Well that sucks. The corner was the best/is the most important part of the project.
- 11K
^ I don't disagree, but such a large development has its drawbacks too. Here's the hoping that WU builds soon and builds well... if nothing else, there will be nice sidewalks and streetlights extending further in to FPSE and WU will care about the I-64 overpass that's in a bad state of repair. The smaller development footprint, and sale of part of the site is likely what is getting the development started. We'll see...
The old renderings: (the WU owned lot is more or less the western 1/3 of what you see below)
![]()
![]()
The old renderings: (the WU owned lot is more or less the western 1/3 of what you see below)
FYI: the new project is called "Aventura at Forest Park".
- 8,155
Great news that this got financing; hopefully it will lead to further development. Alex, do you know what is up with the planned park futher east?
It was graded and seeded & strawed last fall, but it looks like a horrible mess right now.
It was graded and seeded & strawed last fall, but it looks like a horrible mess right now.
- 11K
^ Yes. I served on the committee that helped plan the park. There's a master plan for it that includes trees, additional landscaping, playground equipment, etc., but there's no money. IIRC, it was ~$300K to excavate foundations/etc. from prior buildings and grade the site. The rough design:
![]()
- 8,155
^ thanks, Alex. Hopefully funding can be found soon.
I'm excited to see something happen here, but I hope the facade has changed from the previous iteration. It looks very generic to me. I'd really like to see some nice modern infill. The name "Aventura" doesn't exactly inspire confidence, though. Still, getting it built according to original renderings would still be better than remaining an empty lot for the next 10 years.beer city wrote:Any renderings yet? # of units?
- 11K
I'll bet Grant's Farm that it won't be "modern" by the standard of anyone on this forum, sadly.
- 196
Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this near where the planned (at one time) Drury Inn Hotels was going/supposed to go?
- 8,155
^ others will know more precisely, but I believe the proposed Hotel is west of this development and would require some new road infrastructure and demolition of housing (that I believe Drury has bought).
- 11K
^ Yes, this is a 1.5 blocks east of the proposed Drury Hotel - which would be in the wedge of land immediately next to Kingshighway/I-64 (SE corner). Access on the east side of Kingshighway is planned across from Oakland Ave (on the west side).
According to the Property Assessor's website they took out a building permit on 6/4 for a swimming pool.
- 196
Swimming pool for the development I assume?
Is the Drury Inn towers still going to happen as well? That would kickstart this area. Think they'll ever remove those barriers to enter some of those streets from Kingshighway?
Is the Drury Inn towers still going to happen as well? That would kickstart this area. Think they'll ever remove those barriers to enter some of those streets from Kingshighway?
- 11K
Not from Kingshighway, they won't. the only street with temp barriers still is Oakland, but a couple years ago the city made that a permanent closure. Eventually, streets within the neighborhood may be reopened. The Drury Inn proposal is still live, but nothing imminent.
BTW - I've never heard a resolution to the legal question of where Drury can or cannot build. Basically, MoDOT says it can sell the land on the southeast corner of Kingshighway and I-64. Some people say that any land that was once part of Forest Park must revert to the park and can only be sold by a popular vote (the recent parks referendum). Before I-64, Kingshighway ran straight along the alignment that is now Euclid to the north. You can easily see on Google Maps where this would have been. If MoDOT cannot sell that land, then the question remains whether the line should be the middle of Euclid, the western most side of Euclid, or what.
BTW - I've never heard a resolution to the legal question of where Drury can or cannot build. Basically, MoDOT says it can sell the land on the southeast corner of Kingshighway and I-64. Some people say that any land that was once part of Forest Park must revert to the park and can only be sold by a popular vote (the recent parks referendum). Before I-64, Kingshighway ran straight along the alignment that is now Euclid to the north. You can easily see on Google Maps where this would have been. If MoDOT cannot sell that land, then the question remains whether the line should be the middle of Euclid, the western most side of Euclid, or what.
I'm curious what the footprint of this building will be. I think it was originally going to be exclusively west of Station G, but it looks like work is being done north and east of Station G as well.
- 11K
^ Right, the work is being done everywhere - other than the corner of Taylor & Chouteau (time to change thread title, I guess). The permits are scattered over the two remaining large lots (building, pool, etc.) and there's nothing regarding the existing Station G building.
- 11K
Yes - looking west/southwest. I-64 is just out of the photo to the right.framer wrote:I take it that's Station G in the photo?
Love the proportions. So far it looks like they are working around the building. Does anyone know what they are planning for station G? I hope it will not be flattened.
- 11K
Latest word is that the development is two buildings and that the pool/commons area may incorporate the existing building.
- 36
It seems construction has just started.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 0f31a.html
a couple pics (but basically the same text)...
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... dd2f2.html
Station G will be converted into 11 apartments...
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 0f31a.html
a couple pics (but basically the same text)...
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... dd2f2.html
Station G will be converted into 11 apartments...
"Hochman and the Aventura developers were unable to agree on a sale price for Station G. As a result, Hochman is proceeding with his plan to convert the building into 11 apartments. The building's presence on the national register and Hochman's use of historic preservation tax credits in his project require him to leave Station G's exterior intact. He plans to build two-level apartments to take advantage of the station's existing windows."