Downtown Chesterfield Is Happening: Mall Demolition Explained

[@LivingStLouis]

🌟Curious about this development? Read more here: thestlrealtors.com/downtown-chesterfield-mo/

[@karatelunchbox]

the thing people don't understand is that St. Louis isn't a second tier city; St. Louis is 17 third tier cities

[@mtorretti]

… 4th and 5th tier as well. Not a very cohesive community as a city or county.

[@DivePlane13]

Precisely. I went to Chicago to see a cubs-Yankees game over the summer and I was in awe of that city.

[@IcanAlwaysImprove]

Bro. Just found your channel. This is great. I feel STL has need a ‘what’s up with …’ news coverage. Local news just shows all the crime and depraved areas. Refreshing and informative. Thank You.

[@LivingStLouis]

Thanks so much for watching! We're definitely trying to lean into shorter bite-sized content focused on some of the big developments in the STL metro like this one. More videos like this to come in the future!

[@bg7290]

​@LivingStLouis as a local working in Wildwood, I am happy to see this content!

[@hardyVibert]

That’s going to look amazing, thank you for the update ✌🏽💯

[@CJColvin]

Its going to be exciting that Chesterfield is getting its own downtown area.

[@LivingStLouis]

Absolutely!

[@specop6022]

This sounds awesome! Feels like the next downtown Clayton! But 20yo collage grads affording to live in Chesterfield? Not a chance haha

[@dansacco1964]

I agree. It would be some very well off young people who could afford that. The property taxes on a house in chesterfield are more than a young person makes.

[@bradderousse3440]

This is an exciting time for Chesterfield and West County. I like the idea of an urban suburban downtown.

[@LivingStLouis]

I agree! It'll be very exciting to see west county grow from a project like this

[@PerryPerfectPerson]

I imagine being rich is always exciting.

[@Jessecwebb]

Only the people who live in those areas would ever go there though

[@yungcoolie]

so clayton?

[@PerryPerfectPerson]

@@yungcoolie Iv literally heard people who live far out say they think Clayton is dangerous 😂

[@Maxime_K-G]

Very exciting development. I like they're not afraid to think big while still taking care of the details in the project. This kind of approach will pay dividends for the future of a community.

[@LivingStLouis]

I agree!

[@pageturningpriestess2859]

I haven't been to Chesterfield in a long while. I used to take the bus to visit the mall. I also tutored a child near that area. I am glad that at least something is being developed somewhere. I hope this new wave of improvements will happen downtown. Every time I walk downtown, it looks so depressing with the graffiti, broken windows, and the emptiness of the buildings. This entire city needs a change. I will probably go to Chesterfield and visit.

[@mathcubes476]

I am actually against it. Not because I am a NIMBY or an anti-urbanist. I am pro urbanism and walkability. Their little project will harm our region. It will create job sprawl which is insanely harmful for transit and undermine the core of our region. Its nothing more than high density sprawl which is rare to see in our country but more common in Asian countries. Look at the Loop in Chicago and compare it to our Downtown-Central West End area. The difference is one is day and night. The loop is a 5 minute city. Chesterfield is trying to create themselves a little edge city, a pocket of urbanism, for their own benefit at the cost of everyone else. Its bad enough that Westport and Maryland Heights exists. To a lesser extent Downtown Clayton as well. We don't need a 3rd edge city. Those cooperate offices should only exist In our central business distract of this region i.e Downtown St. Louis City. We need a strong core for this region to thrive. This should be common sense. This project will undermine that. We are backwards in the sense we identify by the suburb we grew up in or the high school we went to instead of taking a step back and looking at the whole. No one else cares or can even comprehend on how we identify and feel because in their eyes i.e. people which lives in other cities we are St. Louisan not an suburban 'city'ian. They don't see someone that lives in Chesterfield as a Chesterfieldian but rather simply a Saint Louisian. This mindset we have here is harmful and self destructive because we have suburbs lurking which do harm to other suburbs for their own benefits and to our core as well. They compete instead of working as a collective for everyone benefit. They do dog chop dog. Imagine for a moment instead of having a central downtowns instead we have pockets of downtown across this region. It will truly be more of a mess and none of them would truly be great. They all would be lacking alot to make them great. Like things that you need to live not in walking distance. Not being able to walk to your job if its in a office because the downtown you live in don't have the industry you work in. New roads would need to be made to connect them. Wouldn't have the ridership for transit nor the inherent connectiveness on a line instead it will be like a net. So people would go between with private motor vehicles. The paradox here is that an downtown high density area isn't good for motor traffic. If they wanted to do a historical like town center area with small family own business sure I am for that but not to the point of parts out of our regional central business distract. Regional jobs should belong at the regional center not fragmented across this region. Also the NIMBYs water down the density of it. Its a shell of the former plan. Paradoxical the higher the density the less motor traffic its generates. FYI Creve Coeur also have something similar. Its called the 39N plan. www.crevecoeurmo.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6518 www.crevecoeurmo.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11985/39-North-Comprehensive-Plan-Amendment I overall think its a positive thing because they are just retrofitting what's already there and making a mix use area. Brentwood has a major mix use development going on which I think is actually good. Its going to fix the run down area. When one has a smoke shop and a liquor shop across the street from each other nevertheless existing you know you have a problem. I think its actually good and plus they rezone some areas to be mix use. greenstreetstl.com/project/brentwood/ brentwoodmo.org/DocumentCenter/View/31407/Brentwood-FINAL-Development-Plan-061523-PDF Enough said. I don't blame anyone if they don't see it because one must some knowledge of urban planning and fundamentally understand it to know why this is a terrible thing. Its as my Canadian friend would say sugar wrapped in shit, shit wrapped sugar.

[@WarMonkeyPlays]

I lived in Chicago for about 13 years and now currently live in Central West End. Honestly, just about any neighborhood/area in Chicago is a 5 minute city. Anyway, while the apartment situation in CWE is nice in that I can get a lot more space for a bit cheaper, just about everything outside my apartment door in CWE is depressing - I mean, we just lost the Armory nearby. I'm not gonna pretend to know enough about urban planning to guess if the CM plan is a good idea or not, but if it was the idea behind the CWE, that's not a good sign.

[@PeteNice29]

I think what you're wishing for is a viable downtown, so that the County doesn't have to do these things. But as long as it remains deep blue and brown, that's not happening -- and you know it.

[@bg7290]

You don't have any blame for the people who live in Saint Louis? You realize we have the highest crime in the country time and time again and wonder why nobody is investing there? Its because of the locals. You can read that however you want and I'm sure tons would love to make it a racial issue but reality is, crime pushes businesses away and nobody wants to get robbed or hurt to go to work. The last place you want to go in the first place for most people. Also no good housing in downtown area to invite people to want to work in that area. Its the locals fault. I grew up in Jefferson County and it might make Saint Louis natives upset to read this but it's the truth for almost everyone that didn't grow up around soulard or st ann/ Maplewood. I don't avoid the area but it isn't convienient or a place anyone is happy to park and leave their vehicles so why would anyone choose to live there let alone develop a place the locals don't respect or take care of.

[@rorypaul153]

@@PeteNice29Only retarded people resort to racism

[@rorypaul153]

@@bg7290 ​​⁠ -We have an incredibly skewed crime rate because the city is 62 square miles. -Billions are being invested in the city, not sure where you got “nobody” from. -St. Louis City has the highest GDP/capita in the state and a GDP higher than St. Charles despite having 130,000 fewer people. -There’s plenty of good housing downtown. Multiple high end buildings and middle income, along with affordable low income. -The fact you spew all this shit and then admit you’re from a shithole like Jefferson County just shows that you’re projecting. St. Ann, Maplewood, and Soulard outclass all of JeffCO multiple times over.

[@theangrychilli5496]

Interesting video. It took them long enough to figure out what to do with the mall. I worked one of the last days that sears was open, which was near labor day weekend in 2018. I remember talking to coworkers about the developer’s plans at the time to remodel the mall into some apartment complex/shop center combo. I also went to the skate park a few times while it was there. There was a way to get up to the then unused and empty second floor of sears, which was walled off from the main mall after sears closed. It was really eerie. I think the outlet malls are what killed the place. I’m also not sure why they’re wanting to build parks on the property when chesterfield park is right across the street?

[@LivingStLouis]

Totally fair about the outlets killing it. I wasn't surprised when taubman prestige closed too since there were 2 outlet malls in the area which seemed like overkill. I don't think the parks on site are meant to compete with Central Park, but outdoor space is definitely a big focus of this development with 25% of the project focused on outdoor & public space

[@mechellejones4689]

Lived in O'Fallon, MO in the early 2000s. Spent a fair amount of time at Chesterfield Mall since I didn't know anyone in St. Charles or St. Louis County. CM was the first place I took my Dad when he visited from Texas. 😂 Saddens me to see the mall go, but happy that West County is thriving.

[@realmikeshear]

In a weird way I am excited, but I have lived over in Ofallon, IL ever since I moved to St. Louis. I love that area out there and the Creve Coure areas as well, but never took a serious look at renting or buying a home in those areas. I bet we begin to see malls all over America look to do this development that Chesterfield is attempting to accomplish.

[@LivingStLouis]

It's definitely a very intriguing development, I really hope it turns out as good as they're hyping it up to be!

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

It shouldn't be weird. It's good to for everyone have better city centers/downtowns, and less sprawl

[@ylzno]

This is awesome, and I can only hope that this new residential area won't be super expensive!

[@LivingStLouis]

Agreed!

[@ufphobia4647]

considering it is in chesterfield and will be a "live, shop, work" area, it will probably be similar to the cost of a luxury apartment close by.

[@CarsWithClassy]

Just moved to chesterfield in September and I love it so far. Bummer that the mall is closed but the commons are not too far away

[@LivingStLouis]

I'm so glad you're liking it here! Yes the mall is gone but the commons are great, and also the Premium Outlets down the street!

[@FinBell-w9f]

St louis center downtown mall and union station closed, Jamestown mall and northwest plaza in north county closed, crestwood court in south county, and now Chesterfield mall, thats 6 malls that closed, Im kinda getting bummed I really liked the mall as a 3rd space because we don't have a downtown where people are walking everywhere.

[@susannefiore4338]

I agree I am very disheartened to see so many malls disappearing. When part of looking forward to the weekend was hanging out and shopping and being able to see things in person trying clothes on trying shoes on now we’re doing everything through Amazon or online and it’s not the same because you can’t feel the fabrics and see how shit fits. It’s just really, really sad. I don’t really like this dystopic world that I’m feeling like we’re being shoved into.

[@dvferyance]

I think there are like 6 indoor malls remaining in the St Louis area. That's still not bad. The only mall that I was sad about was St Louis Mills it did not even last 20 years.

[@rorypaul153]

Hey dumbass, its almost like the cancerous suburban malls killed downtown.

[@alexandragoenmph]

This is a super interesting topic, and an exciting development for STL. I'd be interested to see how the urban planners decided to create this space. I'm wondering if they've thought through how this is going to impact air quality, traffic congestion, and noise pollution. Seeing as Chesterfield is, in my opinion, devoid of a lot of unique culture (as is the rest of STL) it'd be cool to see how this transforms into an urban oasis. Excited to see more videos from you and your thoughts on STL.

[@rorypaul153]

STL City has lots of culture, the generic suburbs do not.

[@LivingStLouis]

Thanks for your comment! And yes good point about the traffic, air & noise congestion. I do agree with the above comment in that STL does have culture, especially in a lot of the city neighborhoods. However, the suburbs (e.g Chesterfield) in the county & beyond have a completely different feel

[@cody314ify]

STL has tons of culture and awesome neighborhoods

[@Boboishere69]

I don’t have any memories of chesterfeild mall but I remember seeing it but I feel like mid rivers mall is next. I just hope mid rivers mall isn’t next because it’s my childhood mall.

[@bingbongmcgee]

I really hope walkability/bikeability/general resident pedestrian access is prioritized over automotive accommodations. Downtown Chesterfield should not be an out of town destination, it should be a testament to how America should start developing new cities and revitalizing old. Perhaps a role model for StL City to look up to? Edit: I commented before watching the whole video lol, hopefully they lean into it!

[@LivingStLouis]

Definitely! I don't think the walkability here will feel the same way it would in an area like Downtown or CWE, but the bike lanes and sidewalks are a big part of the development. That being said, there will still be a focus on cars and there will be plenty of parking lots scattered throughout

[@rorypaul153]

How stupid do you have to be to think STL City should “look up” to a fake urban shithole edge city that its entire purpose is to leech off of other parts of the region? They have no transit plan for this monstrosity, should tell you what they’re prioritizing.

[@jackwall8678]

Chesterfield building it’s own city is all fine and good! Urban development is fine in my book. But let’s have places to go that have vibrancy - this city is so spread out so that the masses have no place to congregate that isn’t either a long drive or crime ridden. As a young transplant that has been here for 5 years, do we hang in Soulard, Midtown, Clayton, St. Charles, Chesterfield?… PICK ONE I love the St. Louis vibe. What has happened to this city after the 60’s sucks. But Spread out “urban” centers isn’t going to fix the problem. I guess initiative is better than being unmotivated 🙂

[@mtorretti]

A cool side channel would be about the history that is quickly dying. Short clips about amighettis, Charlie Gittos downtown, Al’s fine dining near the riverfront, uncle bills closing, sybergs, then monetize highlighting new expansions and history like farattos, imos, pappies, pie etc etc

[@LivingStLouis]

That's such a great point!

[@imrickjames7012]

Lots to develop in the Lou, all that’s green will be sub-greenery. Only debate is car dependency, iRobot automation of transport, walkability , public transport in general.

[@pbilk]

4:30 at least one grocery store should be built along with the residential to reduce the need or desire to buy multiple automobiles

[@JoshFlorii]

Great chance to bring back the timeless early 1900s architecture we lost

[@LivingStLouis]

True!

[@rorypaul153]

It still exists. In St. Louis City.

[@susannefiore4338]

This sounds like a 15 minute city?

[@LivingStLouis]

Yes this is a very similar concept!

[@alyce6217]

Yes. Wait about 5 years, when the walls go up and cars are taken away. Social credit score and carbon tax coming soon

[@Detailedstream]

I have childhood memories too My Family, Grand Parents and I have Dinner restaurant in mall back in 2001

[@LivingStLouis]

It used to be such a popular place!

[@roadworkahead6368]

needs wayyy more trees and maybe a fountain or 5. Saint Charles is meh to me because I lived in the city for so long but could use some green

[@LivingStLouis]

Trees, parks, walking trails, and public outdoor spaces are already really big part of this development!

[@Sheebiewonderful]

Is 2700 new units reflecting the number of people coming to the area, or is it an attempt to bring people in, or maybe a mix of both? Its interesting because my impression is that most urban areas developed out of a need and access to jobs and stuff. So interesting to see how this goes!

[@rorypaul153]

It’s leeching off of the other actually urban parts of the region like Clayton and the city.

[@888dvdbkr]

I don't like it but that is coming from living here my entire life and going to the mall often.

[@Kevin24Seven]

People aren't going to want to hear this, but this is nothing more than a massive housing development. I understand why developers are marketing this as a positive, but I truly can't understand why any resident wants to turn Chesterfield into your typical highly populated suburban nightmare. What has made this place so great is all the conveniences and entertainment of a big city, with the population of a small town. This is going to bring traffic, destroy greenspace, amplify noise pollution, and crowd stores. In 20 years from now it will be unrecognizable.

[@jackwall8678]

Indeed, and not in the way that comes with big names like Chicago, Dallas, or the charm of Louisville. It’s unfortunate.. I’d hate to see that St. Louis had it’s hayday even worse than the word had already spread

[@dougn_1069]

But will it be affordable housing. Right now a one bedroom in St Peters rents for $1400 per month.

[@LivingStLouis]

That is a good point!! I’m really not sure where pricing will end up here..

[@FunStuffBuddy]

Single family homes too!?! I can’t imagine there’s enough space to fit very many, right? Appreciate the video and your thoughts! ❤️

[@LivingStLouis]

They might be more condensed on smaller lots similar to the ones in Wildhorse Village!

[@FunStuffBuddy]

@ thank you! ❤️

[@milkdrinker7]

They're keeping Macy's AND Dillards? I thought it was just Dillards; that kinda sucks. That's a lot of department store per acre...

[@LivingStLouis]

The buildings are staying; the stores are not. The buildings are going to be converted

[@user-ci2fd8vc2f]

i used to do some of my classes there :( And the cheesecake factory was nice

[@LivingStLouis]

Yes! The mall had some great spots. Lots of memories there

[@PerryPerfectPerson]

I am excited for this idea of urbanism. However we are letting a major city die so we can replicate what it already has in the suburbs. It’s not okay. I for one won’t be supporting any business in the area. But I support the dream. People in the county. If you want urbanism move to the city. It’s here for less.

[@Otto760]

They are making this because it’s too dangerous in the city so nobody goes out there. I went to downtown STL on a Friday night and it was like a ghost town at 11pm. Only major city I’ve ever been to that I’ve seen that

[@jasperj806]

Do you actually think anything here is going to be affordable for “people in their 20’s just getting their career started?”

[@LivingStLouis]

Well, if the apartments here are similar to what's been built down the street in Wildhorse Village, Aventura, and Wildhorse Apartments, then I'd say yes!! Are they higher in price because they're more 'luxury' apartments? Yes. They're not cheap, but I wouldn't say that means they're unobtainable

[@Mark-lq3sb]

No one from out of that general area is going to Chesterfield to "start out" in life. Chesterfield is not known as a lower budget area where a young person will be able live on a lower budget (rent) to get started. People in there 20s that grew-up in that area they'll be living with their upper middle class/wealthy parents until their degree "pays-off," and given the area many (of course not all.) have been very fortunate to be able to attend some of the most expensive universities around the U.S. So, if they chose the "right" career (meaning plenty of good paying jobs in that field.) and they are fortunate to get a good job in the St. Louis area then they'll be able to live in these new apartments.

[@jeffroach5716]

I think it would be more successful if they built it up similarly to Streets of St Charles with housing, restaurants, and shops going in all at the same time. Seems less desirable to move into a living space with the promise of additional amenities than for the amenities to be there when you move in.

[@MrAnderson7372]

15 minute city?

[@LivingStLouis]

Basically!!

[@acostaae90]

Looks nice, and better than a mall. Still wont be as quaint and authentic as downtown St Charles.

[@bangdollarsign]

F St. C

[@LivingStLouis]

Historic St. Charles is very hard to beat!!

[@gj1234567899999]

They shouldn’t have cars near pedestrians. Just have parking garages or garages connected to alleys for cars to go. I can’t relax with cars running about. Like you have to be hyper vigilant if you have a small child next to a road.

[@wiggle-n-wine]

Sounds like a terrible idea, they already have housing projects being developed near there, to add more house is going to make congestion horrendous for them, Their streets aren't meant to handle such things, definitely a dumb move by the city to allow so much unwanted housing to go up.

[@timpekarek9159]

I don't drive and use public transportation. I never visited Chesterfield Mall in the nearly 40 years that I lived in St. Louis. In your discussion you make no mention of transit options other than driving. Doesn't it seem like the area will be traffic choked most of the day and why would anyone want to deal with that?

[@PikaPilot]

As a chesterfield resident, I can explain that the reason transit wasnt mentioned is because there is no transit services in Chesterfield. There's probably going to be a bus stop, but that's about it. Its possible this new downtown will encourage new transit developments, but what's more likely going to happen long term is that this project will bring in unsustainable amounts of car traffic, requiring more car infrastructure gets built, demolishing homes instead of increasing supply, and just making a new downtown to eventually get hollowed out by crime and gun violence. Every single one of these people in this "urban downtown" is going to have to use a car to drive to the most car apocalyptic place in St. Louis; the Valley. Just the simple drive to get to Walmart's low prices could kill this community's attempts to urbanize

[@technicholy1299]

Good to know we have a few more years before traffic is completely untenable.

[@LivingStLouis]

Haha fair

[@wiggle-n-wine]

Terrible idea for chesterfield, they're not roads aren't meant to handle that type of congestion

[@Descriptor413]

I love when folks cite traffic as a reason not to have nice things. If only there was some other way, like reducing the need for car trips by having amenities near residences or decent transit, like most other countries. But nah, I guess we just have to keep letting the city get worse and worse since we sure as heck can't do anything different! At least then we won't have traffic! Because nobody will want to be here! Brilliant. Well, okay, you'd still have tons of traffic because everyone has to drive to do literally anything in the current status quo, but hey, at least it'll eventually become a slum in 20 years as folks move out to the new outer outer outer suburbs instead. The cycle of life.

[@technicholy1299]

@@Descriptor413 No one is winding the calendar back 150 years because you don't like cars, luddite. Developing property without addressing the infrastructure needed to support that development is pure corporate greed. Building housing in the part of town that isn't failing doesn't help anyone. There are plenty of places in STL for a development like this, but y'all won't build there because there aren't enough white people benefiting from it.

[@bangdollarsign]

Woah Living St. Louis got a new look... and where is the PBS branding?

[@LivingStLouis]

?

[@bangdollarsign]

Y'all need to change the name of this channel to Living St. Charles.

[@LivingStLouis]

Why's that?

[@evankuhn7435]

@@LivingStLouisHow do you run a channel called “Living St. Louis” and publicly pretend in your own comment section not to recognize the City / County divide? Please find me one grown lifelong St. Louisian who doesn’t understand that West County / St. Charles County residents hate the City, hate going down there, and actively root for its decline, downfall, and demise. Mass infrastructure spending - such as this - far away from the downtown urban core is cheered by the (many) St. Charles residents who despise going anywhere east of Highway 270. People who, instead, celebrate the City and more centralized development, don’t like seeing disparate & competing sites of infrastructure development - because it exacerbates ongoing, centuries-long trends of intraregional competition & infighting, the type that’s generated regional decline since 1904. A fractured region, many believe, creates a weakened region, solving none of the issues St. Louis patently experiences. This is cheered by the “St. Charles” crowd - hence: “St. Charles Living”

[@kirkda1]

Yuppies wishing they could live downtown saint louis, but mom and dad won't let them. Welcome to Downtown Chesterfield.

[@MatthewSchrenk]

Do you advocate for Strong Towns, walkable spaces, and mixed use development? Do you mock the suburbs and/or think they are terrible city planning and bad for the environment? Dense mixed use development is good for an aging population and young people who want to be less car dependent.

[@danparish1344]

Down town St. louis is scary. People get murdered on Wash Ave. it’s like a block a way from extreme poverty and gang violence.

[@Ellsswhere]

Year after year St Louis holds one of the highest violent crime rates in the US. The population of STL declines 1.5% each year, 60% since the 1950's! Staying in STL but not wanting to be assaulted makes you a yuppie... lol. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[@blake3200]

😂😂. Downtown STL is a shit hole. Ppl live there by force

[@CellChaos-e2s]

LMAO! I'd move to GAZA before living in downtown STL !! 🤣🤣🤣

[@gengiex]

Misery urban sprawl moment

[@noahhart5454]

Embarassing, just go to St. Louis

[@LivingStLouis]

How come embarrassing?

[@noahhart5454]

​@@LivingStLouisSt. Louis suffers from fragmentation and this idea of building a 4th rate "downtown" where the cheesecake factories once stood is the result of the lack of cohesion and vision we have as a metro area. These developers could focus on investing in and revitalizing our actual downtown corridor, but in my eyes, they have no chutzpah... All that being said, the renderings looks better than what's there now and I can commend 2,700 new housing units.

[@mathcubes476]

@@noahhart5454 The NIMBYs fear traffic it will generate yet wanted a walkable area so they had to water it down like jacka*sses. Paradoxically the more dense an area is the less motor traffic it generates.

[@mathcubes476]

@@noahhart5454 Agreed

[@jeffleaver59]

​@@noahhart5454 St Louis has crime and city tax issues to address so they can stem the flow of businesses leaving. I.e. Fleischmann Hillard. Until then doing a project like this downtown is throwing good money after bad.

[@specop6022]

This sounds awesome! Feels like the next downtown Clayton! But 20yo collage grads affording to live in Chesterfield? Not a chance haha

[@Mark-lq3sb]

No, that's not the intended crowd. More like 30s and 40s and plus with a stable well paying career. Come back when you "made it" is the motto.