urbanSTL

The future Ballpark Loft owners were notified on March 25 that HBD had started the interior demolition and that there would be significant activity taking place at 1000 and Spruce.

^

w00t!

Yeah, I'm really pumped about the BP Lofts. If BPV is "touristy" or "fake," I'm hoping the Cupples buildings will make for a cool little area to hang out before/during/after the games (or any time for that matter).

I was really surprised M/W didn't priortize the restoration of BP lofts over the motor lofts considering the huge potential and demand for residential near the ballpark. I wonder if had anything to do with the TIF money, perhaps Motor's TIF money came in before BP lofts did? Im just grasping at straws here.

i really want a building on that parking lot. As I've said hundred times. It would make a fantastic spot for a nice sized tower (residential views over home plate anyone?). And how about the corporate sign age? What company wouldn't want their logo looming directly over home plate .... and you could literally build it over a metro stop.

From the Business Journal:

Demolition at Cupples Station complex to begin

St. Louis Business Journal - May 11, 2007



Demolition of the interior of a six-story building in the Cupples Station complex is set to begin this week, making way for, architecture firm Rosemann & Associates PC said Friday.



Rosemann & Associates designed the $13.2 million Ballpark Lofts 8 historic development.



HBD Contractors will handle construction, which is at the corner of 10th and Spruce streets in St. Louis, and McGowan & Walsh Urban Developers is leading the project team.



The renovation includes first and second floor commercial and office space with 68 condominium lofts for sale.



"The development will be one of the early projects introducing residential units in and around Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village," Rosemann's Chuck Reitzel said in a statement.



Built in 1894, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Historic warehouse near ballpark to be recycled as lofts, commercial space

By Justin St. Clair

SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH

06/01/2007





Workers are busy transforming another empty downtown landmark near Busch Stadium into lofts and commercial space.



The Cupples Station Building at the southwest corner of 10th and Spruce streets — built in 1894 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 — is expected to reopen next April as Ballpark Lofts 8.



Project Architect Chuck Reitzel of St. Louis-based Rosemann & Associates said the building is special today because of its proximity to the stadium and the proposed Chouteau Lake Greenway project, which would bring new green space just south of Highway 40 (Interstate 64).



"Location is definitely one of the unique things about this building," Reitzel said.





Developer McGowan-Walsh of St. Louis hopes to lease 36,000 square feet on the first two floors of the six-story building as retail and office space. The other four floors will be divided into 68 loft-style condos, many of which already are reserved.



Link to Article

I thnk they've already nixed the glass dome (though I agree it woud be cool) ... I especially hope they do the landscpaing - and the pavillion on the south east edge of the lot with the ramp through it - that would be a great addition during cardinals games

Man, I hate those on/off ramps.

Dang, that's smoove! (I hadn't seen the original plan)

That was Richard Baron's plan from back when he had the options on all those buildings. Now that he hasn't done any of them I doubt we will see something like that. With that said, some type of landscaping would be greatly appreciated

I recently received the following construction update directly from MW which stated:



"The interior demolition is 90% completed and we have only a few more weeks of sandblasting. Cleaning of the exterior is approximately 70% completed with part of the west façade and the north façade remaining. If you have driven by recently you might have noticed that a sample window has been installed on the 2nd floor overlooking the new J. Bucks. During the next 30-60 days we will be tuckpointing the exterior of the building, pouring 3’ of new light weight concrete on all floors for purposes of limiting sound transfer and installing the new fireproof stairwells. We will soon be sending information about selecting your finishes and opportunities for limited tours."



Can anyone comment on the progress of the buidling from the exterior? I live in Chicago and have not been able to visualize any progress at this point.

probably started 5 weeks ago. very active worksite, workers are there past 6pm. your writeup is accurate, still in demo stage, sandblasting ongoing, construction elevator up, big concrete rig on site. they tore down the loading docks on the east side. outside looks rough without tuckpointing done. thankfully the rehab to the north is completed, so the construction impact isn't as great.

Has anyone heard anything about the roof caving in on one of the buildings? I was up Sunday night with the storm and decided to check out the news. It was a short story on stltoday, and figured I'd post about it yesterday. Problem is, I haven't been able to find it since. Not sure if the story was retracted or what happened, but figured I'd bring up the subject on here anyway.

Jrathert wrote:Has anyone heard anything about the roof caving in on one of the buildings? I was up Sunday night with the storm and decided to check out the news. It was a short story on stltoday, and figured I'd post about it yesterday. Problem is, I haven't been able to find it since. Not sure if the story was retracted or what happened, but figured I'd bring up the subject on here anyway.

I read that too. The strange thing is, when I drove by the building on Highway 40 a few days earlier, it looked like the roof had already caved in - I could see daylight through the top story of the building.

I thought one of the buildings already had a caved-in roof. I was in the Eagleton building earlier in the summer, and if I remember correctly the building on the SE corner of 11th & Spruce had a caved in roof.

the building to the west is the one with the roof damage:



http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&c ... &encType=1

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

DeBaliviere wrote:

Jrathert wrote:Has anyone heard anything about the roof caving in on one of the buildings? I was up Sunday night with the storm and decided to check out the news. It was a short story on stltoday, and figured I'd post about it yesterday. Problem is, I haven't been able to find it since. Not sure if the story was retracted or what happened, but figured I'd bring up the subject on here anyway.

I read that too. The strange thing is, when I drove by the building on Highway 40 a few days earlier, it looked like the roof had already caved in - I could see daylight through the top story of the building.

I talked to a fireman friend last night. He was there. He said there were holes in the roof before, and all the rain that came in over the years rotted the timber beams. I asked about the condition after the cave in, and he said "not good".

My condolences.