due to an overwhelming demand from hotel concierges for a downtown directional map, we have formatted this year's guide to also serve as a restaurant listing on the inside and full sized map on the outer cover. The Dining Guide continues to be one of our most highly requested pieces and is paid for by the restaurants that advertise in the guide. To request your complimentary copies, contact Shuntae Shields Ryan by clicking here or to preview the new guide click here. back to top Downtown World Cup Watch Party Downtown St. Louis is hosting its first ever World Cup Watch Party, a month long soccer celebration, from June 11 to July 11. Catch the games on dozens of big screen TVs at downtown's favorite pubs and sports bars including the Dubliner, Flannery's, Over/Under Bar and Tigin's. The Downtown St. Louis World Cup Watch Party, brought to you by Budweiser, the official beer of the 2010 World Cup, kicks off Friday, June 11 at 9 pm at Old Post Office Plaza with the free showing of the film, the Game of Their Lives. Then, on Saturday, June 12 from 11 am to 4 pm, bring your lawn chairs to Old Post Office Plaza to watch the first round rematch of the historic battle between the US and England on a giant 9'x15' Jumbotron screen. Enjoy pre-game activities and surprises, food and beverages. Meet players from St. Louis Athletica and win great prizes. For information on the Passport, Downtown St. Louis World Cup Watch Party presented by Budweiser or for the complete World Cup schedule, click here. back to top Annie Malone Parade The oldest African-American parade in the nation, the Annie Malone May Day Parade, will return to Downtown St. Louis for the 5th year in a row Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 1 pm. Over 50,000 spectators are expected to attend the 3 hour parade as a variety of bands, organizations, and businesses from across the Midwest region march down Market Street from 20th to 7th Street. The parade begins at 1 pm. The McDonald's May Day Blues Fest will take place in Kiener Plaza at 4 pm immediately following the parade. For more information, click here. back to top Be a Tourist in Your Own Town The St. Louis Convention & Visitor's Commission is encouraging St. Louisans to "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" Thursday, May 13 from 10 am - 2 pm. The outdoor tradeshow will be at Kiener Plaza and feature more than 50 attractions and hotels. The Live on the Levee concert series is scheduled to hold its press conference announcing their remaining acts at 11:30 a.m. Big Bang will provide live music. Come out and experience great music, food and give-a-ways as well as get some great ideas for your summer planner! back to top Downtown Gift Cards - the Perfect Gift Give your Graduate or your Mom the gift of choice. This year, for graduation and Mother's Day gifts, make it easy on yourself and purchase a Downtown St. Louis Gift Card. The gift cards can be used at over 120 downtown dining, shopping, and entertainment establishments. Buy them now online by clicking here. back to top