urbanSTL

Can they make phase 3 just buying the armory site so it does not become a freaking data center? That’s the ideal phase 3 in my mind

I think that’s been mentioned as being discussed. I expect a challenge is the amount of debt left on the Armory project. Need a cash cow to make buyout worth it. I’m sure apartments around the area has a margin of return but data center is higher.

addxb2 wrote: ↑

Nov 14, 2025

I think that’s been mentioned as being discussed. I expect a challenge is the amount of debt left on the Armory project. Need a cash cow to make buyout worth it. I’m sure apartments around the area has a margin of return but data center is higher.

At some point the consortium of banks that hold the debt will significantly write down their debt to get it off their books.  Likely after the data center is no longer feasible because of policy.  The reality is, it's not really worth anything if the operating revenue isn't greater than the expenses.  Immediately before closing it was not even close.  It was hemorrhaging money.  

That’s a shame. My heart goes out to the banks

addxb2 wrote: ↑

Nov 14, 2025

Which is why it would almost make sense for the City and/or Bi-State and or Great Rivers Greenway to orchestrate a bailout. The building is saved and now it’s imperative for all projects (Brickline + MetroLink) that it not become a data center.

I would disagree considering that Armory might be saved with private capital and equity as a data center.  I get it that no one likes the idea but a bailout and public dollars in my opinion if anything should be going towards 909 Chestnut, Railway Exchange, and Chemical.    Heck, Old Muni Courts buidling is still sitting empty after all these years.    Not too mention maintaining a relevant Convention Center considering the number of people, hotel and foot traffic that it brings.    Public dollars can only be stretched so far. 

In the meantime, City Foundry is far from complete and the economic and demographic reality is could be decades before everything that is proposed or rendering in above posts would be built on existing footprint.   Some can also correct me, Foundry developers obviously expressed their opinion which is good but I don't see them putting forth the capital anytime to bailout the Armory with the debt involved.   Again, pretty sure a lot of developers would love public buy and sell them the Armory pennies on the dollar.   

The pedestrian bridge is getting closer and closer. It might not have made sense for the Foundry to take up the Armory in 2023 but 2026 is a different ballgame.

Steve Smith should at least be a big investor in whatever this turns into. Even if it just turns into a venue or sports complex it will still drive foot traffic through the Foundry. Parking also won't be such a disaster because it will be able to disperse more to the north (also driving foot traffic through the Foundry)

Steve Smith/City Foundry actions will definitely be telling.     

It should have been a music venue in the redevelopment and filled that hole before the Factory in Chesterfield opened.

delmar2debaliviere2downtown wrote: ↑

Nov 15, 2025

It should have been a music venue in the redevelopment and filled that hole before the Factory in Chesterfield opened.

This is a great idea!  I think post Factory opening this could still be done.

Acoustics are brutal.

Procure shop at the Foundry apparently closing at the end of the month after 4 years. Disappointing loss as they sold lots of local StL things and it had a nice storefront and presence in the Foundry. Made the foundry feel like a more well rounded destination and uniquely StL. Foundry will be a little more stale without it

I know the food hall has mostly increased sales over the years but not sure how the shops in there do. I would’ve thought Procure was one of the better performing ones (based on my observance of weekend foot traffic there)

Owner moved to Florida

Damn if I knew that I wouldn't have dropped like $200 there for Christmas trying to keep it around. Maybe somebody can buy or copy the concept

GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑

2:53 PM - Jan 06

Damn if I knew that I wouldn't have dropped like $200 there for Christmas trying to keep it around. Maybe somebody can buy or copy the concept

The owner always had some connection to Tampa. For a local retail store, their sales seemed solid. I also shopped there recently to support but didn’t have in mind they were struggling. There are a few local stores (namely on Cherokee) that I was much more worried about

Mocha Point is opening at One Foundry Way. Very popular middle eastern coffee shop currently operating on Main Street in st.charles

Love this. This is exactly the type of activity that I hope Brickline initiates.

Great to hear that Foundry next phase might be happening soon as per the downtown thread.  As everyone else, really curious what it might entail.

The two things that seem obvious to me but utter speculation on my part

- They found an anchor tenant for the timber office or maybe becomes lab space.    Really not a big space in scheme of things but a nice touch /add on to the development plus it is probably easier to land a big enough lease to make it happen versus the proposed sand crawler (that will always be the sand crawler),

- Hotel seems such an obvious fit.  If so, would they go all in on  a tower/full service/some conference space? or your standard exit the freeway Holiday Inn Express as example?

Any more thoughts or insight on when they might announce next phase? 

It’s going east of fresh Tyme

what about a project across the street from IKEA corner of FP and Vandeventer?

My biggest complain about the foundry is that it is still an island and there aren’t natural connections to pedestrians, Forest Park Ave, Vandeventer and obviously across 64. Part of this can never improve until we just completely overhaul the design of our city but hope the next phases integrate more into the fabric of the city


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delmar2debaliviere2downtown wrote:My biggest complain about the foundry is that it is still an island and there aren’t natural connections to pedestrians, Forest Park Ave, Vandeventer and obviously across 64. Part of this can never improve until we just completely overhaul the design of our city but hope the next phases integrate more into the fabric of the city


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Forest Park Ave desperately needs a re-design.

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SLU will be getting an absolute gift if the Foundry is extended up to Fordham Hall. They would be stupid not to rip down the podium and reconfigure the ground level around a Foundry Way/Clark corridor that dumps out on Grand.