Anyone know what's going on with the Brauer building? There are now construction trailers in the dock area, and there are "hard hat area" signs on the fence. Is this just a staging areafor the building across the street, or have they started renovations on Brauer?
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The Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) has signed their 15-year lease to base themselves at the @4240 Building. Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... l?page=all
Contract is with Wexford Science & Technology, developer of the building, rather than with the Cortex organization itself.
The CIC's leadership gave very, very positive commentary within the linked article about the startup and entrepreneurial scene in STL City, comparing it to what it was like in Cambridge when they first started the CIC. Companies are already reaching out to them. They plan to open their doors to companies coming into office space there by September 2014, with sights on having 100 companies moving in there.
Best part is that they see a need for venture capital for these companies and can act to attract it here. Amen.
Contract is with Wexford Science & Technology, developer of the building, rather than with the Cortex organization itself.
The CIC's leadership gave very, very positive commentary within the linked article about the startup and entrepreneurial scene in STL City, comparing it to what it was like in Cambridge when they first started the CIC. Companies are already reaching out to them. They plan to open their doors to companies coming into office space there by September 2014, with sights on having 100 companies moving in there.
Best part is that they see a need for venture capital for these companies and can act to attract it here. Amen.
I like how visible the BJC building is from the Grove; really helps link the two areas.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... to-38.html
Cofactor Genomics, a DNA sequencing service that once mapped Ozzy Osbourne’s genome, has opened a new $3.8 million headquarters in the Cortex district.
The company, which was launched by former Washington University researchers in 2008, plans to hire 24 new employees, tripling its current employee headcount.
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Sweetness! I wonder what the full potential of Cortex is.
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I was walking down Duncan this evening and noticed the new @4240 lighting and sign:
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Steve Patterson with a fairly well scathing review of the building from a pedestrian's perspective:framer wrote:I like how visible the BJC building is from the Grove; really helps link the two areas.
How To Not Build Next To Proposed Transit Station
-RBBUnfortunately the people planning the CORTEX area don’t understand pedestrian behavior and how to create a vibrant transit-oriented environment. Office park next to tracks doesn’t cut it
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^That old building that used to run along the Metrolink? It was covered in graffiti and falling apart. No one wanted it. No one put up any big efforts to save it.
Remember: Parking lots, like the ones next to the new BJC building, can be built upon when the need arises. And from what I understand, the main goal of Cortex is to build a business environment, aka office park, more than it is or ever has been to make a walkable model urbanist environment blended into light rail transportation. They hope to do both long-term, but given the priorities, they'll always go more for business attraction & retention, and especially noting how new the area is.
Fight for where the twain meet. I respect the contentions, but this may not be the best issue to fight over with any seriousness, at least not today. When Cortex is bigger, get those lots built upon. But, we're not there yet...
Remember: Parking lots, like the ones next to the new BJC building, can be built upon when the need arises. And from what I understand, the main goal of Cortex is to build a business environment, aka office park, more than it is or ever has been to make a walkable model urbanist environment blended into light rail transportation. They hope to do both long-term, but given the priorities, they'll always go more for business attraction & retention, and especially noting how new the area is.
Fight for where the twain meet. I respect the contentions, but this may not be the best issue to fight over with any seriousness, at least not today. When Cortex is bigger, get those lots built upon. But, we're not there yet...
I'm glad Steve brought up the points he did, since they could lead to the next building (and the area as a whole) being better oriented to the street/pedestrian. That new BJC building might be there for 40-50 years. It's important that's its built right from the beginning.
I think this a great article and summary of what is going on with CORTEX from the St. Louis Construction News & Review website.
Couple of highlights. Second paragraph I pulled out really should make everyone optimistic for the region as a whole as CORTEX is competing on a national level for all intents of purposes instead of regional
http://www.stlouiscnr.com/features/arti ... picenter1/
Welcome to the epicenter of construction in metropolitan St. Louis. The roughly 400-acre area bounded by I-64, South Kingshighway, Forest Park Boulevard, and Vandeventer Avenue is home to roughly one-fourth of all construction in the St. Louis metropolitan region. In it, such contractors as Tarlton, Clayco, S.M. Wilson, and Paric are constructing facilities designed by HOK, Forum Studios, Christner, Goody Clancy, and OWH.
Additional developments are expected soon. CORTEX CEO Dennis Lower expects to be able to announce Phase 3 in December. That would be followed by the release in January of a feasibility study by Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates and Parsons Brinkerhoff for a new Metrolink station at Boyle Avenue, followed later by an announcement of Phase 4 of the CORTEX district.
Couple of highlights. Second paragraph I pulled out really should make everyone optimistic for the region as a whole as CORTEX is competing on a national level for all intents of purposes instead of regional
http://www.stlouiscnr.com/features/arti ... picenter1/
Welcome to the epicenter of construction in metropolitan St. Louis. The roughly 400-acre area bounded by I-64, South Kingshighway, Forest Park Boulevard, and Vandeventer Avenue is home to roughly one-fourth of all construction in the St. Louis metropolitan region. In it, such contractors as Tarlton, Clayco, S.M. Wilson, and Paric are constructing facilities designed by HOK, Forum Studios, Christner, Goody Clancy, and OWH.
Additional developments are expected soon. CORTEX CEO Dennis Lower expects to be able to announce Phase 3 in December. That would be followed by the release in January of a feasibility study by Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates and Parsons Brinkerhoff for a new Metrolink station at Boyle Avenue, followed later by an announcement of Phase 4 of the CORTEX district.
Great website. Another great source of construction news in St. Louis.
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Anyone know what building they are referring to?
TIF commissioners also voted Friday to back a subsidy of $4.2 million for a project to buy and demolish a steel processing facility at Sarah Street and Duncan Avenue. Parking is slated as an interim use but no firm redevelopment plan is ready.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... ebed7.html
TIF commissioners also voted Friday to back a subsidy of $4.2 million for a project to buy and demolish a steel processing facility at Sarah Street and Duncan Avenue. Parking is slated as an interim use but no firm redevelopment plan is ready.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... ebed7.html
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^ I raised my eyebrows a bit at that as well.... I think it has to be US Metals, the very large blue building @ the SW corner that I believe is currently in use. It probably is incompatible with long-term development of the area but hopefully any jobs that might be moving are kept in the city. There is also a pretty cool old ancillary building fronting Sarah that I hope is kept.
On the tax abatement for the residential to be next to IKEA, I hope the project moves forward quickly. I look forward to details.
On the tax abatement for the residential to be next to IKEA, I hope the project moves forward quickly. I look forward to details.
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Regarding the US Steel project. I hate to throw wrenches at such a great project... BUT... is there any chance that Wexford would consider a slightly reconfigured site plan that spares the Empire Brewing building. The more I read about it the more it makes me sick to see it go.
http://stlouispatina.com/u-s-steel-buil ... e-brewery/
I drew an alternative siteplan that keeps the building and also adds a second retail space on the corner. by shifting the Builing 2 and Building 3 toe the west slightly. Of course a couple surface spaces are sacrificed but with such a huge garage they aren't really necessary are they?
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for reference
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http://stlouispatina.com/u-s-steel-buil ... e-brewery/
I drew an alternative siteplan that keeps the building and also adds a second retail space on the corner. by shifting the Builing 2 and Building 3 toe the west slightly. Of course a couple surface spaces are sacrificed but with such a huge garage they aren't really necessary are they?
for reference
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Cortex and Saint Louis gets some love from Bruce Katz at Brookings:
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/b ... l?page=all
Katz spoke to a full room of developers, investors, public officials at a Brookings Summit held Monday at Carnegie Mellon University.
“You have the ability to really situate yourself in a handful of American cities that are really in the vanguard of creating the next economy,” Katz said of Pittsburgh.
In coming to that conclusion, Katz cited the city’s platform, the strength of its leadership and its blend of universities and corporate assets. He also cited the unusual density of Pittsburgh and the anchor assets of its universities and neighborhoods, which he compared with those of a European city.
While he didn't specifically rank other cities, he talked about Pittsburgh in the context of other research and innovation hubs: Boston, the university center in Philadelphia, Cortex in St. Louis and the Research Triangle in North Carolina, where he noted the challenges the park is facing to urbanize from nearby towns such Durham and Raleigh.
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/b ... l?page=all
Katz spoke to a full room of developers, investors, public officials at a Brookings Summit held Monday at Carnegie Mellon University.
“You have the ability to really situate yourself in a handful of American cities that are really in the vanguard of creating the next economy,” Katz said of Pittsburgh.
In coming to that conclusion, Katz cited the city’s platform, the strength of its leadership and its blend of universities and corporate assets. He also cited the unusual density of Pittsburgh and the anchor assets of its universities and neighborhoods, which he compared with those of a European city.
While he didn't specifically rank other cities, he talked about Pittsburgh in the context of other research and innovation hubs: Boston, the university center in Philadelphia, Cortex in St. Louis and the Research Triangle in North Carolina, where he noted the challenges the park is facing to urbanize from nearby towns such Durham and Raleigh.
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It looks like Cortex may be close to landing a couple of unnamed Tech 100 companies:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... -life.html
Also, the blurb says Cortex is in Midtown... its actually the CWE but at least he didn't call it Downtown!
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... -life.html
Also, the blurb says Cortex is in Midtown... its actually the CWE but at least he didn't call it Downtown!
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Wexford is developing tech space for another 2000 jobs on Duncan in CORTEX.
Long-rumored Google? Or something else?
Long-rumored Google? Or something else?
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^ I'm trying to keep things straight here.... where is the 2,000 jobs number from and for? Are you referencing the proposed US Metals site? I hadn't seen a figure attached to that just a 2,400 or so garage. Supposedly there will be 500 employees in @4240 by the end of the year but I'm not sure how many when full.
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Tom Osha, managing director of innovation and economic development at Wexford Equities, said Cortex is in negotiations with two Fortune 100 companies to set up shop in the Cortex innovation district in Midtown.
http://m.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/b ... 462&r=full
http://m.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/b ... 462&r=full
Fortune 100 Companies, 2013
Lots of really good potential companies. Let's hope Wexford is successful - very successful.
The only F100 from St. Louis is Express Scripts. Express Scripts' offices are likely to stay in North County.
My hunches...........
Apple: They are moving some production back from overseas.
AT&T: Could open an innovation center in St. Louis. Long history in STL.
Hewlett-Packard: Not likely. Downsizing
IBM: Has opened new facilities. Opened in Baton Rouge and Columbia, Mo. Long history in STL. Recent layoffs worldwide.
Boeing: Could open its IT Center of Excellence in CORTEX.
Microsoft: Could open a research/development location in St. Louis. Its North Central division is based in Creve Coeur.
Pfizer: Could consolidate St. Louis offices/research in CORTEX.
Google: Has no major presence in STL - yet. That could change if they open an office and/or buy Square and expand.
Cisco Systems: Has a very close relationship with World Wide Technology.
Lots of really good potential companies. Let's hope Wexford is successful - very successful.
The only F100 from St. Louis is Express Scripts. Express Scripts' offices are likely to stay in North County.
My hunches...........
Apple: They are moving some production back from overseas.
AT&T: Could open an innovation center in St. Louis. Long history in STL.
Hewlett-Packard: Not likely. Downsizing
IBM: Has opened new facilities. Opened in Baton Rouge and Columbia, Mo. Long history in STL. Recent layoffs worldwide.
Boeing: Could open its IT Center of Excellence in CORTEX.
Microsoft: Could open a research/development location in St. Louis. Its North Central division is based in Creve Coeur.
Pfizer: Could consolidate St. Louis offices/research in CORTEX.
Google: Has no major presence in STL - yet. That could change if they open an office and/or buy Square and expand.
Cisco Systems: Has a very close relationship with World Wide Technology.
Over drinks at Sasha's two weeks ago (consider the context) a trusted, plugged-in friend told me 'a major startup is relocating their headquarters to Cortex and to look for an announcement in a month and half.'Presbyterian wrote:Wexford is developing tech space for another 2000 jobs on Duncan in CORTEX.
Long-rumored Google? Or something else?
Between sips I blurted out 'Calico.'
But that's all he knew. Or willing to share. Good gravy!! It would be a perfect fit and change the city overnight.
Alright, I'm gonna stop dreaming. Happy Friday.
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Of all the 13,000+ jobs CORTEX will have, how many will be employing local talent vs. moving people here from out of state?shadrach wrote:Over drinks at Sasha's two weeks ago (consider the context) a trusted, plugged-in friend told me 'a major startup is relocating their headquarters to Cortex and to look for an announcement in a month and half.'Presbyterian wrote:Wexford is developing tech space for another 2000 jobs on Duncan in CORTEX.
Long-rumored Google? Or something else?
Between sips I blurted out 'Calico.'
But that's all he knew. Or willing to share. Good gravy!! It would be a perfect fit and change the city overnight.
Alright, I'm gonna stop dreaming. Happy Friday.