urbanSTL

^ I meant to say the buildings in Sim City 4 are super realistic. Not sure why I failed to mention that!

I finally got around to testing out Sketch Up and I got costumed to it decently quickly. I'm using the free web-app version right now as I learn the basics which is great since I don't have to download anything. There are still lots of tools and concepts that I have no idea how to use, but it is a start for sure! Here is my first ever project:

I like the way you think. I'm not sure a clothing store is the right fit for that corner, but I definitely like the way you think. Good massing. Good fit. I hope someone can come up with a plan to save Central Wire and Iron, as I'm pretty sure that dang thing is in Compton and Dry. (I take it as an article of faith that anything old enough to be on The Map is worth saving.) That said . . . lord, but that place is in rough shape.

I will say this, though. I do hope we get to the point where you could hope to put a stand alone clothier in downtown St. Louis again.

^ Strips like Manchester in the Grove, among other things, prove that you can create a vibrant urban neighborhood without the existence of highrises and bulky towers. A similar feel to the Grove is what I'd push for on this street as it is a diverse, young, and exciting neighborhood. I rendered the building as an H&M more because I wanted to show what could be built there. I hope in the near future, we will see stand-alone retail like that pictured above; bring some people downtown from their McMansions in the County.

What proper single-family infill should look like in our more urban areas: Walking through Grand Center yesterday, I thought to myself that midtown as a whole could use more forms of housing to establish more permanent residents. I really think Locust and Washington should look like Euclid or Manchester in the next 15 years. You'll notice a few rough edges in the renderings, namely the lack of sidewalk space and some gaps here and there. 

Elek.borrelli wrote:What proper single-family infill should look like in our more urban areas: Walking through Grand Center yesterday, I thought to myself that midtown as a whole could use more forms of housing to establish more permanent residents. I really think Locust and Washington should look like Euclid or Manchester in the next 15 years. You'll notice a few rough edges in the renderings, namely the lack of sidewalk space and some gaps here and there. 

Yeah, I think rowhouses would be a big hit in the area. Much of the rowhouses through there were cleared during the mill creek north urban clearance, right?


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Un-edited versions of the row homes: If there are any lots that you'd like to see similar infill on, let me know!

Elek.borrelli wrote:Yes, Mill Creek was full of them! Unfortunately, no level of quality infill could ever replace what we've lost

I’d be happy to see what down on S 10th in Lasalle Park not too long ago. Decent sized townhomes selling for roughly $365k. Wonder if those numbers would work in Midtown?


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SeattleNative wrote:

Elek.borrelli wrote:Yes, Mill Creek was full of them! Unfortunately, no level of quality infill could ever replace what we've lost

I’d be happy to see what down on S 10th in Lasalle Park not too long ago. Decent sized townhomes selling for roughly $365k. Wonder if those numbers would work in Midtown?


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I think a comparable price range for new homes in Midtown-Grand Center would be those on “On Olive” and the ones in the Gate District West. Those are the latest examples in the area around the neighborhood so I’d imagine those are the prices going to get in Midtown.

chriss752 wrote:

SeattleNative wrote:

Elek.borrelli wrote:Yes, Mill Creek was full of them! Unfortunately, no level of quality infill could ever replace what we've lost

I’d be happy to see what down on S 10th in Lasalle Park not too long ago. Decent sized townhomes selling for roughly $365k. Wonder if those numbers would work in Midtown?


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I think a comparable price range for new homes in Midtown-Grand Center would be those on “On Olive” and the ones in the Gate District West. Those are the latest examples in the area around the neighborhood so I’d imagine those are the prices going to get in Midtown.

If you’re talking about the townhomes in the old gaslight square area and then the new stuff on Vista being built, that probably would put a price between $350-425k depending on size and all of that.


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SeattleNative wrote:

chriss752 wrote:

SeattleNative wrote: I’d be happy to see what down on S 10th in Lasalle Park not too long ago. Decent sized townhomes selling for roughly $365k. Wonder if those numbers would work in Midtown?


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I think a comparable price range for new homes in Midtown-Grand Center would be those on “On Olive” and the ones in the Gate District West. Those are the latest examples in the area around the neighborhood so I’d imagine those are the prices going to get in Midtown.

If you’re talking about the townhomes in the old gaslight square area and then the new stuff on Vista being built, that probably would put a price between $350-425k depending on size and all of that.


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I was not talking about those, but we can include them in the mix. “On Olive” is that Pulitzer/Trampe project. The examples I was giving were not townhouses but rather single family. But I think they’ll be comparable in price.

chriss752 wrote:

SeattleNative wrote:

chriss752 wrote: I think a comparable price range for new homes in Midtown-Grand Center would be those on “On Olive” and the ones in the Gate District West. Those are the latest examples in the area around the neighborhood so I’d imagine those are the prices going to get in Midtown.

If you’re talking about the townhomes in the old gaslight square area and then the new stuff on Vista being built, that probably would put a price between $350-425k depending on size and all of that.


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I was not talking about those, but we can include them in the mix. “On Olive” is that Pulitzer/Trampe project. The examples I was giving were not townhouses but rather single family. But I think they’ll be comparable in price.

Ah, okay. Is there anything that suggests what the price on those might be yet? I’ve heard middle market but nothing more than that.


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^I think it will ultimately come down to total construction costs and market research. I’m sure they have prices nailed down by now, just they’re not public yet. I’ll see if I can get the prices. I also expect a condo/neighborhood association fee for that project as well.

For row homes, I am not necessarily opposed to vinyl siding as long as the surrounding structures mask it from the street. I bet you could really cut down the price if you didn't wrap the brick all the way around. I'm thinking the max this area should be is around $300k for 2200 square feet or so. I might be asking a little too much, though. Of course, some of these should be duplexes and quadplexes that allow for lower-income residents. just some thoughts.

Elek.borrelli wrote:For row homes, I am not necessarily opposed to vinyl siding as long as the surrounding structures mask it from the street. I bet you could really cut down the price if you didn't wrap the brick all the way around. I'm thinking the max this area should be is around $300k for 2200 square feet or so. I might be asking a little too much, though. Of course, some of these should be duplexes and quadplexes that allow for lower-income residents. just some thoughts.

If you do go rowhouses, that exterior brick cost gets spread out in the development and becomes much less cost prohibitive. I think $300k is low for the area.


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Here's a two-phased mixed-use development concept for the parking lot at Euclid and Lindell. Consisting of two highrises and a garage, this development uses inspirations from One Hundred and the Chase to better tie in with the neighborhood. 

Phase I
The first phase of this project consists of constructing an 8-story, 600 space garage accessible by alley in addition to a 20-story, 225-foot tall mixed-use highrise. With wrap-around retail space on the ground floor, floors 2-5 would be class A office space, with the remaining 15 being apartments. An amenity deck can be seen on the 6th floor with a pool and views of the central west end. The contemporary design is meant to play off of Studio Gang's One Hundred with a parametric glassy façade. The cost of this phase would be around $80 million.

Phase II
Just west of Phase I, a new 29-story, 380-foot tower consisting of office, hotel, retail, and residential would be constructed at a price of $110 million. This modern spin on the classic style of Art Deco would play of another CWE icon, the Chase. With a series of step backs and outdoor terraces, this highrise would bring further density to our skyline. With sweeping views of our city, the park, and Clayton, the Central West End would gain another icon in it of itself. With ground-floor retail on a newly constructed pedestrian plaza along Lindell, floors 2-7 would house class additional class A office space. Floors 7-14 would be home to a 5-star hotel, while the remaining 15 would be luxury condos. Like Phase I, there are numerous amenities, including a pool, gym, massage parlor, and screening room.

Let me know what you guys think.

It's pretty and interesting, but what's the depth of the blade? Is it wide enough to have a usable floor plate? It looks like it's barely more than a single room's worth of floor at the top. Maybe two with access through each other. Shotgun penthouse?

Nice form and a very good render. And it's certainly a shotgun penthouse that should have a heck of a view. In all directions. Alternately, you could put on a good show for the folks at the top of the Park Plaza.

^ The top two floors of the second building have about 2700 square feet of usable space each considering the elevator shaft and a potential staircase (3000 total). They could be converted into one giant penthouse which would really be the essence of luxury. The dimensions are 25 x 120 ft at the top. If I lived up there, I would definitely purchase some light strips and mess with the people at the Chase!

^Fair enough. That's quite a bit larger than I was guessing from the rendering. I think I was seeing it as maybe fifteen by sixty or so.