urbanSTL

If anyone went to the Venture Cafe event tonight with Greenstreet, Steve Smith, and Koman, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Koman's Jason Braidwood revealed their Cortex-Grove Connection master plan and it was impressive. He talked about the challenges of lighting up the silo into the art projection and also the challenges of Cortex K's office building. Jason also stated that CHROMA Phase 2 will start soon along with Cortex K office. Other renderings were shown showing the completed Cortex K development and a hopeful infill and parking garage project on BJC's enormous lot at Sarah and Clayton. Overall, Koman has a neat urban vision that will reshape this section of Cortex. Pending a recession, the desire is to have the residential portion of Cortex K open by 2021/2022 and the other office building being built if a large enough tenant is attracted. The BJC lot is dependant on if BJC would like to work with Koman.

If a recession happens, plans will be pushed back, but if one doesn't, Clayton road will have a canyon feel to it. The master plan did show Ronnoco Coffee going away but I don't think that will happen.

I have pictures of the renderings but don't know if I should post them here.

^My inclination is to say that if it was a public event and there was no explicit prohibition on photography they have to expect pictures will get out, but . . . better safe than sorry, I suppose.

Anyway, very exciting stuff! Great to hear about the "Clayton Canyon." Can't wait to hear more!

Chriss, thanks for posting the insight. Curious on a couple things, did they give an indication on how soon is soon, a week, a couple weeks, months for Cortex K & next Chorma phase? In terms of next economic downturn that will be a lot later. Did they refer to current projects going on hold? or later infill, phases?

Finally, if I got things correct in terms of who is doing what. Do you think Koman might become involved in future Armory infill? It seems like Koman and Green Streets is starting to build a working relationship.

^They said that Phase 2 of CHROMA could start in the next two months. As for Cortex K office, they may go to speculative if an early tenant doesn't sign on but Jason Braidwood said that there has been interest in Cortex K. As for projects going on hold in the event of a recession, future phases of Cortex K or they would be downsized to make viable. As for more partnerships with Greenstreet, Koman I won't think will be involved. They have Sarah Street on their radar.





As far as Koman's master plan goes, what's everyone's opinion on it? I think it has the ability to set the standard for future infill in the area but that's just me. I do think, even though I'm sure they have a design, that Cortex should design a residential building similar in size to Koman's conceptual one. Put some retail space in it and Duncan Avenue will start looking halfway decent. While I don't know the design of the residential building behind Cortex 1, it's fun to dream. If not a larger building, something like what was proposed a few years ago by the Silliman Group would go good there.

^Thanks for posting!

Interesting the Koman looking to pull the trigger on speculative market and in the city itself. That to me is the biggest news in a while for regions development if they follow through. Also, I would assume it will give them a leg up with the multiple proposed developments with office & commercial space - Think The Boulevards phase II, Sansone next door floating an office building, Iron development next to SLU and don't forget that latest Crestwood Mall developers floating the all in one development idea. Sorry, but anyone who thinks the region at current growth rates can support all the latest developments proposed or in the pipeline are delusional in my mind

Maybe Koman will entertain the same for Cupples X now that BPV phase II is filled up and give DeWitt/Cordish a little competition next door. Ideally, would love to see Microsoft up there commitment, jobs and presence in CORTEX with Square going downtown (Fintech to join Stifels/Wells Fargo). Get a big company for once move away from the latest trendy place mentality when looking away from the coast line and give the region a big win.. Maybe Feds commitment to new NGIA will finally be a tipping point.

dredger wrote: ↑

Apr 12, 2019

Interesting the Koman looking to pull the trigger on speculative market and in the city itself. That to me is the biggest news in a while for regions development if they follow through. Also, I would assume it will give them a leg up with the multiple proposed developments with office & commercial space - Think The Boulevards phase II, Sansone next door floating an office building, Iron development next to SLU and don't forget that latest Crestwood Mall developers floating the all in one development idea. Sorry, but anyone who thinks the region at current growth rates can support all the latest developments proposed or in the pipeline are delusional in my mind

There is a demand for office space. Boulevard Phase 2 office is currently 50% leased with tenants like First Bank and a medical group taking 3 of the building's 6 office floors. Crestwood City Center has tons of interest according to the Business Journal. There are several letters of intent to move into retail, entertainment and office space but no defined amount was given besides "fill out". So that seems successful. The PwC Pennant Building is practically filled and so is Centene Centre, so everything is going really good. Cortex will remain strong in terms of office space and residential components can make it a better place to open up shop. I thought I remembered hearing that 4220 Duncan filled up relatively quickly and that Crescent Building will fill up just as fast. So Koman going speculative in Cortex isn't so far fetched especially when Jason admitted that several companies have asked for more information pertaining to Cortex K office and the built to suit portion.

I do think 1200 S. Brentwood will have a problem getting off of the ground without a tenant signed on, elsewhere, I see the office buildings at City Foundry and the Armory filling up. Steve Smith said yesterday that the Lawrence Group is waiting to finalize agreements for office space is one of the two office buildings on Vandeventer while Greenstreet is tight-lipped on their success at the Armory but are confident enough about talking about a Phase 2. Grand and Chouteau is a ways office so I would expect residential and hotel portions to be constructed first before the office portion.

In time, office space will fill up. Square's inevitable move from Cortex to the old Post Dispatch Building will be a boost for Downtown and I see ButcherJoseph playing a similar role, albeit on a smaller scale.

I may be delusional but I see a majority of these buildings filling up and retaining tenants.

dredger wrote: ↑

Apr 12, 2019

Interesting the Koman looking to pull the trigger on speculative market and in the city itself. That to me is the biggest news in a while for regions development if they follow through. Also, I would assume it will give them a leg up with the multiple proposed developments with office & commercial space - Think The Boulevards phase II, Sansone next door floating an office building, Iron development next to SLU and don't forget that latest Crestwood Mall developers floating the all in one development idea. Sorry, but anyone who thinks the region at current growth rates can support all the latest developments proposed or in the pipeline are delusional in my mind

Maybe Koman will entertain the same for Cupples X now that BPV phase II is filled up and give DeWitt/Cordish a little competition next door. Ideally, would love to see Microsoft up there commitment, jobs and presence in CORTEX with Square going downtown (Fintech to join Stifels/Wells Fargo). Get a big company for once move away from the latest trendy place mentality when looking away from the coast line and give the region a big win.. Maybe Feds commitment to new NGIA will finally be a tipping point.

I don't want to, but I have similar concerns. We have a people problem. We have jobs, good jobs, but we don't have people or at least the right people to fill them. We have 11 openings right now in the Medtech space. High paying (100k+) positions. Struggling to fill them with local talent and struggling to convince experienced professionals to move here. I am the biggest St. Louis booster around, but its a tough sell to pull talent from the coasts. Decades of stagnation is a really challenge.

However, I do think there is opportunity/demand to recenter existing businesses in the central corridor and undue the moves of the previous generation.

Chris, is the plan at Foundry still to build the large office tower on the west side along Vandeventer? Didn’t know if Steve Smith alluded to it at all. I haven’t heard anything about it since they pivoted away from residential. Saw there was a building permit issued for the site, but not sure if that relates the the smaller 5 story office buildings shown in earlier renderings.

TCB wrote: ↑

Apr 13, 2019

Chris, is the plan at Foundry still to build the large office tower on the west side along Vandeventer? Didn’t know if Steve Smith alluded to it at all. I haven’t heard anything about it since they pivoted away from residential. Saw there was a building permit issued for the site, but not sure if that relates the the smaller 5 story office buildings shown in earlier renderings.

He said that they'll start on the Vande North and South office buildings when tenants sign on. They aren't marketing them yet outside of smaller inner circles. But I would expect the shorter building to be built first and the high-rise is built as demand increases over time. From what I can tell, the building permit is for the parking garage and retail building along Forest Park.

^What parking garage and retail building along Forest Park?

framer wrote: ↑

Apr 13, 2019

^What parking garage and retail building along Forest Park?

I'll answer this on the City Foundry thread.

I love the exposed exterior steel elements breaking up the brick panels and the openness of it all. I hope they can preserve that. I'm curious how the glass will work; how it will look in different lighting conditions, how it will deal with summer heat loads, and so forth. It looks very closely akin to a greenhouse, after all. Just add plants! (For your multi-function bio-science space.) All that said, very nice!

I wish they'd get started on this.  It would give me something to look at as I sit in traffic every night.

debaliviere wrote:I wish they'd get started on this.  It would give me something to look at as I sit in traffic every night.

I’ve been told that their desire is to start this Summer. They are currently talking to Cortex and potential tenants at this point. Both Chroma Phase 2 and this will start around the same time. In short, they’re getting their ducks in a row.

I think they should take a cue from their neighbor to the west and name this project "Haras Snommoc".

^Har! 

Just found this on Phorio (thanks Chris). Looks like a proposal for the lot at Forest Park Blvd. / Sarah. Something by HOK called Net Zero Court. Is this outdated? :

framer wrote:Just found this on Phorio (thanks Chris). Looks like a proposal for the lot at Forest Park Blvd. / Sarah. Something by HOK called Net Zero Court. Is this outdated? :

Definitely outdated.