Hey everyone, long time reader first time poster. I had heard on Twitter and by someone involved in the development in the Tower Grove area that the two lots below were being considered for re-development. I was told that there may be a deed restriction for the former Walgreens and that there was some murmurings about it becoming a tire shop. Haven't heard anything about the southeast corner. Anyone heard anything about it?

There have been several interested single-tenant type uses for the Walgreens corner, but the alder/neighborhood want to see a multifam project with ground floor retail, which just really doesn't work here like it does in more walkable locations.

^^  hopefully something much better came come to the old walgreen's site than a tire shop or similar; I hadn't heard of that and I know Ald, Rice has encouraged mixed-use, but we'll have to see. I'm not sure about any deed restrictions, but it was recently bought by QT, I believe as a defensive acquisition so they could control what comes to the site.  The most important thing to know about the site btw is that there used to be a bowling alley there that had an occasional naked bowling night.   

As for the building on the SE corner, there recently was a traffic law center but it only had a brief run.  A strip retail plan had been shopped for the site a couple years back but that appeared to be a community no-go.  Anyway, with the right vision in place, both sites have some nice opportunity to be less auto-oriented and more complimentary for one of the nation's best urban parks.

Kingb4 wrote: ↑

May 20, 2021

There have been several interested single-tenant type uses for the Walgreens corner, but the alder/neighborhood want to see a multifam project with ground floor retail, which just really doesn't work here like it does in more walkable locations.

I suppose walkability has to start somewhere, right?

^ for sure; it's a rather large site that holds a lot of promise and the area already has decent walkscores...  unfortunately K-way largely was left out of the recent bike/ped work project around the park that focused on Arsenal & Magnolia, but thoughtful mixed-use redevelopment here also could be an impetus for more treatment here. 

TexanStLouisan wrote:

Kingb4 wrote: ↑

May 20, 2021

There have been several interested single-tenant type uses for the Walgreens corner, but the alder/neighborhood want to see a multifam project with ground floor retail, which just really doesn't work here like it does in more walkable locations.

I suppose walkability has to start somewhere, right?

There's also a Schnucks and huge park right there. That has to count for something in walkability!

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Every time I drive past those spots I think they would be great to redevelop into apartments. They're literally across from a beautiful park. Granted, that intersection and Kingshighway could use some work to make it a bit more ped-friendly. Maybe that large new development by Chippewa will convince others to make moves. That multi story right in front of home depot could be done as well. 

I live in Tower Grove South and drive past these lots almost every day. They rank high on my wish list for St. Louis City. 

I think apartments could easily work for the lot on the west side of Kingshighway. Sure, Kingshighway isn't the most fun street to walk, but residents would be able to easily access the Walgreens by foot, would be like 500 feet from the Schnucks on Arsenal, and would be directly across the street from the best green space in the city that is not named Forest Park. 

The Alderman and residents should stand firm and prevent a tire shop. Literally the last thing Kingshighway needs. Eventually someone will develop as apartments. I’m much more concerned about the lack of movement at the old Ackerman Toyota site down the road. The powers that be need to make that a top priority ASAP!

It's true that the last thing that corner needs is a tire shop.

The majority of the corridor is an auto-oriented hellhole that needs revitalization and revamping. 

Near Vandeventer, not far north of these lots we're discussing, are Don Brown Chevrolet, Auto Buy Credit, Waterway, U-Haul, and... a tire shop. 

Just south of the lots we're discussing, you have National Tire & Battery, O'Reilly Auto Parts, a Sonic, and a Conoco. 

I sometimes joke that St. Louis has the highest number of vehicle breakdowns in the United States per capita. It's the only thing that could explain entire strips, such as you see on Gravois, that seemingly consist of nothing but used car lots and car maintenance shops. 

brianadler6545 wrote: ↑

May 20, 2021

TexanStLouisan wrote:

Kingb4 wrote: ↑

May 20, 2021

There have been several interested single-tenant type uses for the Walgreens corner, but the alder/neighborhood want to see a multifam project with ground floor retail, which just really doesn't work here like it does in more walkable locations.

I suppose walkability has to start somewhere, right?

There's also a Schnucks and huge park right there. That has to count for something in walkability!

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

It also has a straight shot up Kingshighway to the Barnes/WashU complex on the 95. I am hoping someday that Kingshighway can start to reap some of the non-autocentric benefits similar to what has been happening along the central corridor.

A tire shop would be a terrible usage of that high profile corner, across from one of our City’s signature parks. Mixed use with residential or bust!

For having so much auto-oriented activity immediately to the south, this location is surprisingly walkable: TGP, MorganFord, Schnucks, Royale, Park Ave Coffee, and an easy bus or bike ride to BJC. Multi-family would do really well there. 

^And isn't there another coffee shop opening at or near A&M Cyclery? 

Not these sites, but Ive always thought at the East end of the park on Grand, the Ruler Foods spot would be an ideal high rise with base level Trader Joes location.  You'd have access to the park, a grocery store, and a Starbucks all within a stone's throw.  

I dont think the old Walgreens site would fit a TJ and parking, although you could potentially build a parking garage I guess.  

They need to seriously fix this intersection unless potential residents love watching car wrecks.  One day, McCausland/Skinker, Kingshighway, Hampton, Grand, Jefferson will all hopefully be dieted and actually help people get to some of the best parks this City has to offer.  Right now to access most of the best parks you have to cross busy ass stroads.  It's upsetting.  Kingshighway is like, highway width, fittingly, I suppose.

This might be an unpopular comment in this forum, but... I would love for the city to widen Arsenal next to the lot just a smidge to allow a left turn lane onto northbound Kingshighway.

And then build some apartments there.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

^I have a better idea. Kingshighway needs a serious diet. How about a traffic circle there and another one at Vandeventer. Then stick a large unbroken island down the middle between the two with signalized crosswalks at Reber and Magnolia. (At a minimum.) Anyone wanting to turn left anywhere else would have to turn right and then make a u-turn at the crosswalk. I'm torn on whether you eliminate the signals at Vandeventer and Arsenal or leave them as signals activated by pedestrians to make it easier to cross. (The latter might well be the better option in our fair town, but a good traffic circle and a well marked crosswalk can work even without a signal.)

Yeah, I spent three months in the UK a few years ago. (Driving, no less.) Why do you ask?

. . . Also, mixed use residential is the right answer on that spot. I have to think it would be a winner. I was scratching my head about the Schnucks. (What Schnucks? The Schnucks on Kingshighway closed down in the 80s and it was way the heck south of there at Landsdowne. Arsenal? Wait . . . ) Yes. That should be an incredibly walkable neighborhood. Maybe it doesn't look it, but the bones are there.

^ I like your idea about the circles. However, it might get in the way of the west N/S Metrolink line down Kingshighway.

Or a girl can dream...

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

^I really think we need to be putting these things and other traffic calming all over town. I suspect I walked past some traffic calming construction on Bellerive tonight. (And last night. And the night before that.) Maybe I need to make my traffic circle dream map.