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NagelCityList Just a mnemonic device for stuff to read later - compiled from many sources.

Whatever and who taped this. It is fascinating! What do you think of the St. Louis accent?
14/04/2025

Whatever and who taped this. It is fascinating! What do you think of the St. Louis accent?

18/02/2025

Greater Cahokia

In the last 50 years, more and more the people of Illinois have become aware that the state has one of the premier ancient sites in North America. Cahokia, by far the largest center of the Mississippian (1000 – 1500 A.D.) Culture, sits on the Mississippi River floodplain a bit over 6 miles east of the waterfront of the bustling city of St. Louis. From the initial steps of its preservation (starting almost 100 years ago) until now, archaeologists have tried to understand the scale and meaning of the thousand-year-old center.

Mississippian Culture extends over hundreds of miles across the mid-continent. But, just as no other Mississippian mound approaches the scale of Monks Mound at Cahokia, none of the other Mississippian centers are anywhere near the size and grandeur of Cahokia – in fact, many of the most prominent Mississippian centers across the country would fit inside the Grand Plaza at Cahokia Mounds.

In the last 20 years archaeologists have begun talking more and more about “Greater Cahokia.” What does Greater Cahokia mean? When was it at its peak? And what can the history of Greater Cahokia tell us about the decline and end of the Cahokian center by 1300 A.D., even while the broader Mississippian Culture was still spreading and growing? Several posts on the subject will help answer these questions.

This map shows our latest understanding of Greater Cahokia – a 1000-year-old metropolitan area miles across and composed of major precincts – each with their own grand plazas and their own histories distinct from Cahokia Mounds proper. Starting in the west, there was a major mound center that stood just north of downtown in the city of St. Louis. This large Mississippian mound center is the reason that St. Louis was known as “Mound City,” but the site was almost entirely destroyed before the Civil War. What do we know about it? Across the river on the Illinois shore of the Mississippi River stood another major mound center called the East St. Louis Mound Group. It too has been nearly erased by a modern city.

A road connecting these precincts with “downtown” Cahokia was lined with more mounds and villages as well. Imagine taking a six-mile journey from the center of the St. Louis Mounds, across the river, and along this causeway - walking from one incredible, pyramid-studded precinct to the next, and finally entering the Grand Plaza of Cahokia itself. The image only grows more stupendous when one understands that still more major towns with their own mounds radiated out from Greater Cahokia across this region. Seeing the Cahokian culture in this light brings an understanding of how much more there is to learn about this Illinois treasure.

Image-map of Greater Cahokia, courtesy of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey

06/02/2025

VOTP NEWS GUIDE: HOW ST. LOUIS REAL ESTATE AND THE MAYORAL ELECTION IMPACT YOU

By VOTP NEWS

Let's Get Started

Housing affects everyone—whether you rent, own, or plan to invest. In St. Louis, the mayor plays a major role in shaping real estate policies that determine housing costs, neighborhood development, and property values. The decisions made in City Hall can either help families build wealth and stability or push them out of communities they’ve called home for generations.

This guide breaks down what’s at stake in the upcoming mayoral election, the biggest real estate challenges in St. Louis, and how voters can use their voice to influence the future of housing in their city.

SECTION 1: HOW THE MAYOR AFFECTS REAL ESTATE

The mayor of St. Louis makes key decisions that impact:

Housing Development – Decides how much affordable and market-rate housing gets built and where.

Zoning Laws – Determines what type of housing or businesses can be built in different neighborhoods.

Vacant Property Management – Enforces policies on abandoned buildings and how they’re redeveloped.

Property Taxes – Sets tax rates that affect homeowners and landlords, influencing rent and home values.

Tenant and Landlord Rights – Shapes policies on rent control, evictions, and housing protections.

These policies determine who can afford to live in St. Louis, where development happens, and whether the city grows in a way that benefits all residents or just a select few.

SECTION 2: ST. LOUIS’ BIGGEST REAL ESTATE CHALLENGES

1. The Affordable Housing Shortage

Housing costs are rising, but wages aren’t keeping up. Many families are struggling to afford rent or buy a home. St. Louis has proposed a plan to build 5,000 affordable housing units by 2030, but it all depends on who is in office and how funds are used.

2. Thousands of Vacant Properties

There are an estimated 10,000 vacant buildings in St. Louis—many in historically Black neighborhoods that have been left behind in development efforts. Empty buildings attract crime, lower property values, and block economic growth. The next mayor must decide whether to tear them down, sell them off, or restore them for affordable housing.

3. Gentrification & Displacement

New developments bring investment, but they also bring rising rents and property taxes that can force long-time residents out. The city needs leadership that balances growth while protecting the people who built these communities.

4. Short-Term Rentals Taking Over Housing

Airbnb-style short-term rentals have exploded across St. Louis. While they bring in tourism dollars, they also take away housing that could be used for residents. In response, the city passed a new 3% tax on short-term rentals and now requires permits to operate them. Some candidates want tougher restrictions, while others support these businesses—voters need to decide what works best for their community.

5. Uneven Development Across Neighborhoods

Some areas of St. Louis are seeing major investments, while others remain neglected. The next mayor will decide how to distribute resources, whether that means offering tax breaks to developers, investing in public housing, or enforcing stronger regulations on property owners.

SECTION 3: WHAT VOTERS NEED TO ASK MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Before heading to the polls, ask yourself:

1. How does each candidate plan to make housing more affordable?

2. What’s their stance on vacant properties—tear them down, sell them, or fix them up?

3. Do they support stronger tenant protections or favor landlords?

4. Are they pushing for development in underfunded areas or just catering to big investors?

5. Will they balance growth without pushing residents out of their own neighborhoods?

Each of these questions directly impacts your ability to afford housing, where businesses are built, and how the city grows in the next decade.

SECTION 4: WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Get Educated on the Issues

Follow news updates and candidate debates to stay informed.

Research policies that have worked (or failed) in other cities.

2. Show Up and Speak Up

Attend town halls and community meetings to ask candidates where they stand on real estate policies.

Support local groups fighting for housing justice and tenant protections.

3. Vote in the Mayoral Election

The mayor’s policies will shape St. Louis real estate for years to come.

Make sure you’re registered and encourage your neighbors to vote, too.

Let's talk about it

Housing and real estate aren’t just about buildings—they determine who gets to stay in St. Louis and who gets pushed out. This election is about protecting neighborhoods, making homeownership possible for more families, and ensuring development benefits everyone—not just big businesses.

St. Louis voters have the power to decide what kind of city they want to live in. Your vote can help shape the future of housing—use it wisely.

Are you ready to show these candidates how to value your vote?

Sources:
Jones to face three challengers in March mayoral primary
https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-01-03/jones-to-face-off-against-three-challengers-for-st-louis-mayoral-re-election-bid

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Announces Goal to Develop 5,000 Affordable Housing Units by 2030
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/news/jones-affordable-housing-2030.cfm

Vacant Property Explorer - Stats
https://www.stlvacancytools.com/stats.html

St. Louis voters authorize new fee on short-term rentals
https://www.stlpr.org/news-briefs/2024-11-05/st-louis-voters-approve-short-term-rental-fee

St. Louis in Zillow's top 10 of predicted 'hottest housing market' in 2025
https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-louis-mayoral-race-features-new-faces-familiar-names

Gentrification in St. Louis
https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/gentrification/Category?oid=4877974

Planning & Urban Design Agency
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/

Missouri Housing Development Commission
https://www.mhdc.com

CC BY-SA 4.0

19/01/2025

The metro-area's public transit has defined its historic infrastructure.

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