Wow, looks like KC is getting the buildings that were promised for BPV way back after the 2006 WS victory. I can only hope that a similar project is in the works here.
KC is killing it lately.
KC is killing it lately.
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^Kansas City is subsidizing $17million AND providing 25 years of tax abatement.
Hotel Blackhawk in 705 Olive per today's BJ.downtown2007 wrote:I also hear of a boutique chain strongly considering downtown.kbshapiro wrote:Its hard to believe 3 hotels would close in a submarket where hotels are doing well. That just doesn't make sense.
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^ And it may very well be worth it (although I'm not sure about the $17 million figure, I believe the city gave One Light $6 million plus abatement but who is counting?) I've long said that we need to think about priming the downtown development pump by considering more subsidies. If it takes a bit more than the TIF already in place to get mixed-use over the hump then we should consider it.moorlander wrote:^Kansas City is subsidizing $17million AND providing 25 years of tax abatement.
^I was in KC for work earlier this week. Between new buildings, renovations, and the streetcar the amount of construction in and around their downtown is impressive.
They have some serious challenges in the surrounding areas though and they are in fact subsidizing a lot of it and experiencing large losses.
I have to say our current construction is impressive as well. It's just more focused in Mid-town, CWE, and the Grove with DT trailing. We desperately need a large corporation from the area to commit to DT to build momentum.
They have some serious challenges in the surrounding areas though and they are in fact subsidizing a lot of it and experiencing large losses.
I have to say our current construction is impressive as well. It's just more focused in Mid-town, CWE, and the Grove with DT trailing. We desperately need a large corporation from the area to commit to DT to build momentum.
^Also, even with all the construction I saw sparse activity (people on the streets) in DT KC on Wednesday compared to the activity I experienced in DT Stl yesterday.
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I'd like to see a few ego statements downtown. I'd really like to see a marketing campaign geared towards any large employer currently occupying an office park on 270 or 64 and looking to expand. It would show a vintage-looking travel advert with our skyline, and across in Braggadocio font (an actual font, which would be quite fitting): "Because nobody puts office parks on a postcard." Sell it to the decision makers (those that live here, especially) that their own 400-600 foot glass-and-steel phallic symbol can be permanently showcased alongside the symbol (Arch) of our city.gary kreie wrote:I agree. When Devon Energy constructed a 60-story building in downtown OKC a couple of years ago, it had nothing to do with the class-A office availability stats in downtown OKC. They just needed space somewhere and decided to make an ego statement.
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Bill DeWitt references the parking and residential that's been hinted at here... But he also hinted at the Cardinals being active in pursuing office too.
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2015/04/10/ ... hats-next/
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2015/04/10/ ... hats-next/
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^ when it comes to office, fwiw, I've been told that One ATT Center's owners probably would need an anchor tenant commit to around 500,000-600,000 sq. ft. in order to begin marketing the 1.2 million sq. ft. building to others... and with few large contiguous spaces available elsewhere, a company looking for a HQ downtown in say the 200,000-500,000 square foot range may have to look at new construction. Even with an anchor commitment of 100,000 to 200,000 sq. ft. you could have a pretty nice BPV office tower with other offices or mixed-use as well.
This is a good sign: “Residential has shown some strength in this market, particularly downtown, which is great for us to see because I think that really would help our project, to have residential,” DeWitt says.
However: "DeWitt says now that they have a year of phase one under their belts, they’re looking at a parking garage, office tower and condo tower." Great to hear they're thinking of putting in a parking garage, more parking is exactly what this area needs
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However: "DeWitt says now that they have a year of phase one under their belts, they’re looking at a parking garage, office tower and condo tower." Great to hear they're thinking of putting in a parking garage, more parking is exactly what this area needs
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I know that the parking garage for the next phase will be on top of what is now the VIP lot. They're still looking at adding event space on top looking into the ballpark too. So in a way them building a parking garage would be 1) necessary for their residential tower and 2) allow them to build on top of the surface lots by retaining the parking revenue.
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I hope they aren't planning a stand alone garage. The garage should be on the least valuable parcel or better yet occupy the 2-? floors of a new tower. There are two enormous garages as bookends as it stands. How could you possibly need more parking?
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^ If BPV becomes dense.... if it had say two residential towers, an office tower and a hotel/office there would be substantial demand. But there should only be one and it shouldn't be stand alone.
Dimwitt and the Cardinals have been promising for nearly two decades...........okay..........fifteen years.
Still, until I see cranes and steel rising, I am not holding my breath.
The media probably won't challenge or question him again for another few years.
The city won't at all.
Still, until I see cranes and steel rising, I am not holding my breath.
The media probably won't challenge or question him again for another few years.
The city won't at all.
I'm with Arch, need to see some cranes.
I have to chuckle again. Now that they have entertainment the only thing DeWitt can talk about is Office, residential and Hotel. So he talks Office, Residential and Hotel without giving any details, hard timelines or any meaningful information. I do think the recent changes in the number of hotel rooms & solid market gives BPV an opening to add new rooms. I just don't know if they will make it happen before Drury decides what to do on the Landing.
What troubles me is this quote -
He also says the Cardinals are trying to be in the discussion with both the city and county when there’s a company looking to expand.
The impression I get is that Cordish has not establish the connections it needs too in the region. Worse yet, my impression from the quote is that haven't pound the pavement, made the cold calls, got to know who who's in the executive suites. I hope that it is not the case but what I take from the comment. Which gets me thinking, I really wonder how much marketing on the backs of the Cards have they really done? or even tried? I'm still at a loss why they don't have a small marketing or sales office for BPV residential tower in Busch stadium during game days.
I have to chuckle again. Now that they have entertainment the only thing DeWitt can talk about is Office, residential and Hotel. So he talks Office, Residential and Hotel without giving any details, hard timelines or any meaningful information. I do think the recent changes in the number of hotel rooms & solid market gives BPV an opening to add new rooms. I just don't know if they will make it happen before Drury decides what to do on the Landing.
What troubles me is this quote -
He also says the Cardinals are trying to be in the discussion with both the city and county when there’s a company looking to expand.
The impression I get is that Cordish has not establish the connections it needs too in the region. Worse yet, my impression from the quote is that haven't pound the pavement, made the cold calls, got to know who who's in the executive suites. I hope that it is not the case but what I take from the comment. Which gets me thinking, I really wonder how much marketing on the backs of the Cards have they really done? or even tried? I'm still at a loss why they don't have a small marketing or sales office for BPV residential tower in Busch stadium during game days.
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I see where you're getting that $17 million figure now... Cordish says it will be contributing $88 million to the $105 million project, which includes $17 million in incentives for the tower and accompanying garage. I think the $17 million though does include the valuation of the tax abatement. Not too bad of private investment percentage... anyway, I believe that such a high value project in BPV (or elsewhere downtown) are worth exploring whether granting additional subsidies are appropriate.moorlander wrote:^Kansas City is subsidizing $17million AND providing 25 years of tax abatement.
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Apparently the current architect was fired. I don't have any other details, but it sounds like Cordish went full Cordish and decided to pump the brakes.
My own personal guess: they were asking for too much and wanted to pay pennies on the dollar for the architect/design.
My own personal guess: they were asking for too much and wanted to pay pennies on the dollar for the architect/design.
^ my personal guess is that they have no intention to build phase II anytime soon if they can't even commit to an architect.
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Some company located in Phoenix owns the garages. I highly doubt they'd want to invest themselves, and I assume they wouldn't sell for cheap either.
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trying to find out what happened, texted a friend that worked on the current BPV and he said few months ago that his firm would never work with Cordish again ..said a firm across the street was working on the tower but wouldn't be surprised if they dropped Cordish and it looks like it happened.
Perhaps it doesn't look this bad on ground level, but this is terrible. Absolutely hideous. City leaders are asleep at the wheel for letting this go on for a decade. Looks like a second or third rate downtown.
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_MG_0245 by CityArchRiver 2015, on Flickr
_MG_0245 by CityArchRiver 2015, on Flickr
^ I disagree, there are much smaller and less progressive third rate cities with much nicer downtowns than St. Louis. The region has really given up on downtown and much of the urban core outside of the CWE, which is sad because the city is the only place in St. Louis with potential to attract the people we need to the region.
^goat314, I understand your position, but instead of disagreeing with me so fast, try re-reading what I wrote.goat314 wrote:^ I disagree, there are much smaller and less progressive third rate cities with much nicer downtowns than St. Louis. The region has really given up on downtown and much of the urban core outside of the CWE, which is sad because the city is the only place in St. Louis with potential to attract the people we need to the region.
