Thompson Coburn

The Mark Twain, however, is not the only problem property downtown.

My guest this week is Jerry Schlichter, one of the region's most successful litigators and co-founder of the downtown law firm Schlichter Bogard and co-founder of Downtown Forward, a group launched earlier this year specifically to address issues with problematic downtown properties.

Jerry, welcome to the Art City Report.

Thanks, Eric.

So it requires a holistic approach as to the buildings, as to the street activity, and as to the whole gamut of challenges that this can be.

But I want to say that It's necessary in order to create the atmosphere for redevelopment and for creating demand, which is ultimately what we're also aiming for, increasing demand.

And why? My office has been downtown since I started the law firm decades ago.

And I look out of my building every day and there's a large number of either completely vacant buildings or greatly under-occupied buildings.