urbanSTL

Framer wrote:This would have been a great site for first floor retail/commercial, with the condos above. That could have built on the strength of South Grand, and helped link it to the medical complex to the North.

If it's any consolation the project planned for across the street in place of the old YMCA will be just this.

stellar wrote:

Framer wrote:This would have been a great site for first floor retail/commercial, with the condos above. That could have built on the strength of South Grand, and helped link it to the medical complex to the North.

If it's any consolation the project planned for across the street in place of the old YMCA will be just this.

Yep, I'm looking forward to it. I'd also love to see something like the newly-unveiled Villas of St. Louis (the old Salad Bowl site on Lindell) built on this stretch of Grand.

What is going on with the Y tear down? It was approved but I haven't hears anything new in months. Also, I couldn't agree more, the Compton Gate development, despite its lack of ground floor commercial, is really adding nice density, and the residents should increase traffic on Grand and hopefully spur more commercial development. Maybe they'll even create a market for a NEW SHONEYS!!!

^36 units? That's probably around 70 something residents at the most. I'm not sure how much "density" this project is really going to add. It will however, make a definite impact on restoring the streetscape along that section of Grand. I just wish they had gone with an architectural style other than Suburblah...



BTW, I noticed the drawings on the website show the back of the townhome portion to be covered with siding on most of all three sides. Please tell me this is not of the vinyl variety...



Does anyone on here know anyone moving into this project?

Condos rise from ashes of devastating fire

$10 million project opens May 31



By Jim Merkel

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:01 PM CDT



Michelle Duffe never will forget April 27, 2006. Nor will she forget next Thursday, May 31.



The first date was when an arsonist set fire to the construction site of the Compton Gate Condominium development at 2201 S. Grand Blvd.



Duffe is a partner in the $10 million project to build 30 condominiums and six townhouses on the site of a closed Shoney's restaurant.



[snip]



The condominiums are in two three-story buildings of 15 units each, one along Grand and one along Cleveland Avenue. Both are above a basement garage.



The two condominium buildings, along with a six-unit townhouse building on the north yet to be built and a fence to the west will form a courtyard.



Priced at $250,000 to nearly $400,000, the condominiums will range from 1,250 square feet to 1,935 square feet. All will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms.



Construction of the townhouses should start in August or September and take about seven months to complete



Link to Article

More good quality housing options for people to live in St. Louis City - projects like this are making the City a success again. I'm always somewhat surprised when more $400K condos go on the market, from the conventional wisdom I receive at work and from others I'd think that there was no one in the City that could afford it!

I'm so glad the developers were able to rebuild after the awful arson incident. The new project looks great. It really makes that Jack-in-the-Box look out of place!

Walking by these yesterday I think they look good and definitely add some great density to this block of S. Grand - I just wish they had pushed them back a few more feet to give more room on the sidewalk. I felt like the building was pushing me out into the street.

DeB,



I'm not sure I agree that it looks great. The design seems like it's awfully unfriendly to Grand, and its really not all that great to look at. Granted, I agree that it makes the Jack In The Box look out of place, but I'm just not a big fan of this building.

I think the building looks fine. I agree with Grover, though. They should have pushed the building back to maintain the existing building line along Grand. I really hate it when one building sticks out beyond its neighbors.

That townhouse building is going to be built on the northern half of the parcel with an east west orientation along Flad. That means that the north-facing windows are all going to look out at the Jack in the Box. Awesome. I would definately pay $400,000 for that kind of view!! What? They need to buy out that Jack in the Crack and detonate it. If they can replace a sh*tty Shoneys with condos they should be interested in replacing a sh*tty Jack in the Box.

If they sell the condos and townhouses quickly, it will put more pressure on developing the Jack in the Box property. Its all part of rebuilding the city.

You are right, but I am questioning their ability to sell $400,000 townhouses that look directly at a Jack in the Crack. Even if people buy them with the thought that the "restaurant" will come down during their tenure, they will still have to contend with living next to a construction site. I am pleased with this development, don't get me wrong, I just am worried about whether these things are going to sell. For $400,000 you could buy an AMAZING house in any one of the neighborhoods nearby (with the possible exception of Compton Heights) and you wouldn't have to contend with living directly on Grand (busy busy) with a view of a fast food chain.

I agree that a Jack in the Box would not be my preferred view.

But, I would love living right on Grand. Only steps to one of the best bus lines in the city. A short walk to one of the best parks in the city. Minutes from downtown. Some people prefer new constructions & will like this type of building. Chances are there will be a privacy fence between the townhouses and the restaurant.



As long as I can remember, people have been improving this city, rebuilding this city knowing that something unsavory was next door. There are plenty of people that have put up with far worse.

That's true, I'd rather live next to one Jack in the Box than the White Castle and other fast food places around Grand & Gravois, but they're still rehabbing the old bank building into condos. Of course, it does have a bit more architectural significance than the Compton Gate condos

I'm also curious as to how people are going to use those first floor balconies right on Grand (in the main building). I mean, passersby would be practically in your face!

Jack in the Box would ideally be redeveloped someday as a new condo tower similar in height to older buildings along South Grand but completely modern in design. Just picture a building like 4545 Lindell someday on this site.

southslider wrote:Jack in the Box would ideally be redeveloped someday as a new condo tower similar in height to older buildings along South Grand but completely modern in design. Just picture a building like 4545 Lindell someday on this site.

That would be fantastic, as would mixed-use buildings further south on Grand near Gravois where a bunch of fast-food joints currently stand.

The developers also are working on a group of town houses on the site that will complete the project. They are expected to be complete by early spring.

I assume this is Spring 2008.

I visited this project a few weeks ago and the layouts are great, but the developer chose to finish out all of the units and their selections are terrible. I know they are targeting "empty nesters", but who does beige toilets and sinks anymore? And most of the cabinets are 1970's brown oak. I look forward to seeing the pool/landscaping completed.

I know the couple that lives just behind the JintheB. They hate it and are not optimistic re it being closed anytime soon. They have heard it's the most profitable store around. I dunno.

J'n'B would go for the right price. Being a profitable location just means it's a steep price. Would Shaw residents though fight a new tower that would be needed to make a strong ROI for a developer? There are towers already along South Grand, but then again, so has Lindell, but that didn't stop NIMBY opponents there.