urbanSTL

RJ York to add hotel, condos in Clayton development



RJ York Development's redevelopment project at the southwest corner of Maryland and Central avenues in Clayton will include a hotel and as many as 50 condos.



The developer, led by Managing Partner Robert Kramer, will present the plans at a Clayton board of alderman meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25. According to the agenda, the proposed mixed-use project, which has an estimated $100 million development cost, will have a 200-room hotel, 19,400 square feet of retail space and between 34 and 50 condos.



RJ York Development bought the five story building at 25-45 N. Central from Franco Inc. in July for $7.35 million.



RJ York also is partnering with the city of Clayton and St. Joseph's Catholic Church to build a 365-car parking structure at the northwest corner of Maryland and Central avenues. The building will include 18,000 square feet of retail space and room for a 9,000 square foot classroom for the chuch. The plan calls for 193 spaces in the garage to be available to the general public.



http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stor ... st=b_ln_hl

^ I'm sure this is will be successful and for me, I'll enjoy the additional parking (further making valet service rediculous - but I digress) but I'll miss the funk brought to Clayton by this building.

YES!!!! Interesting news about the collaboration with the church... 9000sf for a class room, that's one big room!



This sounds very intriguing, I wonder how many floors... BTW, I hope the rest of central between maryland and forsyth will not meet the same fate as this building.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument



Has anyone read this article or started a thread relating to it?



Developer unveils plan for new Clayton development

By Margaret Gillerman

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/26/2007



CLAYTON — A 22-story Art Deco-style hotel and condominium project and a few hundred parking spaces in the heart of downtown are part of a new development proposal.



A team representing RJ York Development presented plans Tuesday night to the Board of Aldermen, mayor and public for The Central Maryland Hotel, which would be at the southwest corner of Maryland and North Central avenues. The luxury hotel would replace a building owned by RJ York that extends from Maryland south to an alley and includes Il Vicino, Sansui, Zuzu's and many other business tenants.



Across Maryland would be a five-story parking garage, with three floors above ground, and 365 spaces. The garage would dedicate 193 spaces for public parking; the city now has 43 spaces at the same site.



Shops and restaurants would be on both sides of the overall $110 million development.



"It will be a glass and limestone skyscraper that will not only punctuate the skyline but fit in with the streetscape," said Tyler Stephens, an owner of Core 10 Architecture. "It will add flair, excitement and vibrance."



Above the street-level shops would be the hotel with a lobby, ballrooms and meeting rooms, a spa and restaurant, garden pool and 220 rooms. The top eight floors would be for about 42 condos and a rooftop garden and clubhouse.



RJ York is asking for some public-private financing but no tax abatement or tax-increment financing, said Jim Mello, a lawyer for the developer. The city is being asked to take part in a three-way arrangement with the developer and nearby St. Joseph Catholic Church to build the garage.



The city would be asked to contribute its public surface parking lot, which is estimated to be worth $1.3 million, and an estimated $2.9 million in sales taxes spread over about 20 years.



In addition, the developer is seeking a Transportation Development District that would impose a 1 percent sales tax on the development. That would be used to help pay for the garage.



The church would contribute its parking lot in return for parking in the new garage and classroom space that would be built by the developer.



The city took no action on the proposal Tuesday. Robert B. Kramer, owner of RJ York, urged the city to act quickly.



"We own the land, the clock is ticking and we're looking to start construction in early 2008," he said.

Alright then, lets get rid of this bad boy.

22 stories! WOW, this will be much taller than I imagined!!!

^ True enough. I hope Il Vicino finds a quality location and doesn't close for the duration of the construction.

Wow. Thats pretty cool.

That's pretty sweet - let's home the city continues to become more bold with their developments, just as Skyhouse and the Roberts Tower move in that direction. With the other developments in Clayton, this area is bidding to become a 24/7 district.

I'm a bit underwhelmed. Specifically, I don't like the huge swath of concrete going up the North side of the tower. And the 2-story retail facade, while echoing the existing streetscape, doesn't relate to the tower portion at all - it looks like an after-thought, tacked-on to appease the Clayton Planning Commision. And the overall proportions feel a bit top-heavy.



As part of the BJC Hospital complex, this tower would fit right in. As a major new addition to the Clayton skyline, it's pretty dissappointing, IMO.

Seriously, does anybody think this will actually happen?



This is such a HUGE project from someone that has done exceptional work with mid-rise condo buildings and custom homes.

is it really gonna be gold? It looks like something out of Gotham City.

The design is hard to comprehend. I guess it is Art Deco, but the modernist part of it seems 1950s or 1960s (interior picture in the link). I can see a Gotham understanding except for the stone or concrete is beige in the rendering similar to all the new hospital construction.



The base may not seem to go with the skyscraper tower, but is that really bad? The base retail structure appeals to the pedestrian's needs for visual variety as opposed to a monotonous glass or mentallic skin that is frankly boring and ultra-boring 1970s modern. In appealing to the pedestrian at the street level the designer continues the village feel at the street which is in character with Clayton's older downtown buildings.



So, it is alright for a downtown to have towers with a less unifying base architecturally or must the architecture of the tower and base be uniform?



I much prefer to walk amongst appealing street level buildings than towering plain giants. Comfort factors weigh in when considering street level Washington Avenue builidings verse street level with the Metropolitan Building or SBC tower or the many parking garages.

This is OK.. not that great. I do like the attempt at being modern but it just doesn't really do it for me. Hate to be Debbie Downer, just think it could be improved slightly.

And the 2-story retail facade, while echoing the existing streetscape, doesn't relate to the tower portion at all - it looks like an after-thought, tacked-on to appease the Clayton Planning Commision.

well said.



It kind of reminds me of a more modern version of the Sheraton at Westport:

SMS, your analysis has helped me. The rendering has left me confused, for the lack of a better word. When I heard 'art deco' I was hoping for a modern version of the Continental or Park Plaza. Maybe an art deco spire. This rendering is a bit jarring. Clayton needs to shake things up, so maybe this is good. Yet, I have trouble looking at it and understanding it. I agree that street level retail is vital and will continue to transform Clayton - the function is good. It doesn't remind me of the Westport Sheraton, but maybe I need to make a visit to Westport for another look.

TB1000 wrote:Seriously, does anybody think this will actually happen?



This is such a HUGE project from someone that has done exceptional work with mid-rise condo buildings and custom homes.

sure, why not??? Conrad made the same jump with Clayton on the Park. I'm also pretty sure The Plaza was the first towers done by clayco and thf...

At least they're using limestone. Based on the rendering, I had assumed concrete panels. Still looks like a hospital to me, though.

Deffinitely cannot put a price on that view.