urbanSTL

I know some people on this board are proposing a FPP to Market connection and an exit at Compton to eliminate all those spaghetti noodles in that area. But if that never comes to fruition, I feel like they could demolish the current Bernard ramp and move it to the Grand ramp. I'm thinking the ramp could split, giving the option to continue parallel to the highway or to curve to get to Grand.

Regardless, I'm digging the building concept. Great work!

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I've got a challenge for you, EB. When the Bank of America Tower was built on Market back in the late 70s (nee First National Bank on IBM Plaza), it was originally planned to have a twin tower to the west. They drove foundation piles, but obviously never built the second tower.  Tastes have changed over the years, so maybe a matching twin wouldn't be appropriate today. What would you propose on the site, using the existing piles?

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

May 27, 2021

That's a really nice bit of work there, EB! I really love the lines and mix of private and public terraces. Should make for a good mix of different sorts of residences. Do you think a tiny bit of pedestrian targeting retail at bridge height would be useful, or is that utterly wishful thinking? (A C-store, say. That could serve commuters on the bus/train and residents of the building.)

In my opinion, retail at this location would be hard to work with as it is really only accessible by those who take transit, as you mentioned. It is still a decent walk from Midtown and even further from the end of the south Grand strip, which makes its foot traffic somewhat scarce. I toyed with the idea, and I couldn't imagine a way in which I could make it work. With the Foundry not too far away, I figured I could sacrifice retail and keep the building as a whole a bit more secluded from the hustle and bustle of the major streets it fronts. An interesting thing to note is that I have added a pedestrian bridge across the highway exit as well as a lobby on Grand, which would add some activation to the base.

So cool! Love it

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Elek.borrelli wrote: ↑

May 28, 2021

In my opinion, retail at this location would be hard to work with as it is really only accessible by those who take transit, as you mentioned. It is still a decent walk from Midtown and even further from the end of the south Grand strip, which makes its foot traffic somewhat scarce. I toyed with the idea, and I couldn't imagine a way in which I could make it work. With the Foundry not too far away, I figured I could sacrifice retail and keep the building as a whole a bit more secluded from the hustle and bustle of the major streets it fronts. An interesting thing to note is that I have added a pedestrian bridge across the highway exit as well as a lobby on Grand, which would add some activation to the base.

That's a reasonable analysis. The customer base would be pretty small: transit users and residents. So residential might well be a much more productive use. And as you say, there's other options not too far away. In any case, I truly love it. It's a great form. Very dramatic. That's a slick piece of work you got there, as they say. (Or maybe as I once said many many moons ago.)

Here is a weird little concept that I have been messing around with ever since I visited Philadelphia in June:

Visiting Old City, I got the sense that Philadelphia is what St. Louis would / could have looked like had we not torn down a majority of our historic buildings in the central corridor (on a smaller scale, of course). Here is a concept showing what townhomes would look like on the Arch Grounds today. This concept follows the historic street grid, which gives a cool view of the arch from both the south and the north.  

Here is the southern "square park" at the base of the Arch

Spruce street looking east towards 1st

Corner of 1st & Spruce looking North

Pocket park / community space between Clark and Walnut

Panorama of the streetscape (note that the empty area in the foreground is meant to be a designated bike lane)

I wouldn't look too much into the logistics of this ever happening. These renders are strictly conceptual and are meant to give a cool perspective into something unique and different for our city.  If this were ever proposed, however, it would have my full support. Hopefully, you all find this pretty cool!

Elek.borrelli wrote:Here is a weird little concept that I have been messing around with ever since I visited Philadelphia in June:

Visiting Old City, I got the sense that Philadelphia is what St. Louis would / could have looked like had we not torn down a majority of our historic buildings in the central corridor (on a smaller scale, of course). Here is a concept showing what townhomes would look like on the Arch Grounds today. This concept follows the historic street grid, which gives a cool view of the arch from both the south and the north.  
Image11.pngHere is the southern "square park" at the base of the Arch
Image4.pngSpruce street looking east towards 1st
Image2.pngCorner of 1st & Spruce looking North

Image9.pngPocket park / community space between Clark and Walnut
Panorama1.pngPanorama of the streetscape (note that the empty area in the foreground is meant to be a designated bike lane)

I wouldn't look too much into the logistics of this ever happening. These renders are strictly conceptual and are meant to give a cool perspective into something unique and different for our city.  If this were ever proposed, however, it would have my full support. Hopefully, you all find this pretty cool!

This is really cool!


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I know it's been a while, but I thought I'd present my idea for a wedge-shaped building at the intersection of Olive and Lindell in Midtown across from SLU. These renders show a seven-story, 130-foot tall apartment building clad in white terracotta, tying into neighborhood buildings such as the Continental Life, Fox Theatre,  etc. This building could hold 70 to 90 units depending on their respective sizing and amenities, and the base is large enough to contain up to 80 parking spaces in addition to the large central retail space and lobby area.  

I also thought I'd provide an update on myself since I haven't been super active on this page as of recently. Last week, I completed my coursework and testing for my senior year of high school and will be graduating on Sunday! This upcoming fall, I will be attending the Pennoni Honors College of Drexel University in Philadelphia and majoring in, of course, architecture. I'd like to thank each and every one of you for helping me find my passion. This community has shaped a large part of who I am today, and I look up to you all as I transition into my adulthood and find who I want to be. While I'll miss St. Louis in my six years away, my every intention is to return and give back to the city and community that gave me everything, and I will still frequent this forum for updates and insights while I'm gone. Thank you all

Great news! Thanks for creating and sharing all your What Should Bes.

Elek.borrelli wrote: ↑

May 12, 2022

I know it's been a while, but I thought I'd present my idea for a wedge-shaped building at the intersection of Olive and Lindell in Midtown across from SLU. These renders show a seven-story, 130-foot tall apartment building clad in white terracotta, tying into neighborhood buildings such as the Continental Life, Fox Theatre,  etc. This building could hold 70 to 90 units depending on their respective sizing and amenities, and the base is large enough to contain up to 80 parking spaces in addition to the large central retail space and lobby area.  

I also thought I'd provide an update on myself since I haven't been super active on this page as of recently. Last week, I completed my coursework and testing for my senior year of high school and will be graduating on Sunday! This upcoming fall, I will be attending the Pennoni Honors College of Drexel University in Philadelphia and majoring in, of course, architecture. I'd like to thank each and every one of you for helping me find my passion. This community has shaped a large part of who I am today, and I look up to you all as I transition into my adulthood and find who I want to be. While I'll miss St. Louis in my six years away, my every intention is to return and give back to the city and community that gave me everything, and I will still frequent this forum for updates and insights while I'm gone. Thank you all

I like it! Not only because it's a great design and visual for the streetscape, but because it reminds me of the baddies' lair from the 1994 movie "Baby's Day Out". hahaha 

Something like this would be truly fantastic. Good work. 

I wonder if there is anything that could be done with that grass patch, even if it just features a statue and some landscaping. 

Good stuff! Keep in touch, and good luck

quincunx wrote: ↑

May 12, 2022

Great news! Thanks for creating and sharing all your What Should Bes.

Always my pleasure!

Elek.borrelli wrote: ↑

May 13, 2022

SRQ2STL wrote: ↑

May 12, 2022

apt.jpg

It sure does! Do we know if that's an existing building in Chicago?

Yes! It does actually exist. The building is at the intersection of N Lincoln Ave and N Marshfield Ave in Chicago.

Good luck Elek! I've enjoyed seeing all of your ideas over the past couple of years.

Tim wrote: ↑

May 17, 2022

Good luck Elek! I've enjoyed seeing all of your ideas over the past couple of years.

Thank you, I appreciate it

If the Arch and highway cut off St. Louis from it’s great river, I figured it would be a wise idea to fix it by bringing the river to the city. This is in a world where the MLK bridge and PSB were torn down, but you could do something similar in a multitude of ways. Also put a marina on the north riverfront which would be sure to bring that area roaring back to life. And while we’re at it, consider how this would look if combined with Elok’s concept of developing the Arch grounds with a dense townhouse neighborhood. Would make St. Louis a truly global destination, IMO


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NextSTL - What Should Be At Olive And Lindell

https://nextstl.com/2022/05/what-should ... d-lindell/

Some recent work I've done to keep this thread alive

Gravois and Grand: https://nextstl.com/2022/06/what-should ... the-world/