“It went from being a great park in need of work to one of the great urban parks in the world,” he said.

Webber, who spent 22 years at the University of Chicago before moving to St. Louis in 2008, said the concentration of business, education and culture centers along St. Louis’ central spine forms the region’s identity and provides much of its employment.

“For many of the major attractions, the last decade has been a time of strength,” he said. “If you compare St. Louis to other cities, they’re quite geographically disparate but they have the effect of driving demand. And the progress of the Cortex development in the past two years has been remarkable.”

‘TERRIFIC BUILDINGS’

Parts of the Central West End provide hard-to-top urban vibes, added Webber, who directs the university’s building projects.

“Walking down Euclid (Avenue) in the Central West End compares very favorably with the urban experiences of about anywhere in the country,” he said.

Successful cities do more than attract couples with kids, Webber added. They are magnets for young, creative, college-educated people who crave a wide variety of things to do.