urbanSTL

It's been 20 years since the strategic planning for the revitalization of McRee Town began. 10 years since I left as Executive Director of the Garden District Commission and McRee Town Redevelopment Corporation.

My question is, has Botanical Heights / McRee Town revitalization been a success? If so, how in your opinion. If not, why not in your opinion.

Thanks!
George Robnett

Wow. I just took a driving tour of the area west of Thurman, and I was blown away by the changes. I knew they've been working on this area, but I didn't realize the extent of the progress. Pretty much the entire neighborhood has been rebuilt. I really like the mix of rehabs and new, contemporary infill. Well done.

^ it's truly a madhouse of construction -- teardowns/infill/rehabs/you name it. Next up will be Tiffany as the next major hotspot.... tho almost all rehabs as the stock there is intact.

UIC recently put up new signs along Lafayette Ave showing which lots are available for development. With at least 6 new homes under construction, they also indicate that they have less than 10 lots left. It's been an amazing transformation. Now all we need to do is get Thurman reopened under 44. 

The new modern infill is starting to become visible from Highway 44. Should really change the neighborhood's image to commuters who may be otherwise unaware of what's going on. 

Agreed, the view from I-44 in Shaw and Botanical Heights was pretty rough over the years. I'd like to see some infill on Vandeventer near the I-44 off ramp. That used to be a homeless encampment as many of you likely recall. Larry Rice was involved if I remember correctly.

Let's get rid of those wasteful cul-de-sacs!

^ with funding secured for the Tower Grove and Vandeventer shared use path, I expect Botanical Heights to heat up a bit more. The business district between Vandeventer and 44 on Tower Grove will grow as a key car-free destination.

Condo building proposals would do very well at the surface lots near Tower Grove and Lafayette or Vandeventer and McRee.

I wonder when we see some residential bleed west down McRee. A year ago I would have told you that area between Kingshighway and Vandeventer wasn't going to do anything, but now we have Recess and Bar-K going up in quick order. That area is about to be millenial heaven. 

I also wouldn't mind seeing a pedestrian bridge eventually make a connection between Hunt and McRee

Have you all been down McRee Avenue and other places in BH these days? Amazing change. I can't think of a better example of rebounding and rebuilding a neighborhood, west of Thurman anyhow. Really impressive mod/rehab mix and apartment/single-fam. If not this, then what for the future fringe neighborhoods?

^Yup. I toured it a few months ago and was blown away. Maybe someone could post a photo-tour. 

I hope they leverage the north side of the neighborhood with some nice density. It's clear the area can support it, and once the Southside metrolink opens in ~30 years, a station under the Tower Grove bridge would be a powerhouse.

My wife and I are working on a shotgun rehab on Folsom, Ave and from what we've learned over the last year is that there are definitely plans for the north side of the neighborhood.  City Garden Montessori's Board of Directors voted just last night on financing for their expansion project at 4209 Folsom.  New construction homes by UIC are progressing at Folsom & Klemm.  At one point there were plans for Union Loafers to expand into the building at Folsom and Tower Grove Ave - but my own assumption is that COVID has probably impacted those plans or timelines in some form or fashion.  And I believe that there are still long term plans progressing for some of the Liggett Myers warehouses.  Basically we're very bullish on Folsom transforming just like the rest of the neighborhood over the coming years.

I'll take some pics of the neighborhood over lunch today and post a short walking tour.  There's a LOT of rehabs and construction happening right now.  

Is anything different about these horrible, wasteful affronts to humanity?

Ok - apparently I can't post all 49 photos in one post, so this is going to get chunked out into a few different ones. Also, I'm not going to caption each and every photo, but to help everyone follow along I started at Folsom and Thurman, went west, and then zigged up and down Blaine, Mcree, and Lafayette before ending at Lafayette and Thurman.  Let me know if there are any questions on specific locations for any of these.

^Awesome; thanks for the  pics.

framer wrote: ↑

Aug 06, 2020

quincunx wrote: ↑

Aug 06, 2020

Is anything different about these horrible, wasteful affronts to humanity?

Botanical-Heights-McRee-at-Thurman-No-Curb-Cut.png

Hmmm . . . they look like a perfectly nice young couple to me. 

Maybe he's referring to the babies? In which case I agree wholeheartedly.



-RBB

There's a $6M building permit application submitted for rehab of 4209 Folsom. What's going on there?

City Garden Montessori expansion. There are no renderings yet and the site designs are still being fleshed out / they’re looking to engage local residents soon. Goal is to have it open for the higher grades starting next year with the younger grades staying at the existing location.

They’re starting on basics including some interior demolition and waterproofing the building first.