Hundreds gather to support revitalization of Northwest Plaza
admin | Jan 23, 2010 | Comments 3
Supporters of all ages packed Northwest Plaza's center court today to show support and discuss ideas for the mall's revitalization.
Nearly 300 concerned citizens gathered today at Northwest Plaza, aiming to spur interest in its revitalization. The mall-walk and unofficial rally was organized by St. Ann resident Steve Erdelen, who grew up hanging out at the plaza’s Grand Court Fountain in the 1960s and 70s and recently launched a popular Facebook group called “I hung out at the fountain at Northwest Plaza as a teenager.”
As supporters streamed into the mall this afternoon, many astonished by just how empty it has become, security guards and other mall employees noted that they hadn’t seen this many people at Northwest Plaza in at least five years. “A lot of folks assume it’s dangerous here, but the fact is it’s mostly just dead,” one Sears employee told me. “I would love to see the place redeveloped, because it has so much potential.”
St. Ann mayor Gary Guittar addresses the crowd of Northwest Plaza supporters
That sentiment was echoed frequently at the rally, with most of the attendees recalling fond memories of Northwest Plaza and many still residing in the North County area. “It’s just such a waste,” Judy Gaithers of Overland said. “I don’t see Northwest Plaza becoming what it used to be, but surely it can be converted into something positive.” A corporate headquarters, a college campus, a mixed-use development with residential and retail – those were some of the ideas being kicked around the crowd.
Yet despite the hopeful spirit of today’s gathering, mall management tried to prohibit the media from taking photographs and initially denied Erdelen’s request to hold a much larger event. “This is not an insurrection, it’s a resurrection,” he told the audience, which included officials and staff from the city of St. Ann. “We’re here to show our support for the future of Northwest Plaza.”
“We will revitalize this mall,” St. Ann mayor Gary Guittar later assured the crowd. “With the support of citizens like you, we can do this.”
He and Erdelen then led the group on a quick mall-walk, firing up many attendees but also raising questions with others. “I’m thrilled to see so many people show up today,” a Florissant woman with two young children told me. “But what’s next? Where do we go from here?”
Filed Under: Community • Revitalization
Locations in Florissant,
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power to the people!
Love to see this turn into something. NWP got a bad rap when it was highly published that it was dangerous. I continued to shop there by myself, and not a young person, and never encountered any danger any time of day or night! Never saw a gang or any violence or anything remotely close to that type of activity. They should have had a PR person to counter the bad press and the mall would still be alive! Look forward to its future.
NWP went down hill for a lot of reasons. There are two that stand out. 1) The stores catered to a particular crowd, a crowd that traditionally brings trouble with it. 2) The bus line needed to go! Just take a look at what happened to the St. Louis Mills once the bus line was introduced!
I hate to sound like a racist bigot, however facts are facts people! Sorry, chicken bones in the parking lot and pants on the ground are not going to attract a crowd that is willing to spend money to bring the tax dollars in needed to keep the mall alive!