^I heard that the groundbreaking has been delayed until we get to page number 300 on this thread.
Page 300 shouldn't take long. We almost have 200. I think we can do it by summer.
brody wrote: And how many people want to wake up every morning looking at busch stadium?
Well, I would. So there's at least one.
steve wrote:brody wrote: And how many people want to wake up every morning looking at busch stadium?
Well, I would. So there's at least one.
My husband would too. That's 2!!!! I think he's spoken words like "in heaven" when speaking of living in Ballpark Village... To each, their own...
I'm not that big a baseball fan (sshhhh, don't tell anyone) and even I think it would be kind of cool to have a view of the ballpark.
So glad to hear someone else say this. I'm not one of these people who sits around worrying about the status of the BPV project. I have better things to do. It'll happen when it happens and I'm sure it will be a great addition to the city. It wouldn't take much, though, to toss a little grass seed out there and maybe even plant a tree or two so that the site could at least look halfway decent until construction starts. It would also help keep the dust down.
TGE-ATW wrote:Somebody put some f***ing grass seed on the site and take down the fence. At least we can play frisbee before the game.
So glad to hear someone else say this. I'm not one of these people who sits around worrying about the status of the BPV project. I have better things to do. It'll happen when it happens and I'm sure it will be a great addition to the city. It wouldn't take much, though, to toss a little grass seed out there and maybe even plant a tree or two so that the site could at least look halfway decent until construction starts. It would also help keep the dust down.
Was listening to 550 today and was listening to some of the winter warm up coverage, one of the questions by an audience member to a cardinals official was the status of Ballpark Village. The Cardinals rep (never caught his name) said the there was to be an announcement concerning BV tomorrow morining by Bill Dewitt. I hate to get excited again and then let down but this could be big, Brown Shoe anyone? Or maybe they're just gonna push back the start date again. - 10K
This site has a virtual tour that I hadn't seen before. The video cuts out at one point, but comes back. The views from the residential tower look unbelievable:
Link
Link
DeBaliviere wrote:This site has a virtual tour that I hadn't seen before. The video cuts out at one point, but comes back. The views from the residential tower look unbelievable:
Link
And a new logo, too:
-RBB
They mention a brand new bowling hall of fame with some features in the virtual tour. Was a deal ever reached or is this still up in the air? I can't remember hearing anything on it, but you'd think they would have worked something out by now.
Notes from the broadcast...
- Reason for delay is the Centene addition
- # of residential units of 250 (at least)
- SE block being saved for future development. Dewitt III hopes it will be primarily residential tower w/several hundred units.
- Residential will be at the higher end of the spectrum.
- BPV will break ground "in a few months"
- Says steel framing will be up for All Star Game
- Plot on SE corner (see above) will likely house a tent for All Star Game festivities. (developed in later phase as residential tower or possibly office)
- Reason for delay is the Centene addition
- # of residential units of 250 (at least)
- SE block being saved for future development. Dewitt III hopes it will be primarily residential tower w/several hundred units.
- Residential will be at the higher end of the spectrum.
- BPV will break ground "in a few months"
- Says steel framing will be up for All Star Game
- Plot on SE corner (see above) will likely house a tent for All Star Game festivities. (developed in later phase as residential tower or possibly office)
So in other words no new news. I was hopefull the # of residential units would far exceed 250. I suppose if all 250 are contained in one tower it could be OK; 10 units per floor=25 story tower.ntbpo wrote:
Yeah, I'm not impressed either, but I suppose this isn't bad news. The glass is half full ...
- 8,912
i got the impression from the broadcast that the tower with several hundred res. units was in addition to the 250, but I could certainly be mistaken.
^ From the broadcast, that is also what I took away.
While 250 in the first tower and a maximum of a few hundred more in a second tower on the southeast corner is a long way from the 1,200 units originally stated for the whole project, it is hardly the end of the world. If ballpark facing units are a popular as many expect (and hope) then with some subsidy from the City I am sure that either:
A. The size of the tower on the southeastern corner could be enlarged to hold more units.
B. Residential developments for the remaining ballpark facing blocks can occur.
If the units aren't as popular, then the 1,200 was never a realistic number to expect.
While 250 in the first tower and a maximum of a few hundred more in a second tower on the southeast corner is a long way from the 1,200 units originally stated for the whole project, it is hardly the end of the world. If ballpark facing units are a popular as many expect (and hope) then with some subsidy from the City I am sure that either:
A. The size of the tower on the southeastern corner could be enlarged to hold more units.
B. Residential developments for the remaining ballpark facing blocks can occur.
If the units aren't as popular, then the 1,200 was never a realistic number to expect.
This is what I took away: The only new news is that we will get to look at a surface parking lot on a prime corner - and the most visible corner - of BV for God only knows how long. Just as I predicted, unfortunately. Wonderful, just wonderful.
...or parking for Cardinal execs, MLB officials, and other VIPs...
Random questions for the Cordish family: If you are having so much difficulty gauging demand for residential units in BV, then, um, why don't you get your numerous offspring, nieces and nephews to put together a model and display and ask for deposits? Or perhaps, despite your claims, you really have no interest whatsoever in developing residential units in BV?
Did they actually use the word 'saved'? Puhleeze, who are they trying to BS?SE block being saved for future development. Dewitt III hopes it will be primarily residential tower w/several hundred units.
Plot on SE corner (see above) will likely house a tent for All Star Game festivities. (developed in later phase as residential tower or possibly office)
...or parking for Cardinal execs, MLB officials, and other VIPs...
Random questions for the Cordish family: If you are having so much difficulty gauging demand for residential units in BV, then, um, why don't you get your numerous offspring, nieces and nephews to put together a model and display and ask for deposits? Or perhaps, despite your claims, you really have no interest whatsoever in developing residential units in BV?
I think this is positive news. Why? We are getting the exact same development that they proposed after the Centene announcement, except now it will be denser. That's right. This started as a six block development w/1200 condo units, an undetermined amount of office space and lots of retail. Oh yeah, the market was rolling then... Ok, then reality hit and after proposals and final approval, it became a 250+ condo unit development with maybe 100,000 sq. ft. of office space and a lot of retail. Since then...
- Essentially 1 block has been sold to Centene corp. who will move their headquarters into a new 700,000 sq. ft. tower. Centene plans to build another tower of up to 500,000 sq. ft. as market demands.
- Centene required that Ballpark Village include a 150-room hotel. Hotel was not a part of the initial proposal.
- The Cards and Cordish have now decided to essentially leave another block up for later sale that could be used for another tower when the market gets better. The development will still have 250+ residential units, office space, and retail but in a SMALLER area. Basically, this means the remaining 4 blocks will be denser than initially planned after the Centene announcement. Another plus - leaving a block to be developed later means this is less of a "district", and more of an integration into the urban landscape and grid.
End product:
- One office tower of 700,000 sq. ft. with Centene owning
- Possible second office tower of 500,000 sq. ft. as market dictates
- At least 100,000 sq. ft. of additional office space
- At least 250+ condo units (maybe in tower or maybe spread between mid-rises)
- A 150-room hotel
- Substantial amounts of retail
- A remaining lot to be sold to another developer when market dictates another tower (either office or residential)
I really think this is good news.
- Essentially 1 block has been sold to Centene corp. who will move their headquarters into a new 700,000 sq. ft. tower. Centene plans to build another tower of up to 500,000 sq. ft. as market demands.
- Centene required that Ballpark Village include a 150-room hotel. Hotel was not a part of the initial proposal.
- The Cards and Cordish have now decided to essentially leave another block up for later sale that could be used for another tower when the market gets better. The development will still have 250+ residential units, office space, and retail but in a SMALLER area. Basically, this means the remaining 4 blocks will be denser than initially planned after the Centene announcement. Another plus - leaving a block to be developed later means this is less of a "district", and more of an integration into the urban landscape and grid.
End product:
- One office tower of 700,000 sq. ft. with Centene owning
- Possible second office tower of 500,000 sq. ft. as market dictates
- At least 100,000 sq. ft. of additional office space
- At least 250+ condo units (maybe in tower or maybe spread between mid-rises)
- A 150-room hotel
- Substantial amounts of retail
- A remaining lot to be sold to another developer when market dictates another tower (either office or residential)
I really think this is good news.
- 362
My impression is that the 250 will be mixed into the rest of the development (non Centene, non-S.E. block) in mid-rise buildings. The tower (if it ever materializes) would be in addition to the 250 that is built in this phase. So for now, it means Centene tower only (with possible towers at Centene II and the S.E. Corner). That still leaves the question of the hotel in my mind, though.
I am not that upset about the open lot for a potential tower. That is the most prime spot in BPV and the Cardinals are banking on demand for the first 250 being so strong that they can lure in a large developer to build a signifigant high-rise. If they just put a 10-15 story building on that location now, that prime spot will be locked up. It makes a lot of sense to wait with that portion of BPV. I know it is unrealistic, but that location would be the ideal location for a Trump tower equivalent (no, I don't expect Trump to get involved, but I could see a similar type development to what he does in other cities).
Of course, we run the risk of that lot never being developed, but that is a risk we can take, right. We are all so sold on Saint Louis' redevelopment that the most prime location for a tower in the whole city should not sit empty long. My guess is that we will hear something announced for that corner even before BPV is finished. I expect good sales on the 250 new units and those good sales should entice a developer to take notice. Hopefully the housing market will stabilize in the next couple years and a developer might be looking in the 40 story range.
I want it to start soon just like everyone else, but so far the Cardinals have shown they can bring in a large corporate headquarters and they are committed to doing the 250 residential units with the potential to nearly double that in a new tower. So far, so good. I know they don't have the best interest of Saint Louis in their hearts, but what is good for their bottom line should be good for us too. For them and their investment, it makes no sense to have this as a parking lot for long. I expect to see some good things when it is all said and done.
I am not that upset about the open lot for a potential tower. That is the most prime spot in BPV and the Cardinals are banking on demand for the first 250 being so strong that they can lure in a large developer to build a signifigant high-rise. If they just put a 10-15 story building on that location now, that prime spot will be locked up. It makes a lot of sense to wait with that portion of BPV. I know it is unrealistic, but that location would be the ideal location for a Trump tower equivalent (no, I don't expect Trump to get involved, but I could see a similar type development to what he does in other cities).
Of course, we run the risk of that lot never being developed, but that is a risk we can take, right. We are all so sold on Saint Louis' redevelopment that the most prime location for a tower in the whole city should not sit empty long. My guess is that we will hear something announced for that corner even before BPV is finished. I expect good sales on the 250 new units and those good sales should entice a developer to take notice. Hopefully the housing market will stabilize in the next couple years and a developer might be looking in the 40 story range.
I want it to start soon just like everyone else, but so far the Cardinals have shown they can bring in a large corporate headquarters and they are committed to doing the 250 residential units with the potential to nearly double that in a new tower. So far, so good. I know they don't have the best interest of Saint Louis in their hearts, but what is good for their bottom line should be good for us too. For them and their investment, it makes no sense to have this as a parking lot for long. I expect to see some good things when it is all said and done.
- 623
I was hopefull the # of residential units would far exceed 250.
Keep in mind that at 250 units BPV will be the single largest residential project in Downtown since 2000.
Only Paul Brown and Merchandise Mart have 200+ units (both about 210) and both of those are all rental including some affordable units. The largest condo project is Ely Walker with 174 units.
In this market do you really expect them to throw up 500 units of for-sale condos? 125 pre-sales would be considered a huge failure, but it would be plenty to get a smaller development coming out of the ground.
250 residential units in the first phase is actually ambitious, especially if they are all for-sale.
- 407
This just in! No big surprise.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument
Not ready for prime time
By Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/24/2008
For the first time, both development partners in the $387 million Ballpark Village are saying it's unlikely that a significant portion of the project will be completed in time for the All-Star Game in July 2009.
Several months ago, one of the developers, the St. Louis Cardinals, acknowledged the possibility of delays on the downtown project. Now Chase Martin, director of development for the other co-developer, Baltimore-based Cordish Co., also is lowering expectations.
"We will open as much as possible. It's tough to say that we will hit that day exactly to have a significant portion of retail open," Martin said. "Our first concern is to have the best project possible."
He attributed the delay to negotiations with Clayton-based Centene Corp. after the company announced in September it would relocate its headquarters to the Ballpark Village site.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument
Not ready for prime time
By Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/24/2008
For the first time, both development partners in the $387 million Ballpark Village are saying it's unlikely that a significant portion of the project will be completed in time for the All-Star Game in July 2009.
Several months ago, one of the developers, the St. Louis Cardinals, acknowledged the possibility of delays on the downtown project. Now Chase Martin, director of development for the other co-developer, Baltimore-based Cordish Co., also is lowering expectations.
"We will open as much as possible. It's tough to say that we will hit that day exactly to have a significant portion of retail open," Martin said. "Our first concern is to have the best project possible."
He attributed the delay to negotiations with Clayton-based Centene Corp. after the company announced in September it would relocate its headquarters to the Ballpark Village site.
That's all I care about.
- 407
Too true, too true. I'm just glad they came out and acknowledged the fact that construction hasn't started. Makes me less nervous. Still, lets hope some part of the project breaks soon.