Delmar Divine in West End

STLhistoryBuff · PostMay 12, 2017#12017-05-12T17:46+00:00

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 5bcff.html

A partnership led by former Build-A-Bear CEO Maxine Clark and Clayco Corp. plans a $90 million rehab that will turn the old St. Luke's Hospital on Delmar Boulevard into apartments and collaborative office space designed for nonprofits.

Delmar DiVine, as its backers call it, envisions 180,000 square-feet of office space in its first phase for area nonprofits and community organizations as well as 160 apartments.

Clark said she envisioned the space as sort of a Cortex for nonprofits, where community organizations can share space and work together on projects.

Clayco's CRG Real Estate Solutions now has the building under contract from the city, and Clark said they hope to close in the fall. A price is still being negotiated, Clark said.

Construction is expected to start in November and be ready for initial occupancy by the first quarter of 2019.

Alex Ihnen · PostMay 12, 2017#22017-05-12T20:17+00:00

About time they wrote something.

3/24 https://nextstl.com/2017/03/delmar-devi ... ar-divide/

STLhistoryBuff · PostMay 12, 2017#32017-05-12T20:52+00:00

Alex Ihnen wrote: ↑
May 12, 2017
About time they wrote something.

3/24 https://nextstl.com/2017/03/delmar-devi ... ar-divide/

LOL I couldn't find a thread for this and couldn't remember if it was a tweet or a full blown story that I read about before.

beer city · PostMay 13, 2017#42017-05-13T02:52+00:00

STLhistoryBuff wrote: ↑
May 12, 2017
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 5bcff.html

A partnership led by former Build-A-Bear CEO Maxine Clark and Clayco Corp. plans a $90 million rehab that will turn the old St. Luke's Hospital on Delmar Boulevard into apartments and collaborative office space designed for nonprofits.

Delmar DiVine, as its backers call it, envisions 180,000 square-feet of office space in its first phase for area nonprofits and community organizations as well as 160 apartments.

Clark said she envisioned the space as sort of a Cortex for nonprofits, where community organizations can share space and work together on projects.

Clayco's CRG Real Estate Solutions now has the building under contract from the city, and Clark said they hope to close in the fall. A price is still being negotiated, Clark said.

Construction is expected to start in November and be ready for initial occupancy by the first quarter of 2019.

Lots of great, large projects happening now - But this one, while not as sexy may be the most important - it has the potential to "soften" the divide a bit (no one project will bridge it) and start to connect the CWE to the loop - an east/west - north/south pivot point

dredger · PostMay 14, 2017#52017-05-14T05:04+00:00

^ Extend the loop tracks east on Delmar make a right on Euclid, add some low floor modern streetcars.

bwcrow1s · PostMay 14, 2017#62017-05-14T16:56+00:00

dredger wrote: ↑
May 14, 2017
^ Extend the loop tracks east on Delmar make a right on Euclid, add some low floor modern streetcars.

Yeah, I mean, that'd be great.

I'm not sure the city will be buying into that at any point though with how the loop construction has gone.

Is it feasible to just dig up the old tracks that have been paved over all over the city?

framer · PostMay 14, 2017#72017-05-14T22:10+00:00

bwcrow1s wrote: ↑
May 14, 2017

Is it feasible to just dig up the old tracks that have been paved over all over the city?

No. They would have to be completely rebuilt.

dredger · PostMay 15, 2017#82017-05-15T05:30+00:00

bwcrow1s wrote: ↑
May 14, 2017

dredger wrote: ↑
May 14, 2017
^ Extend the loop tracks east on Delmar make a right on Euclid, add some low floor modern streetcars.
Yeah, I mean, that'd be great.

I'm not sure the city will be buying into that at any point though with how the loop construction has gone.

I wouldn't be surprised if Joe Edwards is pitching the idea to city alderman and Barnes Jewish/Wash U Med School/Clayco for good measure.. Barnes Jewish & Wash U Med being the two heavyweights with Clayco who has made some significant investment w Everly and now the Delmar Divine in West End. Clayco just might interested in the idea of giving political support behind the idea of Delmar streetcar as it connects its developments with job center, schools, etc.

In other words, double down on a partner in a city that would gain the most if tracks go east. Maybe wishful thinking, the city would take ownership and float the rebuilding of the remaining two loop trolley cars if a grander plan and vision is in play.

aprice · PostNov 27, 2017#92017-11-27T15:17+00:00

Has anyone heard any updates on this?
I've heard from a couple different people lately that this is still moving forward. Including one non-profit that is currently downtown but has plans to move to this project. While I'm not happy about a downtown loss in particular, I absolutely love that this is still happening, it's a great historic preservation opportunity and IMO does more to address the Delmar Divide than downtown development does (I just wish it were further east e.g. Grand & Delmar).

GoHarvOrGoHome · PostNov 28, 2017#102017-11-28T16:19+00:00

I love the potential of the area around this project and really expect some big things in the future. I love the classically "St. Louis" apartment buildings across the street. There is already such a precedent for density around here but still a lot of room to grow in the immediate area.

aprice · PostNov 28, 2017#112017-11-28T17:23+00:00

GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑
Nov 28, 2017
I love the classically "St. Louis" apartment buildings across the street.

Across Delmar? I couldn't agree more. Although looking at the "Forest Park Apartments" (I wonder how many times that name is used) just east of Belt Ave, holy crap those are long buildings. Would be amazing to see someone come in and spiff those up. I'm all for maintaining affordable housing in these neighborhoods but I'd rather pay a bit more in taxes for it (minimal spending relatively) and see these historic structures reach their full potential.

framer · PostNov 28, 2017#122017-11-28T17:28+00:00

^There's actually several really nice apartment buildings along that stretch. Who knows; these apartments could become very desirable in the not-too-distant-future.

This one is by Isadore Shank, one of St. Louis' leading Mid-Century architects. The original design had much more going on, but the as-built version is still pretty cool:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6530016 ... 312!8i6656

And this one has some cool Art Deco touches; I've always wanted to see the interiors:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6534352 ... 312!8i6656

PostJan 19, 2018#132018-01-19T17:43+00:00

Here's an update from Maxine Clark:

"We have about 50 percent of the building leased – all letters of intent. We’ve done the legwork, but there’s still much to be completed. The building is going to be a $90 million project and we are funding it with a combination of debt, tax credits and private donations for the shared spaces. We think it’s a great way to leverage the donors that already support these organizations and make the organizations even more effective. After the funding is organized and the tax credits are lined up, we are hoping to start construction this summer. By the time both phases are complete in 2020, there will be approximately 1,000 people working and living here."

http://www.stltoday.com/business/advanc ... 88dd7.html

urban_dilettante · PostJan 19, 2018#142018-01-19T18:03+00:00

^^ Greg Johnson (@PresbyterianStl) on Twitter:

An uncared-for midcentury beauty. Curved balconies. Glass corner windows. 5522 Delmar across from future Delmar Divine. Vacant now -- but renovation coming. BB #223.

GoHarvOrGoHome · PostApr 05, 2018#152018-04-05T14:07+00:00

Any updates on this? I just signed a lease across the street on Clara and I'm hoping this kicks off some retail in the neighborhood.

chaifetz10 · PostApr 09, 2018#162018-04-09T01:36+00:00

Where at? We just moved from Clara a few months ago.

GoHarvOrGoHome · PostApr 09, 2018#172018-04-09T20:17+00:00

STLrainbow · PostAug 21, 2018#182018-08-21T16:25+00:00

Well, looks like good news from the Chief Bear; she responded to my tweet inquiring on progress,,,,

"Phase 1 of Delmar DivINe is on schedule opening in Sp' 20. Multi-use project of offices for nonprofits, community shared spaces & 150 apts for young professionals like teachers, social workers, nurses, public health & public safety workers. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come."

GoHarvOrGoHome · PostAug 21, 2018#192018-08-21T23:54+00:00

Definitely looking forward to watching construction on it from my living room window

symphonicpoet · PostAug 22, 2018#202018-08-22T07:07+00:00

^I'll bet! That one has the potential to be a truly transformative project.

framer · PostAug 30, 2018#212018-08-30T18:55+00:00

Brief update:

https://www.stltoday.com/business/local ... fb7c9.html

tztag · PostOct 04, 2018#222018-10-04T21:02+00:00

more progress:

StlToday - State board approves tax credits to remake shuttered hospital on Delmar

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 16ca3.html

symphonicpoet · PostOct 05, 2018#232018-10-05T04:53+00:00

^Oh, bravo! Glad to hear things are falling into place on this.

urbanitas · PostAug 27, 2019#242019-08-27T07:20+00:00

This project is on the LCRA meeting agenda for today. Renovation into mixed-use residential and commercial space, $67.8 million construction cost, a 15-year tax abatement at 95% of assessed value is recommended. About $10 million each in federal and state historic tax credits, $4.5 million in state tax credits. I'm not sure how this will qualify for federal historic tax credits though, as the original hospital is barely visible behind all the additions, and the buried facades have certainly been altered, if not removed completely.

They have a nice website by the way: Delmar Divine

5522 Delmar (across the street) is also on the agenda to name a redeveloper and approve tax abatement, which is odd since the project appears substantially complete.

moorlander · PostDec 13, 2019#252019-12-13T12:46+00:00

From WUMCRC