Fingers crossed that this actually gets done before the economic rug gets pulled out from beneath it again
Until it opens, the curse of the Chemical Building will remain.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑May 25, 2022Fingers crossed that this actually gets done before the economic rug gets pulled out from beneath it again
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STL Biz Journal: Chemical Building to be converted into hotel with two Marriott brands, document says
The historic building at 777 Olive St. would be renovated into a dual-brand hotel under the Residences Inn and SpringHill Suites flags, according to plans sent out to find contractors for the project. The hotel would have 240 rooms with amenity spaces, a fitness room and common areas.
^ Clueless on hotel market but in my biz travels it seems the Residence Inn model of a cross between regular hotel room and say the good ol Extended Stay is gaining more traction out there. Residence Inn works well if you ever a biz trip say over several days with a mix of meetings and downtime in between to knock out some work on your laptop/conference calls. Starbucks works for an hour or two maybe but having some space, a good desk & wifi and no crowds around you is a plus
Wish this included apartments, but alas here we are. Any new life for this beauty is good news.
Paric is walking around on the roof today, trying to dodge pigeons (there's quite a population living in the building).
Chemical Building has appeared on the SLDC Planroom:
https://www.sldcplanroom.com/jobs/4194/ ... l-building
240 hotel rooms between a Residence Inn and a SpringHill Suites. Bids due 2/7/23. Unfortunately the planning documents are accessible only through a website called smartbid.co.
https://www.sldcplanroom.com/jobs/4194/ ... l-building
240 hotel rooms between a Residence Inn and a SpringHill Suites. Bids due 2/7/23. Unfortunately the planning documents are accessible only through a website called smartbid.co.
Still shocked there are no apartments in this proposal. Is there more money to be made in transients rather than residents?
Tough to make money on hotels without enough staff. Are hoteliers still having trouble with that?
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I do know that the current conference in town stated there wasn’t enough hotel space within walking distance for their attendees. So more hotel space isn’t a bad thing but some apartments would have been nice.
Is weekday occupancy of hotels pretty high as it is?
Maybe it's just me but I would be investing in a sure thing, but I also don't know all of the hotel occupancy numbers through the week.
Maybe it's just me but I would be investing in a sure thing, but I also don't know all of the hotel occupancy numbers through the week.
Between 909 Chestnut, Jefferson Arms, Railway Exchange, and an empty former hotel tower facing the Arch Grounds their is plenty of space to be had. Chemical is a drop in the bucket and the sooner it is rehabbed the better it is for downtown is my two cents
I’m really glad that this is being redeveloped as it’s one of my favorite buildings in downtown, but I really do wish it was becoming apartments or condos.
I completely understand the need for hotels in downtown especially to attract out of towners and conventions and 240 units is impressive. Still, of all the hotels that it could be, a cookie cutter chain like a Residence Inn and Springhill suites is pretty disappointing in a building as cool as this.
I completely understand the need for hotels in downtown especially to attract out of towners and conventions and 240 units is impressive. Still, of all the hotels that it could be, a cookie cutter chain like a Residence Inn and Springhill suites is pretty disappointing in a building as cool as this.
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Rumor has it that the jeweler on the ground floor of the Chemical Building is moving out. He is moving across the street into the Laclede Gas Building at 720 Olive. I saw them moving some safes over this week and asked a lease manager about it. Interesting. I'll try to pry some more info out of them with booze. Interesting that after 40 years he'd just decide to move one day.
Good to hear that he's staying in the immediate area, wonder if it's related to the building getting (reportedly) redevelopedfatsheldon wrote: ↑Apr 27, 2023Rumor has it that the jeweler on the ground floor of the Chemical Building is moving out. He is moving across the street into the Laclede Gas Building at 720 Olive. I saw them moving some safes over this week and asked a lease manager about it. Interesting. I'll try to pry some more info out of them with booze. Interesting that after 40 years he'd just decide to move one day.
Leave it to me to find these, lol.
Quick observation: It seems that any interior ceiling details will be ripped out, Notably, the ceiling mosaic and the vaulted ceiling in Mroz's shop.
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Quick observation: It seems that any interior ceiling details will be ripped out, Notably, the ceiling mosaic and the vaulted ceiling in Mroz's shop.
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A nice use of tax incentives would be to help business find a way to keep existing tenants when they renovate. (In addition to noteworthy existing features, like that ceiling.) I'm glad to see this happening, but I'm really sorry to hear about the ceiling, and by implication Mroz's. I really need to check that place out. Looks interesting.
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As noted above Mroz's is moving across the street into the Laclede Gas building. Not sure when he opens back up, but the safes and some other heavy things are moved and he has already mostly cleaned out his space there in the Chemical Building. So, he's not gone like the ceiling will likely be.
Took a look at that building and interestingly its not very wide; it looks like it would be an overall bigger building from the frontage. Thus maybe not as huge project as say the Jefferson on Tucker?
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I am glad to see Mroz's moving and reopening nearby. I missed that part. But I still want to mourn the ceiling. That's a gem and it should really be saved.fatsheldon wrote: ↑May 11, 2023As noted above Mroz's is moving across the street into the Laclede Gas building. Not sure when he opens back up, but the safes and some other heavy things are moved and he has already mostly cleaned out his space there in the Chemical Building. So, he's not gone like the ceiling will likely be.
Jeez . . . I remember as a kid going to one of those buildings on Olive to buy sheet music. Things sure do change.
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We used to go to famous barr at RWE, shop and get their famous soup. Then the mall because they had the best sales. My parents used to tell us about all the stores and people and streetcars in their youth...always held our attention!