I was in East St. Louis recently and thought I would look and see how things are doing. There’s some good news and some bad. The bad news is that continued disinvestment has led to infrastructure having to be condemned, as is the case of the 26th Street Bridge, a major conduit for traffic over the massive railyards that have long defined the city. By the way, this was the bridge I mentioned in my article about Larry Giles.

But as I mentioned, there’s good news. There is a new series of commemorative markers concerning the infamous 1917 race riots, as shown above.

Also, the abandoned hotel in downtown is being renovated into senior apartments, which are desperately needed. It’s a short walk to the MetroLink, which can theoretically increase mobility for seniors to St. Louis and hospitals across the river.

I also cruised down to B Street, which is easily one of the most bizarre and interesting areas in the entire region. The house I featured the last time seems to be occupied, and I noticed this other house, which looks to be an old corner store that also shows signs of life.

Also, there are more new streets that arc around former industrial areas that grew thick with underbrush in the last half of the Twentieth Century that leaders are hoping spring to life with new development. It hasn’t happened yet so you get the impression that you’re driving on a new logging road in the Amazon.