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etc.UNIVERSITY CITY, MO (KTVI)– When the idea of the Loop Trolley first came up, supporters said if you build it they will come, meaning if you build the trolley more development will happen on the eastern part of Delmar Boulevard.
And while they haven`t even started laying tracks, developers are already starting to come.
“It is certainly a leap of faith,” said David Mastin, President of St. Louis Design Alliance, an architecture firm dabbling in development on the eastern end of Delmar, with 10,000 square feet of retail space and 18 apartments in a new building called ‘The Gotham Annex,’ and 72 more apartments in an old one being made to look new. That building is called ‘The Gotham.’
The total investment is about $12 million.
And for the corner of Delmar and Hamilton, that is amazing considering the down at heel, gap toothed development that currently makes up the area east of The Loop.
But St. Louis Design Alliance, which has its offices in The Loop, is taking that leap because they believe the addition of the trolley will revitalize the entire east end of Delmar.
“The trolley lends a certain panache. There is just a cool factor about it that it doesn`t happen anyplace else in the city,” Mastin said.
Did I read or hear a story about the Museum of Transportation having an original St Louis trolley. If so, wouldn't it be awesome to bring one back into circulation?
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I went back and looked at the first post on this topic. May of 2005. Way back when the mayor was -- OK it was Slay. But when is construction going to start on this? Which will come first? This trolley or driverless cars? We're lucky that Joe Edwards is both tireless and immortal. If they can't quite get the financing, I fear they could dial it back and do a Phase 1 only -- ala BP Village. I'm picturing a Zoo train extension to Delmar and a fleet of Segways for the rest of the route.
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It's odd. The local taxing district passed. The federal grant was received. Don't know why there isn't more happening.
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U City gave its approval March 11, and at that time Joe Edwards said a contractor had not yet been selected. Requests for proposals for vehicle procurement, project management, etc went out in late April. I would expect it to take several months to receive and review those proposals. Given all the pieces involved, it might be a while before digging begins.
Yes, I heard U-City's bureaucracy held this project back about a good year or two.
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Does Joe Edwards reside in St. Louis? Or does he live in U. City, MO or elsewhere? It'd be interesting to know who are the top 10 or so advocates/investors in and for St. Louis that don't live/vote here and why they don't choose to live here. That would make a good story.
Last time I heard, Joe Edwards lives in Parkview, within two blocks of the city limits and two blocks of BB Hill.
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I am past ready for this to happen. I'm buying a house eight lots west of DeBaliviere and trying to get rid of a condo fifty paces east of DeBaliviere.
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The article on the WUSLT development had this to say:
"Adelstein added that the project would benefit from having a stop on the route of the Loop Trolley, the two-mile streetcar project on which construction could begin next spring."
Too often "could" means "check back again with us in six months and we'll likely give you the same answer." Hopefully this relative vanity project doesn't turn into a boondoggle, which we can't afford if we want to advance transit in the region.
"Adelstein added that the project would benefit from having a stop on the route of the Loop Trolley, the two-mile streetcar project on which construction could begin next spring."
Too often "could" means "check back again with us in six months and we'll likely give you the same answer." Hopefully this relative vanity project doesn't turn into a boondoggle, which we can't afford if we want to advance transit in the region.
Well....if it does finally get built, maybe they can share their lessons learned with the folks trying to do the city streetcar and skip the learning curve.
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^ Not sure if the main issue was the UC nitpicking or if there is something more inherently difficult at play.
Maybe they are waiting for the western edge roundabout to be completed and a traffic study done? Isn't that going to play a role in the street car route?
^ Nope. Trolley stops just a bit short of the roundabout. I do find it entertaining to see that the Loop Trolley website has mentions the possibility of "being ready to begin building the line in late 2011 or early 2012." Now, 2016 appears to be a more likely possibility.
Last week at Subterranean Books there was a talk and book signing for St. Louis's Delmar Loop http://store.subbooks.com/book/9780738598789 Joe Edwards wrote the forward. We got some great stories about the Loop from the author and Joe. In the Q&A Joe was asked about he trolley. He said they were checking the boxes for the Federal funding, and they had about 20 to go. He figured construction would start next spring. He also said how important it was for this to get done in order to bolster the effort for the Downtown streetcar. He anticipated that construction would go quickly.
The construction start date has been around the corner for a long while now!
The construction start date has been around the corner for a long while now!
I think region would be better off the proposed central corridor streetcar went forward even if the loop trolley stalls. Wash U already anchors the Loop with the Delmar metrolink station pretty much splitting U City/ST. Louis. In other words, the loop trolley will most likely accelerate development that is already slowly and surely happening but not having the trolley won't hurt the loop either.
On a different note, KC picked contractor for their streetcar but having its own issues with a lawsuit. I would give creidt that at least transit has some good support within the county and city. Better yet that Loop Trolley is not tied up in litigation
http://enr.construction.com/yb/enr/arti ... =187873746
Kansas City Announces Apparent Winning Bid for $100M Streetcar Project
07/17/2013
Kansas City Star (MO)
Text size: AA
July 17--It was one step forward and one step sideways Tuesday for Kansas City's downtown streetcar project.
On one hand, the city opened bids and announced the apparent winner to manage and build a new streetcar system that is supposed to run through the heart of downtown, from River Market to near Union Station.
On the other, lawyers sparred before a Missouri Court of Appeals panel over a case challenging whether the new downtown taxes to help pay for the $100 million streetcar project are legal and constitutional.
On a different note, KC picked contractor for their streetcar but having its own issues with a lawsuit. I would give creidt that at least transit has some good support within the county and city. Better yet that Loop Trolley is not tied up in litigation
http://enr.construction.com/yb/enr/arti ... =187873746
Kansas City Announces Apparent Winning Bid for $100M Streetcar Project
07/17/2013
Kansas City Star (MO)
Text size: AA
July 17--It was one step forward and one step sideways Tuesday for Kansas City's downtown streetcar project.
On one hand, the city opened bids and announced the apparent winner to manage and build a new streetcar system that is supposed to run through the heart of downtown, from River Market to near Union Station.
On the other, lawyers sparred before a Missouri Court of Appeals panel over a case challenging whether the new downtown taxes to help pay for the $100 million streetcar project are legal and constitutional.
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^ the good thing about the KC lawsuit is that we'll know if that type of special assessment is valid under MO law. I hope it stands.
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Any updates? Anyone know if the Loop Trolley project is still slated to begin construction this year? I haven't heard much. Where exactly are they, in the process. Can't find any recent articles.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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My friends keep asking me when this is supposed to happen. I've been saying "in a few months" for years now. They don't really seem to trust my knowledge on this anymore, lol. But really, this needs to happen, like, tomorrow.
^ Joe Edwards said construction should take place spring 2014 I believe.
goat314 wrote:^ Joe Edwards said construction should take place spring 2014 I believe.
Presbyterian wrote:Joe Edwards said about a month ago that he hoped to start laying tracks in late Spring. At that point, the U. City Traffic Commission was refusing to approve the plans until the trolley added parking.
And yes, you read that right. No new public transit unless the public transit adds surface parking.
Edwards said he is aiming to open summer 2014.
dredger wrote:Does anybody know what building Joe bought for a possible Loop Trolley Barn?
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morn ... rward.html
Loop trolley moves forward
St. Louis Business Journal
University City businessman and Delmar Loop supporter Joe Edwards has bought a vacant Delmar building that he hopes will be used as a vehicle maintenance facility for Loop trolleys, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The $43 million project is on schedule, with track construction likely to start early next year and completion expected by 2013.
Read more: Loop trolley moves forward | St. Louis Business Journal
Just sayin'...quincunx wrote:Groundbreaking is expected in late 2011, and the trolleys will be rolling by fall 2012, said Joe Edwards ...
I suppose that indicates he's confident that the rest of the money will come forth soon.
STLToday article
-RBB
Somewhat off topic, but the U City city council voted 6 - 0 to make the roundabout permanent. More here:
http://universitycity.patch.com/groups/ ... -permanent
http://universitycity.patch.com/groups/ ... -permanent