urbanSTL

1. The UIC design, north of the Georgian:


2. The Koman design, south of the Georgian (current site):


3. The new design:


Other than the building becoming an object floating in a sea of parking (rather than the building being an edge defining the public space), one thing confuses me. That point where the cornices meet at the corner (with the concrete quoin below) seems unresolved to me. I see different height cornices, a strange angle, the way the quoin stops just shy of the cornice, as if to emphasize the fakery. It's just not what I'd expect from an organic market.

Personally, I think I'd rather go faux historic or go modern, but not modern partially wrapped in a 1980s Dierbergs facade. That just seems confusing to me.

^ Is the new dentistry clinic going on that site?

I don't think Soulard Market will take a hit. You won't be able to buy a bloody mary or Busch in a red solo cup and saunter around haggling with vendors at Field Foods. Soulard Market is a scene all its own that appeals to many, a broad section of people rich and poor and everything in between. Soulard Market is a great scene and a place, it attracts many and always will. This is going to be more like a stock up with a shopping cart kind of place. I know they will both do well. We need more food options in this part of the city....and I'm quite thankful for something that is not a Sav-A-Lot. I can't wait to watch this take shape!

soulardx wrote:Just don't get the design for this store. It's set in the far corner of the plot behind Walgreen's basically. About as suburban as one can get. As you can probably tell, I'm not a fan at all. Building to the street was done with Walgreens....why can't it be done here?

I won't be surprised if the available parcel fronting Lafayette gets developed soon. I guess the Market is locating for maximum highway visibility.

soulardx wrote:Just don't get the design for this store. It's set in the far corner of the plot behind Walgreen's basically. About as suburban as one can get. As you can probably tell, I'm not a fan at all. Building to the street was done with Walgreens....why can't it be done here?

In a good way it makes use of the part of the lot that would be hard to develop and leaves room for good infill. The key is whether or not that infill happens and what it looks like.

Site is graded and the first wall on the western side is up. West side appears to be in line with Walgreens.

Didn't know a restaurant was opening up (Saturday).

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/d ... 68791.html

From the facebook page, it looks like there will be some cool outdoor space as well.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 3d745.html

The St. Louis Food Hub at 1500 Lafayette Avenue, which includes both a full-service grocery called Fields Foods and a food distribution and processing center under the same roof, has set an opening date of Jan. 4. Construction began in January on the food hub, which will employ 100 full- and part-time workers.

The new 37,000-square-foot store, located in the Peabody Darst Webbe neighborhood, will seek to draw customers from the growing downtown residence base and nearby neighborhoods, including Lafayette Square and Soulard.

Beginning in January, Fields Foods will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

roger wyoming II wrote:Didn't know a restaurant was opening up (Saturday).

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/d ... 68791.html

From the facebook page, it looks like there will be some cool outdoor space as well.

Drove down Truman Pkwy last night and saw this—four inverted L-shaped string of white lights on the second and third floors. Looks great. Nice to see that dismal area "lighting up."

southsidepride wrote:Great article in the PD.

Definitely. Well worth the read. I also liked this part:
"Next year, Gilded Age will add 62 new apartments to the 10-acre former hospital property site that’s also home to the Palladium event center, Butler’s Pantry catering, the Climb So iLL indoor rock climbing gym and Element restaurant. Additionally, A.T. Still University has acquired land and says it plans to open a dental school clinic on the former hospital site." Didn't know more apts. are coming. Things are looking good!

I've read that the apartments will be in the four remaining City Hospital buildings along 14th Street south of Carroll. On Google Maps, you can notice that they still have their old roofing. I believe this will complete the renovations on the site. Unlike The Georgian, these will be rentals.

The developers envision the dental clinic on the empty lot northwest of Dillon amd Carroll.