urbanSTL

roger wyoming II wrote:^ Thanks. A larger Webster presence would be great. Maybe they'll threaten Webster Groves they'll move the entire campus downtown if there plan for expansion isn't approved.

I don't think they would do that, but with all of the backlash they've been receiving lately, it might make sense for them to move additional functions downtown instead of expanding onto the old Eden Seminary land.

roger wyoming II wrote:

debaliviere wrote:

roger wyoming II wrote:^ Thanks. A larger Webster presence would be great. Maybe they'll threaten Webster Groves they'll move the entire campus downtown if there plan for expansion isn't approved.

I don't think they would do that, but with all of the backlash they've been receiving lately, it might make sense for them to move additional functions downtown instead of expanding onto the old Eden Seminary land.

I was just channeling my inner Biondi.

Haha! I think Fr. Biondi would tear it down, plant some grass, and put up some iron arches and gates. Voila!

Excuse my naivete, but why of all places downtown would Webster choose to set up shop in the first floor of the arcade?

Alex Ihnen wrote:^ They're already in the Old Post Office across the street - if they need more space it could be a good fit and familiar to those who have worked or taken classes in the OPO.

Makes perfect sense to me considering their presence across the street. An increased Webster presence along with the Saint Louis University Law School a few blocks to the west can only be a great thing in my opinion.

I really hope the retail space inside The Arcade comes back to life in some form that all people can access and enjoy, not just Webster students. But anyway, the rumors about Webster's possible involvement are really encouraging.

Alex Ihnen wrote:^ They're already in the Old Post Office across the street - if they need more space it could be a good fit and familiar to those who have worked or taken classes in the OPO.

And they leased space in the Lammert Building on Washington for years before moving into the OPO. They have a fairly long history downtown.

deformative wrote:Excuse my naivete, but why of all places downtown would Webster choose to set up shop in the first floor of the arcade?

I do not know how they are programing the building, but do not understand going on to the first floor.

that is prime retail, you would think they would have more problems on the second floor of the arcade area which has no street visibilty.

the whole reason they went to the OPO is they took a lot of the underground space that was hard to lease

Hopefully it's just an error on the article. It doesn't make sense to me to use 1st floor space in that way. Use the 2nd and 3rd floors for Webster and draw retail into the 1st floor.

Couldn't agree more with both of these:

roger wyoming II wrote:If this is going to help seal the deal then great.

markinlondon wrote:Use the 2nd and 3rd floors for Webster and draw retail into the 1st floor.

Even if some or most of the 1st Floor (including the Arcade) is leased to Webster, I hope they at least include retail along OPO Square and at the corner of 8th and Pine. Any street corner with three subway entrances and one of the busiest stations in the system should have at least one functioning storefront:


I'd fine with it being a glorified lobby or lounge for Webster U. for now. I think it's more important to get the street facing storefronts up and running. The arcade itself can come later.

wabash wrote:I'd fine with it being a glorified lobby or lounge for Webster U. for now. I think it's more important to get the street facing storefronts up and running.

Exactly!

Maybe a dumb question and I missed the details, but does this project include completing both Arcade and Wright or just Arcade?

jakektu wrote:Maybe a dumb question and I missed the details, but does this project include completing both Arcade and Wright or just Arcade?

From my understanding, they will be renovating both buildings.

Arcade update: Dominium is hoping to close on financing by the end of the year. If anyone can expedite the process and get it done it's Dominium. Very solid development team up in Minnesota.

Ptw1982 wrote:Arcade update: Dominium is hoping to close on financing by the end of the year. If anyone can expedite the process and get it done it's Dominium. Very solid development team up in Minnesota.

That's great news. I can't wait until construction begins.

$103M, wow!

A few pics from a recent tour.... You can see the detailed exterior of the Wright Building exposed for the first time since the Arcade was built.