east, east st. louis, illinois

SuburbanNation · #1 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 6:16 AM**

ChrisLA · #2 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 6:38 AM**

Well it looks empty, but also clearner than I remember. Also that was way back in 1982 when my friends took me over the bridge to see the area.

SuburbanNation · #3 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 6:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisLA

Well its look empty, but also clearner than I remember. Also that was way back in 1982 when my friends took me over the bridge to see the area.

This is about 20-30 blocks from downtown East St. Louis, which I always am hoping to photograph the way i'd like...but certainly it is a much emptier and much quieter town than when you saw it in the early 1980s. There were certainly people walking around, and streetball games (though it was in the 20s F), but as I was working in the area, I had no intention of upsetting anyone...operating under the assumption that everyone was armed (a lot of good, decent, and often elderly people down there, armed to the teeth). The shells were just scooped up from the ground, most likely from new years.

Ex-Ithacan · #4 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 12:38 PM**

Not exaclty the picture of urban vitality, but as Chris pointed out, not filtyhy either.

btw, cute little pup there:

***Evil Dog ***

Thanks for the pics SubNat.

STLgasm · #5 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 1:24 PM**

East Side represent!

the urban politician · #6 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 3:14 PM**

Cool pics. The area looks like shit, but your depiction of it is appreciated

denveraztec · #7 Posted **Feb 27, 2009, 7:34 PM**

Grit-O-Licious

TinChelseaNYC · #8 Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 2:44 AM**

East St. Louis, IL. Yeah!

ColDayMan · #9 Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 3:30 AM**

Great job! And what is this about IKEA in that OTHER thread?

SuburbanNation · #10 Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColDayMan

Great job! And what is this about IKEA in that OTHER thread?

Oh, anytime I try to visit Cincinnati proper, I spend half the trip down the interstate in IKEA for reasons and people beyond my control. I hate IKEA.

SuburbanNation · #11 Posted **Feb 28, 2009, 4:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Cool pics. The area looks like shit, but your depiction of it is appreciated

This is actually one of the better maintained areas of East St. Louis. I could of done a thread only of some streets with the well maintained brick ranch house infill that could have passed for a middle suburb or central illinois city instead of a broken down industrial satellite. I believe there is also a small area that extends up the bluff from the main portion of the city that is well maintained.

East St. Louis was a tour de force of blues, jazz, etc., and downtown was a hotspot of live music clubs where people from all over the st. louis metro and beyond would go for a night out whether they were black or white until the late 60s when the city imploded with riots, gangs, a never caught serial sniper...

kcexpress69 · #12 Posted **Mar 4, 2009, 1:00 AM**

Gritty or not, it's good to see E-STL. on a thread!! Perhaps when it warms up, or you get a little bolder, a thread of Downtown would be nice.

I guess there probably isn't too much to see according to Virtual Earth!! Nice pics anyway!!

SuburbanNation · #13 Posted **Mar 5, 2009, 12:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcexpress69

Gritty or not, it's good to see E-STL. on a thread!! Perhaps when it warms up, or you get a little bolder, a thread of Downtown would be nice.

I guess there probably isn't too much to see according to Virtual Earth!! Nice pics anyway!!

thanks! heres a nice website, mainly dedicated to st. louis, missouri, but this section has a nice informative photo tour of east st. louis, including downtown.

http://www.builtstlouis.net/eaststlouis/intro.html

heres a taste, hopefully robert powers won't mind.

http://www.builtstlouis.net/eaststlo...leavenue04.jpg