urbanSTL

Ebsy wrote:Yeah, the whole UM system is in serious trouble. As much as I am sympathetic to the student activism at Mizzou, it has caused serious damage to the university.

Also keep in mind those 1500 fewer students could have possibly been racial minorities or people from other states that don't want to deal with being on a campus that was obviously hostile to diversity. Its 2016, America is demographically changing at a rapid pace. If Missouri doesn't adapt, we will die.

^ I just don't see the benefit considering that CORTEX is a creation of Wash U, SLU, etc. of trying to get UMSL in the mix. At the same time, a cybersecurity program on campus doesn't seem ideal way to revitalize the university and can see every other university everywhere else doing the same thing.

What I think would have been a better alternative is UMSL collaborating with St Louis community college and someone like Launchcode to put a tech centric private public campus downtown either at a refurbished Railway Exchange building just as Webster did to anchor Arcade and or Laclede's landing where you could probably build out some unique classroom space for an advance manufacturing/vocational program. You can get your cybersecurity degree, or your 4 year computer science degree or maybe a crash course program in coding, and so on.

The good thing is the region has strong huge assets in the private campuses as everyone noted. However, the key to me is St Louis City and County need to put new focus on the community college as a strong vocational program & a feeder program to UMSL while encouraging a new push from corporate businesses to get behind UMSL. Living and dying by enrollments while waiting on the state will only drag UMSL down further and hurt the metro area which needs a vital, public and affordable 4 year program with a strong 2 yr vocational system. Definitely don't need a weak public 4 year program and a 2 year basket weaving program.

Speaking at InvestMidwest Thursday, Dennis Lower said Cortex officials are now working with developers on a major phase three initiative that could be announced as early as May. As already known, Wexford Science & Technology appears to be close announcing its next project in the district. And Lower said he’s also working to redevelop the Crescent building into another tech facility, similar to the one Cortex calls @4240.

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

^ Good news. Someone needs to help Lower & Cortex get a better vision and plan for Cortex as a walkable, urban space though. Right now the district is at least 50% surface parking, and the beg buttons at the intersections should be an embarrassment. I can't see the Cortex Metrolink station being justifiable if they continue this development pattern.

^ Believe long term plan includes structured parking and infill on a lot on the surface parking lots

Anyone want to speculate next phase. I'm guessing things that have been referenced or rumored about

- Parking Garage
- Botique Hotel referenced for lot next to 4260
- Mixed use/apartment block on lot between Cortex I/Dupont if not mistaken
- The biggie, 13-15 story tower along Vande as part of Cortex East.

^ I think they will announce movement on the Wexford TOD plan, we have known about a couple years now. I think the East of Cortex plan is indication that behind the scenes they know that the original Cortex land will fill up much faster than was original expected. I know there are always rumors of companies outside wanting to make a significance presence in the district. Cortex is really becoming an epicenter for tech in the Midwest, not just St. Louis.

^ To be honest, I think Cortex gave up on TOD. They've demolished everything on Duncan Ave. for surface parking, and apparently can't get a bank loan for anything near the parking ratio for TOD.

They're going to build the Cortex Metro station there, and it's going to be in the middle of a sea of parking and "green space", along with a spattering of a few midrise buildings. It's just not going to work with how they're currently building. They may have higher aspirational plans, but from what I see them actually doing on the ground, it's going to fall way short of actual TOD.

Think suburban office park with nice sidewalks that happens to have a light rail station. Oh, and beg buttons at every crosswalk. Getting cars in and out unimpeded with lots of free parking seems to be the priority with Cortex.

^ I dont know if I agree with that. I think that a lot of the surface parking is just based on demand as of now. I think if and when we get more demand, we will see something more similar to the BJC medical center develop at Cortex, but the reality of living in St. Louis is that denser infill will likely come with massive parking garages. I think Cortex said from the beginning they are trying to build a car-optional district, not a car-free district. From what I see now, I think they are making good progress. Most of the buildings are urban in form and I truly believe the parking lots will be temporary. They will have to be if the area booms like most expect it will.

Randy, I don't think they gave up either. They also have to complete against rest of metro area with greenfield development based on free unlimited surface parking not to mention 1% earnings tax. The cheap cost of surface parking perception is brutal but is factoring into business decisions. They will simply have to find a way to involve parking as they go forward and most likely structured and or underground is going to be subsidized someway. Also, Expecting TOD on the density of New York, Bay Area, etc. is just not going to happen. Just getting development along the central corridor and within metrolink spine is big IMO. Heck, Clayco building a tower in loop is the one step at a time progress your going to see but it is progress

Heck, downtown office is struggling if parking isn't involved which will makes it even more difficult to get ATT One Center full again.

RW, I wonder if Silo lofts will be dormant for a while where as I can see the infamous Target parcel at the FPP/Vande intersection having something forthcoming sooner. Also, CORTEX securing a typical box store tenant explains a lot on why Pace proposed Federal Mogul site didn't go anywhere.

dredger wrote:RW, I wonder if Silo lofts will be dormant for a while where as I can see the infamous Target parcel at the FPP/Vande intersection having something forthcoming sooner. Also, CORTEX securing a typical box store tenant explains a lot on why Pace proposed Federal Mogul site didn't go anywhere.

Maybe MODOT should buy the Federal Mogul buildings to someday unstack the Interstate lanes there.

Don't worry, Square will expand their presence here soon.

There are a ton of pedestrian friendly plans for Cortex over the next two years included with the Metrolink station so don't worry on that. Seriously, they hope to limit car traffic on Duncan as much as possible. Right now there is a ton of surface parking and it sucks but that's because it's about to be decreased by over 50% with no garage in the works yet. Plans, yes, construction, no. Wexford doesn't want to pay for a garage and Cortex doesn't either. I'm all for the community being car-optional but until Metrolink arrives most of us have to drive to the area. I just wish they'd start on that project already but September looks closer to the target.

^ I think its the Wexford TOD plan you are alluding to? Am I right?

Paypal cancels Charlotte expansion, 400 jobs.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/b ... 01502.html

I hope someone is going after them.
1) Great for St. Louis/Cortex
2) Could be used as a way to pull Moleg away from bill.
"We left Charlotte because of this, we'll do the same here."

Hopefully those in Missouri trying to pass the same kind of bill will see how stupid it is to try and pass something like that

addxb2 wrote:Paypal cancels Charlotte expansion, 400 jobs.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/b ... 01502.html

I hope someone is going after them.
1) Great for St. Louis/Cortex
2) Could be used as a way to pull Moleg away from bill.
"We left Charlotte because of this, we'll do the same here."

I bet Charlotte is fuming.

^ I take the lower left rendering would possibly be Wexford II where as lower right be mid rise residential.