urbanSTL

I agree I'm really hoping St.Louis can start snagging good promising young companies from out of state if other cities can do it theres no reasoning St.Louis can't do it

Great news.

If it comes to fruition as reported, one of my hunches (Boeing's IT Center of Excellence) turned out to be correct. Although I would love hear Apple, Google, Amazon make an announcement for CORTEX next, I really do think Pfizer could be the next announcement - if negotiations go well. Just a guess.

No matter what, this is excellent news. To me, although Boeing has had a presence in St. Louis for quite sometime with the acquisition of McDonnell-Douglas, I see the IT operation as new for the region - and Boeing's reported selection of St. Louis City for this operation is the icing on the cake.

Boeing IT's tenancy as well as CIC's presence at CORTEX will be a driver for more tech jobs in CORTEX. The residual impact for the Central Corridor will be enormous especially if Boeing's IT job numbers get up to the projected 1,000. I could be getting ahead of myself, but even if just 400 of those people chose to live in the city with their family that's a big positive for housing development, retail, restaurants etc. I could see schools like Cardinal Ritter Prep, Rosati-Kain, SLUH, St. Mary's and DuBourg gaining students.

I could see Mid-County benefiting as well.

Last, I see CORTEX as an innovation district. Yes, at one time, life sciences was the goal for CORTEX especially with it being anchored by the medical centers, but a few nationally and internationally-respected tech firms have been spawned out of incubators at CORTEX (aisle411, Yurbuds, MulticoreWare, TradeHarbor). I still see CORTEX as remaining largely a bioscience/agri-science district, but if Google or Boeing IT wants in, who would be foolish enough to turn them away.

It'll be tricky because you don't want to run away other types of firms (financial services, government, energy, ad and architectural etc.), but I think it is time for St. Louis to start seriously promoting downtown as the region's IT hub.

Cortex needs a signature building with some heigth that says, "We're Cortex, and we're right here!"

Signature buildings are expensive. Purchasing the rights to advertize and spruce up the grain silo, as has been discussed alot, would be great marketing for the area and the city as a whole.

I love to see that large grain silo say St.Louis or Gateway City in led lighting.. Roads like Sarah Taylor Forest Park Clayton Boyle that lead into Cortex should have premiere signage saying Cortex innovation district of some sorts

I guess that Boeing shingle won't be so big after all.

I suppose also this is why it is important to wait for the "official" announcement.

Still, I think this is big news for CORTEX.

To have the Boeing name there should send a solid message to other potential high-profile tenants.

Hopefully, this smaller move will inspire Boeing to put the IT Center in CORTEX.

Space is filling up fast, it seems. And why are there no current @4240 facility photos available on Facebook, Cortexstl.com, Twitter etc.?

Section 21.120. To the Department of Transportation
For planning, design, and construction of a passenger rail station in proximity to a business incubator in St. Louis
From Board of Public Buildings Bond Proceeds Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$11,000,000

Section 21.125. To the University of Missouri
For planning, design, and construction of a business incubator in St. Louis
From Board of Public Buildings Bond Proceeds Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,000,000

This is from the Capital Improvements bill (HB 2021) which was sent to the Governor's desk yesterday. He is expected to sign.

So, Section 21.120 provides 11 million for a Metrolink station at Cortex, which was already planned but unfunded. It's projected cost was 9 million.

http://www.cortexstl.com/a-metrolink-st ... -district/

And Section 21.125 provides 8 million to UMSL(pretty sure) for vague purposes. I suspect it might be for their proposed biotechnology degree program. I also readsomething else about Techshop. Anyone else have any other thoughts or knowledge?

Also, I think this Metrolink station will be key in getting developers to invest more heavily around the CWE and beyond, along the Metrolnk lines.

Nevermind, the Senate Republicans decided to ruin my good mood.

^ the right move....I think most of St. Louis bioscience and technology companies would benefit from clustering here.

Moving from Chesterfield? I guess their employees don't like Blues music or good local food?

^ New Saint Louis sure isn't as stimulating as Old Saint Louis, According to the article, the newish president of this subsidiary of a British foods company is a native of Sydney and noticed the Cortex area while he lived in CWE. More like him, please.

Now if they could pull off a big out of town biotech relocation and or expansion so they can break ground on 500,000 sq feet phase IV, Anyone remembers off hand, is it is June or July that they close on the US Metals property purchase? I think it is June but not sure. It will be interesting to see how fast they demo after the close.

Also, any opinions on who will put forth a hotel proposal first - CORTEX as part of phase V or Drury on Kingshighway/FPSE or the chance they can score a new BUNGE NA HQ.