Tucker Tunnel Update

I’m sure everyone has been kicked out of the Tucker Tunnel for a while now, but just today I went down to check it out.  Tucker was being worked on above and below ground in several places making it now much more clearly an unsafe living place.

Workers underneath Tucker

Above ground Interco plaza wasn’t looking too different, but there is currently a port-a-potty in the park notifying its reader that the city will no longer put people’s belongings into a trash compactor.  I’d call this a good sign.

Public Notice in Interco Plaza

Anyway, as much as I have been facinated by the mere existance of the Tucker Tunnel, this part of Downtown is in such terrible shape that I can’t wait to see what the area looks like after getting a fresh start from the street rebuilding project.

I’m actually pretty excited to tell the story of the Tucker Tunnel while driving up the fresh new Boulevard in the near future.

Update:  People are still living in the tunnel as of 5/12/2010. The Post-Dispatch says that Mayor Slay wants the tunnel vacated by Friday May 14th.

Dignity Harbor

The Old Cotton Belt Route building has been an urban exploring destination for a while, but more recently the site has become home to HOmeward BOund Ukneeversesity, and now Dignity Harbor.

I caught a glimpse of Dignity Harbor today while walking around the entrance to the Riverfront Trail and it peaked my curiosity.

Dignity Harbor @ Wharf and Florida

Online this evening I found several sources of information on Dignity Harbor: some flickr photos, a photography forum thread (with excellent photos), and a blog entry.  It seems like a great project, especially at a time when people from the Tucker Tunnel are being displaced.  Right next to Dignity Harbor is the beginning of the Riverfront Trail with newly added public art that appears to me to be the work of Bob Cassilly.

Brick Turtle @ Riverfront Trail

The artwork is great, but you can see that Dignity Harbor has already expanded here.  In the photo above there is a pile of water bottles at the center of the left hand side.

Artwork is useful

Although I would have enjoyed seeing more of this sculpture, I am happy to see that it is being useful.  Homelessness is an issue that I can offer no solutions to, so I am glad to see that others are at least doing something.

Residents of the Tucker tunnel

I just found this Post-Dispatch article dated yesterday about the homeless living underneath Tucker.  Very interesting article that (as usual) is attracting a nasty discussion in the comments.  Here are a few comment excerpts:

It is a shame we have homeless people although some prefer it that way. You can thank our greedy politicians for that though. – NeoCon Without a Party

As I wrote on another blog you PHDs out there are just a paycheck or two away from being in their predicament. Those 535 Thugs/Thugetts in congress are to blame. But “YOU PEOPLE”keep putting them back into office year after year. […] You let as voting public, lawyers become your representatives in all aspect of government local and state or national. Have you ever meet a lawyer that was worth being a friend with. And they get to bill you without any over site and if you don’t pay they sue you and another lawyer gives them judgment and the cycle goes on. – allinman

My answer is this, deport all the illegals and give the jobs they are doing to the homeless and people on welfare. Its win win for America. – TheUnderboss

The poor,like religion and politics will always divide us…Everyone agrees what we need is more kindness in the world, however,I have found that where ever there are people that show kindness there are people right behind them condeming their acts. – Feederofthepoor

St Louis is known as a racist we have to add heartlest city,why not keep your fat lip close if you dont have nothing good to say…. – Hungman 13

I have no comment.