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PostMay 05, 2006#26

melders wrote:Does anyone know what happened to the large light fixtures that used to be in the Arcade. I know some parts of the building are stored at the City Museum, but I haven't heard what happened to the fixtures.


Hopefully these items aren't stored at City Museum the way that the lions from the International Fur Exchange are stored at the City Museum. That is, they should return to the Arcade Building!



I remember when Cassilly and others proposed removing the entire interior arcade and moving it to the City Museum. Aren't we glad that never happened?



I have no idea where the fixtures are. They have been missing for a decade.
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PostJun 07, 2006#27

I was downtown for a meeting today and noticed that work was not started on this building, but the sign said spring 2006. Anyone have any information about the building such as start date and pricing? Sorry not in town that often so it is harder to keep up.
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PostJun 07, 2006#28

pittstl wrote:I was downtown for a meeting today and noticed that work was not started on this building, but the sign said spring 2006. Anyone have any information about the building such as start date and pricing? Sorry not in town that often so it is harder to keep up.


I've said it before: Never trust a job sign.
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PostJun 07, 2006#29

Cityboy wrote:


I've said it before: Never trust a job sign.


Ok but does anyone have any information? I could see that they had not started and I only said I read the sign. Does anyone have a helpful comment?
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PostJun 07, 2006#30

Pyramid has a lot going on right now, and there hasn't been much news about the Arcade in a while. Other posters here have speculated that they might be waiting to finish and sell out their Bankers Lofts and Dorsa Lofts projects before starting on the Arcade, which would make sense.



Maybe we'll be able to get the scoop at the Downtown Loft Tour this weekend.
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PostJun 07, 2006#31

Thank you for the info. Unfortunately I'll miss the event this weekend, but look forward to any updates.
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PostJun 09, 2006#32

I believe this project is still in the design/document phases. It is an incredibly complex project as the Arcade building was built adjacent to the existing Wright building. Some floors align but not all. Probably one of the most complicated design projects downtown.
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PostJun 09, 2006#33

^Not only does the Arcade butt-up against the Wright building, it actually wraps around it, sharing both the North and West walls.



According to The Landmarks Association, the Arcade was originally planned to be only 10 stories tall, but they encountered quicksand during construction. To make up the dramatically increased construction costs, the building size was increased to 17 stories, thereby adding more revenue.



It seems this building has always had complicated construction issues.
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PostJun 09, 2006#34

Framer wrote:^Not only does the Arcade butt-up against the Wright building, it actually wraps around it, sharing both the North and West walls.



According to The Landmarks Association, the Arcade was originally planned to be only 10 stories tall, but they encountered quicksand during construction. To make up the dramatically increased construction costs, the building size was increased to 17 stories, thereby adding more revenue.



It seems this building has always had complicated construction issues.


True!



In college I spent weeks in there exploring, mainly just me, my flashlight, a camera, and my note pad... I can't even begin to explain how much cool stuff "trash" still remains in there... Nothing like exploring the sub-basement all alone in the pitch black and runing into a homeless man... The views off the roof are spectacular!! When Pyramid finally gets around to it, The arcade/wright will again be the Jewel of downtown!!! I think its even more spectacular than the OPO!
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PostJun 10, 2006#35

bpe235 wrote:I've spent weeks in there, mainly just me, my flashlight, a camera, and my note pad... I can't even begin to explain how much cool stuff "trash" still remains in there...


OK, now I'm really jealous! That sounds like so much fun.
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PostJul 24, 2006#36

This project has been delayed until the completion of STL.Center.
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PostJul 24, 2006#37

Prophett wrote:This project has been delayed until the completion of STL.Center.


No, please, oh God, no. Please tell me you're kidding.
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PostJul 24, 2006#38

Nope : I live in the PB next door and enquired about the project this afternoon with one of the reps down stairs. Her remark was what I stated before .....
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PostJul 24, 2006#39

Jambo wrote:I found a very interesting Blogger site call Irratonal Ecstasy -- "The Anti - Pop Culture: Music, exploration, and the unsanitary. As seen in the Riverfront Times and The St. Louis Post Dispatch" . More to the point, this site has a detailed tour of the Arcade/Wright Complex-- complete with many, many photos.



Check it out!!



http://irrationalecstasy.blogspot.com/2 ... lding.html


That's awesome. I've always wanted to do that!
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PostJul 25, 2006#40

Pyramid should just sell this project. They are slowing everything down. What a disappointment.
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PostJul 25, 2006#41

I can't wait to see a functioning plaza arcade!
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PostJul 25, 2006#42

Prophett wrote:Nope : I live in the PB next door and enquired about the project this afternoon with one of the reps down stairs. Her remark was what I stated before .....


My guess is they have too much on their plate.
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PostJul 25, 2006#43

Man this sucks. Not only is this building exceptionally beautiful, it occuppies such an important location downtown, literally at its heart. A vibrant Aracde would do so much to make our downtown more cohesive and seamless. To let such a hulking if beautiful building downtown sit vacant for, what, five more years is just a travesty.



I don't know, Pyramid has done and is doing so many good things, but lately with the McDonald's thing, that disgraceful development "La Saison," and now this? Talk about a tarnished reputation.
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PostJul 25, 2006#44

I'm not too happy with Steffen's crew lately either, but all could be forgiven, if or when that largest sucking sound downtown is ever reborn as 600 Washington.



Given how much is on Pyramid's plate, I'm especially glad now that they weren't awarded the Syndicate. Granted, the balance of Jefferson Arms and St. Louis Centre will be helping different parts of downtown. Still, it will be painful to look at a vacant Arcade-Wright from all the surrounding projects (OPO, Paul Brown, Chemical) and the busy 8th/Pine MetroLink portals for even more years to come.
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PostJul 25, 2006#45

Has anyone found out exactly why this project will likely be postponed? I have a couple of ideas why it could be, but no real answer.



Is 600 Washington receiving federal monies that are time sensitive (CDBG)?



Is the city simply pushing to get the 600 Washington done sooner?



Are there larger financial concerns about Pyramid that necessitate taking on only one larger (600) and one smaller (Jefferson ) project?



Is the downtown residential market slowing down?



Is Pyramid simply developing the properties in this order to try and maximize revenue? (no more STL Center drag, a movie theater, more people living downtown, makes the many units in the Arcade Wright more attractive and may help ensure that all the retail space if filled)



All in all, not great news to hear and remember Pyramid still has the Dillards building and the Mercantile Library building on their plate.
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PostJul 25, 2006#46

I would think the priority of connecting Wash Ave, and getting rid of the bridges is pretty high on everybodies list.



I think Pyramid should sell the Arcade though, that building needs some attention.
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PostJul 25, 2006#47

Is the city simply pushing to get the 600 Washington done sooner?


If this is the case, whether it be priorty or funding or just a "push" by local politics - I am all for it. Get that ugly thing on Washington done with... it truly is the last stone to be set on the Washington Avenue strip. It will clearly define the entire loft district and cure the eyesore and stigma of STL Centre forever. If this means delaying the Arcade for a year or so... be it IMO.
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PostJul 26, 2006#48

JMedwick wrote:Are there larger financial concerns about Pyramid that necessitate taking on only one larger (600) and one smaller (Jefferson ) project?
I think this is clearly an issue. Pyramid has always run on tight funding (which isn't a bad thing: having money just sitting in the bank doesn't help Downtown) and I don't think they can scale themselves as an organization to succeed with more than a few parallel large projects.



It could be argued that this is good for keeping the rehab of Downtown at a sustainable pace. It could also be argued that it's holding us back and wasting precious momentum.
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PostJul 26, 2006#49

I also have "momentum concerns." I don;t think interest rates are going to do anything but go up in the near term. And with the chaos in the middle east (and the resultant turmoil in the oil market) our time to build on our current "momentum" may be tight.



I've had these concerns for awhile ... we have an awful lot of projects on our plate that have yet to actually break ground ....



speakign of concerns .... does nayone know what is happening with the rennaisance grand (Ok I admit it - in addition to not being able to type I also cannot spell).. last I heard they had to restructure their debt by July to avoid defaulting. ..... well July is almost over ....
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PostJul 26, 2006#50

phobia wrote: think this is clearly an issue. Pyramid has always run on tight funding (which isn't a bad thing: having money just sitting in the bank doesn't help Downtown) and I don't think they can scale themselves as an organization to succeed with more than a few parallel large projects.



It could be argued that this is good for keeping the rehab of Downtown at a sustainable pace. It could also be argued that it's holding us back and wasting precious momentum.
I think I have to lean towards the sustainable pace side. Interest rates are contained for the time being with the greatest threat only being 7%, since the feds are almost done raising rates. Just think for how long now rates have hover3ed between 6.6%-6.8%, it been doing it for a while and will continue to do that for some time to come.



Increased energy costs only help us(well as much as frikkin $3.30 premium gas can help) since if could influence more people to move into the central core of the STL area.



Also, lofts aren't flying off of the shelves as the breakneck pace they were during the housing boom, but they are still selling at a nice steady pace, so why flood the market with units?
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