urbanSTL

Personally like to see Bunge relocate downtown however that won't happen but i can really see them having big interest in Cortex. in 2 years that entire part of our city is going to look completely different. CWE Midtown TGSE. Almost feels like I'm driving through a different city at times quite impressive

^Why don't you think that will happen?

Seems like downtown isn't on many companies list of relocation or expanding offices.. Not sure when the last time a major company from out of town or locally announced they were moving to downtown Saint.Louis. Either way Cortex is a big win for the city itself with all the announcements and such. It may not be perfect but they are doing some fairly good quality projects etc. I'm for certain in the future that downtown will get its mojo back...

^Landsend? Landshire?

You both are right Landshire moved to Lecledes Landing

^ I think a really, really cool project would be to map the notable corporate moves into and out of downtown over the years... perhaps starting with the past decade. Green button larger gains of 100+, red button the big losses. Medium additions like Landshire and Anders blue button, etc.

Roger, the same Sansone group who build strip malls and only malls for the longest time, here and in FL?. The same group that who bought out the box buildings next to Brentwood metrolink station to lease to a OfficeMax/officedepot or whatever office store is on Eager. The same Sansone who provided the underwhelming bank next to University Tower in response to its previous underwhelming strip mall proposal next to University tower that is within two blocks of the Richmond Metrolink station. The same group who bought out the property for the once proposed Boulevards phase III residential and has proposed a high end strip mall ever since, which would have been maybe three blocks from Richmond metrolink station? You probably see my point but couldn't help have fun with it.

I just don't see how the central corridor would benefit with a developer like Sansone at the end of the day. At least the Midtown Plaza developer has put together a mixed use project in The Boulevards in which you envision them having enough imagination to expand upon the original renderings.

Thanks Pres, didn't realize Sangita was actually Sansone or part of. But then again, I would have changed name based on their old history too. I still can't help to think about strip malls when I hear Sansone name as a developer.

To be fair, many strip mall developers around the country have completed successful mixed use projects. Developers are usually more bottom line focused than context conscious, its really the duty of the municipality to guide set development standards not the private sector.

^ It would be nice if CORTEX could get a big out of region move. At that point, I think you will see the national interest and investment really needed to move things to a new level. Even Boeing "Ventures" was essentially an in the region of a relatively small workforce move even though CORTEX can claim it as a F100.

I read a lot out here in the bay area about the biotech and the continuing investment even though the squeeze on available space and cost must be taking its toll. The latest being Saleforces selling the last bit of undeveloped Mission Bay land to the warriors for a new stadium rather then the property being developed for the biotech. At some point, it would seem to make a lot of sense for these large Bay Area/Silicon Valley bio tech firms to look for places like a CORTEX as a much more sane way to invest their resources.

^ I think Cortex will be getting some nice moves into future phases from companies outside the region; we already have Wexford and CIC show their confidence and the district really wouldn't be where it is without them. As for Sigma-Aldrich and Bunge, you look at where their HQs are and you scratch your head -- they're in the middle of nowhere (especially Bunge); relocating them to Cortex or downtown would give them greater visibility and surely be better for their workers.

With Whole foods Ikea new residential all coming together i can't only help to wonder if Midtown Station is recruiting Trader Joes who says that won't be a big draw. You have STL U downtown residents a emerging Grand Center Also have Norhtown residents who like to mix it up as well specially with the recent Schnucks closing shop.. Maybe a sporting goods store such as a Scheels if I'm spelling that right.. I mean what retail would be new to STL that could go into Midtown Station... Getting Google Amazon Apple and others to put some jobs at Cortex would change the City in a way never seen before...

Looks like some more news out of CORTEX, CIC expanded its presence by taking over CET. Not sure if it was already known but some details and confirmation in biz journals today.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... louis.html

News that Cortex officials plan to invest$5 million to renovate the Center for Emerging Technologies and re-brand it as the CIC@CET (Cambridge Innovation Center at the Center for Emerging Technologies) means the CIC is doubling down on its commitment to St. Louis.

The CIC in October signed a 15-year agreement to occupy more than 30,000 square feet of space on the second floor of the @4240 building, located in the heart of the Cortex innovation district in Midtown.

With the CIC now managing operations at the CET, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based incubator is adding another 87,000 square feet to its St. Louis space, which will now total more than 110,000 square feet. It will use the added space to help accelerate startup companies.

UHG


Cortex projects unlikely to move forward soon

Money for a MetroLink station and a new business incubator at the Cortex district in Midtown appears unlikely to be available soon.


more
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morn ... 1402922789

I hate to be cynical (I mean, I REALLY hate to be cynical), but I have a feeling the pro-Amendment 7 side may have had something to do with this.

There is money for a new light rail station in the MoDot priority list. Now they can say this is the only way it gets built.

I could be wrong, though. It's hard not to assume the worst from many of our politicians at this point, though.