It is still there, and still vacant. No plans for it as far as I know. It is owned by the same Texas company that owns the 3 office buildings around the Union Station parking lot. It's directly south of Build-A-Bear's future HQ though, so hopefully they will do something with it eventually.10-intuition wrote: What are the plans for that old Wehrenberg movie theater under the highway? Did that get torn down or is it still around? Is it going to be converted into something like office space?
I walked under the train shed to get a look at the progress being made.
The Aquarium...
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The Soda Fountain...
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Ferris Wheel...
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Mini Golf...
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When walking around here, I kept thinking to myself that there will still be a ton of underutilized space. I hope that some small pop up shops, cafes and gift shops appear throughout the train shed. By the Hard Rock Cafe/Soda Fountain thing, there is plenty of room to build some 1904 era buildings that could house little shops and whatnot. Then, on a good chunk of the remaining area, a go-cart track would be a nice addition. I'm just worried that this series of investments will not be utilized as much as LHM thinks. They may need some more things at Union Station to make this a busy place. After all, this is turning into our version of Navy Pier.
The Aquarium...
The Soda Fountain...
Ferris Wheel...
Mini Golf...
When walking around here, I kept thinking to myself that there will still be a ton of underutilized space. I hope that some small pop up shops, cafes and gift shops appear throughout the train shed. By the Hard Rock Cafe/Soda Fountain thing, there is plenty of room to build some 1904 era buildings that could house little shops and whatnot. Then, on a good chunk of the remaining area, a go-cart track would be a nice addition. I'm just worried that this series of investments will not be utilized as much as LHM thinks. They may need some more things at Union Station to make this a busy place. After all, this is turning into our version of Navy Pier.
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^Well, the ferris wheel itself looks awesome. The rest . . . looks like it still has a long way to go. But I could see the fun in a round of puttering about golf.
^ Are those a new addition or were those always there? Either way, I agree it's a nice touch.
In other news...gondolas are going up on the Ferris Wheel today:
https://fox2now.com/2019/09/03/gondolas ... n-station/
In other news...gondolas are going up on the Ferris Wheel today:
https://fox2now.com/2019/09/03/gondolas ... n-station/
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They’ve been there at least since my first visit to Union Station about a year ago.sc4mayor wrote:^ Are those a new addition or were those always there? Either way, I agree it's a nice touch.
In other news...gondolas are going up on the Ferris Wheel today:
https://fox2now.com/2019/09/03/gondolas ... n-station/
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I am in the Smoky Mountains now and drove by the Ferris Wheel at Pigeon Forge. Looked up its stats and learned it is exactly like the one in St Louis. 200 feet high with 42 gondolas, with one of them a VIP with a glass floor. Looked up the Seattle one. It is also 42 gondolas, but it is 175’. FYI Colossal at six flags is 180’ high.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
For further perspective, the original Ferris Wheel from the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition, which then moved to St. Louis for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was 264 feet tall, with 36 passenger cars. But those cars were 24 feet long and could carry 60 people each - at full capacity, the original Ferris Wheel could carry 2,160 passengers on one ride. The axle was 45 feet long and weighed 71 tons, and is believed to be buried somewhere near the intersection of Skinker and Wydown (they demolished it with explosives in 1906).gary kreie wrote: I am in the Smoky Mountains now and drove by the Ferris Wheel at Pigeon Forge. Looked up its stats and learned it is exactly like the one in St Louis. 200 feet high with 42 gondolas, with one of them a VIP with a glass floor. Looked up the Seattle one. It is also 42 gondolas, but it is 175’. FYI Colossal at six flags is 180’ high.
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^That should be well worth a ride when it finally opens for business.
Opening September 30th! Miniature golf course and soda fountain restaurant (former Hard Rock Cafe) will also open that day.
https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/ ... 63d22.html
https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/ ... 63d22.html
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WATCH: First views 200 feet above city from St. Louis Wheel
I wonder how often one of us will be going up there to take pictures of the MLS stadium construction
I wonder how often one of us will be going up there to take pictures of the MLS stadium construction
Apparently LHM is being quite the barrier to repairing the Union Station tunnel. Bi-State has called conversations tense and difficult. LHM will not provide a temporary easement for equipment/construction.
This dispute is costing taxpayers $XXXk. Thanks LHM!
PG.44
https://www.bistatedev.org/wp-content/u ... mation.pdf
This dispute is costing taxpayers $XXXk. Thanks LHM!
PG.44
https://www.bistatedev.org/wp-content/u ... mation.pdf
I'm sure there's 2 sides to this story. A good friend of mine works closely with LHM, i'll see if I can get the scoop.addxb2 wrote:Apparently LHM is being quite the barrier to repairing the Union Station tunnel. Bi-State has called conversations tense and difficult. LHM will not provide a temporary easement for equipment/construction.
This dispute is costing taxpayers $XXXk. Thanks LHM!
PG.44
https://www.bistatedev.org/wp-content/u ... mation.pdf
So here's my interpretation, apparently LHM and Metrolink have been talking about doing these repairs for almost 3 years. The Metrolink tunnel that is under the middle Union Station parking lot is wider than it needs to be, thus creating more maintenance. Metro wants to retrofit this tunnel to make less yearly maintenance. In order for Metro to do this work as originally budgeted would require ripping up the parking lot. LHM had no issue in this, as long as the work was done before the planned opening of the Aquarium and the Wheel etc. Metro took to long getting their ducks in a row, and LHM rescinded the easement to do the work, as the Aquarium and the Wheel (next week) are opening and need their parking lot to be functional and not bifurcated by Metro doing their work.
I'd blame the added cost to the tax payers on Bi-State not being proactive about repairs, not LHM.
I'd blame the added cost to the tax payers on Bi-State not being proactive about repairs, not LHM.
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^well, after an opening season of reasonable length LHM is going to have to grant another easement because a dilapidated Metro tunnel is a danger to the public. JFC, parking parking parking parking parking parking parking parking! (yeah i realize it's a destination attraction and that's the way it is. just sick of parking being such a f*cking big deal in all things St. Louis.)
^ Seriously. That's a bullsh*t excuse. There are two huge parking lots right next door (behind Maggie O's), a parking garage next to the Drury, still vast surface lots further south of the MetroLink tunnel, and of course general street parking nearby and the other lots around Enterprise Center.
I understand not wanting to have a large transit related construction project happening right when the new attractions open, but you're right...eventually that tunnel has to be fixed and delaying it because of parking concerns is a weak excuse.
I understand not wanting to have a large transit related construction project happening right when the new attractions open, but you're right...eventually that tunnel has to be fixed and delaying it because of parking concerns is a weak excuse.
If I understood the meeting minutes correctly it seems that Metro is changing their construction methods to not require ripping up the parking lot.
Sure, it sounds like a bullsh*t excuse and I get that, but at the end of the day it's their land, they gave Metro the opportunity, and they didn't capitalize on it. I'm not sure who has control over any of the adjacent lots or garages and if they could be used ILO LHMs lot.
Sure, it sounds like a bullsh*t excuse and I get that, but at the end of the day it's their land, they gave Metro the opportunity, and they didn't capitalize on it. I'm not sure who has control over any of the adjacent lots or garages and if they could be used ILO LHMs lot.
^ Outside of the Drury garage I think most of it is public, granted the only reason I think that is because they always seem to be open and available to park at. I don't know whether or not they are city lots.
On another note I had a random thought. If Metro is going to rebuild and narrow the tunnel they should partner with the aquarium and a local artist and paint some sort of aquatic life type mural along the walls that people can see as the train passes beneath. Kind of like some of the whimsical little fans they have in the 8th street tunnel.
On another note I had a random thought. If Metro is going to rebuild and narrow the tunnel they should partner with the aquarium and a local artist and paint some sort of aquatic life type mural along the walls that people can see as the train passes beneath. Kind of like some of the whimsical little fans they have in the 8th street tunnel.
Good idea. I wonder if since its a publicly financed project that they were required to have the "public art" percentage baked into the budget. Would be a good wayfinding indicator.sc4mayor wrote:On another note I had a random thought. If Metro is going to rebuild and narrow the tunnel they should partner with the aquarium and a local artist and paint some sort of aquatic life type mural along the walls that people can see as the train passes beneath. Kind of like some of the whimsical little fans they have in the 8th street tunnel.
Until ratfag tags it.
The large parking lot west of Union Station belongs to LHM. The parking garage belongs to Drury.
Some or all of that west parking lot may soon disappear for the MLS stadium project, however. And, some part of the south parking lot will be reserved for Build-A-Bear, and possibly for construction of their "flagship retail experience". And then there's also the possibility that LHM has some Phase 2 plans that they haven't released yet. Not that I necessarily believe their parking excuse, but there's a whole lot of balls in the air around here, and I could see a legitimate concern over all of the construction zones, and potential loss of parking spaces, traffic flow, and access to the lots.
Some or all of that west parking lot may soon disappear for the MLS stadium project, however. And, some part of the south parking lot will be reserved for Build-A-Bear, and possibly for construction of their "flagship retail experience". And then there's also the possibility that LHM has some Phase 2 plans that they haven't released yet. Not that I necessarily believe their parking excuse, but there's a whole lot of balls in the air around here, and I could see a legitimate concern over all of the construction zones, and potential loss of parking spaces, traffic flow, and access to the lots.
This would definitely explain why Bi-State bought that building (now a vacant lot) south of the Drury. They need a staging area with access to the tunnel.stlnative wrote:If I understood the meeting minutes correctly it seems that Metro is changing their construction methods to not require ripping up the parking lot.
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ha. or Ed Boxx. thankfully SUPER is in prison.stlnative wrote: Until ratfag tags it.