^ and hopefully Laclede Gas sticks around
A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, but one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.
- 8,155
Holy crap this is a tragic death:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crim ... 7880f.html
What? I assume his estate is going to be receiving a boatload of money.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crim ... 7880f.html
What? I assume his estate is going to be receiving a boatload of money.
@STLRainbow
The Art Lofts on Washington is now market-rate. The time period required for them to have income-restricted units has expired, so I guess they can now charge whatever they want. They're adding a studio/gallery space on the first floor, presumably to offer more value to residents.
I think the time period for University Lofts will be up soon, too.
I think the time period for University Lofts will be up soon, too.
Anyone know when residents start moving into the Millennium tower? I could have swore it was supposed to be by the end of July.
- 151
Today there were signs on the millennium center building advertising apartments for lease . Also the front desk is handing out pamphlets.
Although from February, here is an interesting article from STL Business Journal on the healthy occupancy rates for downtown living:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/prin ... l?page=all
It says about 500 residents a year consistently have been added to downtown the past few years. I suspect 2013 has been pretty consistent with that and at current rates we could expect to see about 5,000 more in the 2020 census count over 2010. Not bad.
But I wonder if we'll see an uptick in the coming years. The OPO Tower and the Millennium Building are coming on line (I believe bringing nearly 250 units and probably 300+ residents just themselves) as well as a number of smaller, more typical loft conversions. And 2015 should see the approx. 250 unit Arcade redevelopment come online and hopefully other larger projects. And put me down for 2014 seeing an announcement on a new residential tower for downtown... I'm starting my 2014 predictions early! So anyway, let's hope and its certainly possible that we'll see more like 750-1000 new residents per year living downtown over the second of the decade.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/prin ... l?page=all
It says about 500 residents a year consistently have been added to downtown the past few years. I suspect 2013 has been pretty consistent with that and at current rates we could expect to see about 5,000 more in the 2020 census count over 2010. Not bad.
But I wonder if we'll see an uptick in the coming years. The OPO Tower and the Millennium Building are coming on line (I believe bringing nearly 250 units and probably 300+ residents just themselves) as well as a number of smaller, more typical loft conversions. And 2015 should see the approx. 250 unit Arcade redevelopment come online and hopefully other larger projects. And put me down for 2014 seeing an announcement on a new residential tower for downtown... I'm starting my 2014 predictions early! So anyway, let's hope and its certainly possible that we'll see more like 750-1000 new residents per year living downtown over the second of the decade.
@STLRainbow
What does everyone think of that guy who made the comment?
That said, I think he makes valid points about the lack of services, retail, and basic domestic consumables.
At what point do we see that problem begin to resolve? Because he is most definitely correct about our building's makeup. Occupancy is high, but turnover seems to be nearly as high. Obviously some of that should be attributed to the transient nature of young people (who tend to be students and/or professionals just starting out their careers), but he's right in some respects about how you need to drive out of downtown to get lots of things....... which entirely defeats the purpose of living downtown in a major U.S. metropolitan area.
For the record, I don't necessarily share his doom-and-gloom view that "it is getting worse." I happen to live in the same building as this guy, and have for nearly two years now. He's an older (perhaps middle-aged) gentleman who seems to spend much of his free time cultivating vegetables, so I can understand why he might feel a little isolated in the middle of 20- and 30- something singles downtown.Lived downtown for 7 years. The article misses a very important point. The turnover rate of rentals is very high. Young downtown renters quickly become disillusioned with the lack of services and retail in the community. You still have to drive out of downtown to buy anything but food, drink and personal services. Culinaria tries its best to provide basic domestic consumables, but it struggles to hold down the prices. As a result many of the young renters leave when the one year lease expires. Our building is highly occupied but with a new group of curiosity seekers every month.
There is no sense of community in downtown living and it is getting worse.
That said, I think he makes valid points about the lack of services, retail, and basic domestic consumables.
At what point do we see that problem begin to resolve? Because he is most definitely correct about our building's makeup. Occupancy is high, but turnover seems to be nearly as high. Obviously some of that should be attributed to the transient nature of young people (who tend to be students and/or professionals just starting out their careers), but he's right in some respects about how you need to drive out of downtown to get lots of things....... which entirely defeats the purpose of living downtown in a major U.S. metropolitan area.
Let's see what we can do, here.
Having not lived downtown, I'm not entirely sure but I think the amenities will come eventually after more population growth. I'm also not sure that most newcomers to downtown are actually aware of the amenities that are actually there. For instance, you can take a bus from downtown to Soulard Market in 16-20 min, which is comparable to your typical shopping trip in suburbia. The businesses in the area should publish a guide on living in the area until then, including alternatives nearby to things that are not available downtown. This guide should be given to any new people who move in, as in handed to them with their lease. The downtownstl.org website doesn't quite cut it. It seems to be more focused on attracting people downtown rather than helping people who already live there.
"The age of the skyscraper is gone. This is the age of the housing project, which is always a prelude to the age of the cave. This will be the last skyscraper ever built; the last achievement of man..." ~The Fountainhead
- 215
I think you could say the same for a lot of neighborhoods in the City. I live downtown now, but when I lived in the CWE I still had to drive to the County for anything besides food, drink, and personal services. There's just not a whole lot of large-scale retail anywhere in the City, save the Hampton/Chippewa and Kingshighway/Chippewa areas.
I've got two words for you -- Amazon Prime. What's easier than shopping from home? And if I really need something now, a 15 min trip to Brentwood isn't a big deal. My work commute is 20-25 mins, in comparison. Culinaria is fine for the most part but I'll typically shop once every week or two at Sam's Club in Brentwood. Also, there will likely be better shopping options at Forest Park and Vandeventer (only a 5 min drive from DT) within 2-3 years or so.rawest1 wrote:That said, I think he makes valid points about the lack of services, retail, and basic domestic consumables.
At what point do we see that problem begin to resolve? Because he is most definitely correct about our building's makeup. Occupancy is high, but turnover seems to be nearly as high. Obviously some of that should be attributed to the transient nature of young people (who tend to be students and/or professionals just starting out their careers), but he's right in some respects about how you need to drive out of downtown to get lots of things....... which entirely defeats the purpose of living downtown in a major U.S. metropolitan area.
I've lived downtown for 7 years and there is no issue with lack of amenities for me. I've got a feeling that the minority of people complaining have bitter outlooks on life and will be unhappy no matter where they live. The truth is, some people just aren't suited to live in a higher density environment.
Also, we don't need a downtown city guide to indicate where retail, restaurants, etc are. That's what Foursquare, Yelp, Google, etc are for. Things aren't hard to find, to be honest.
My two cents...
As per the lack of convenience an amenities downtown: it's a valid point and a legitimate concern for anyone who lives downtown. But at the same time, anyone who lives downtown should know that DT and CWE are the two most walkable, convenient, amenity rich neighborhoods in the region. Just because you may still have to drive to the County for certain conveniences, doesn't mean that the County is automatically more convenient than downtown. To move downtown expecting to never have to leave is rather unrealistic.
The CWE and DT aren't Greenwich Village or Chelsea (yet) in terms of convenience, but they'll keep getting closer as more people move in, spend, and invest.
The CWE and DT aren't Greenwich Village or Chelsea (yet) in terms of convenience, but they'll keep getting closer as more people move in, spend, and invest.
- 9,997
Which amenities does downtown currently lack?
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
--Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
--Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
Really? In most neighborhoods -- city or suburb -- you've typically got to travel 5/10/15 mins to obtain various goods and services. Anyway, downtown pretty much has everything now so I don't really understand the critique.wabash wrote:As per the lack of convenience and amenities downtown: it's a valid point and a legitimate concern for anyone who lives downtown.
I'm better off now than when I lived in Maryland Heights or UCity. It seems to me that there's an issue with unrealistic expectations.
^^There has got to be a discussion on that topic somewhere here.... But I think the lack of a CVS/Walgreens and the lack of clothing retailers (especially now that Macy's is gone) are near the top of the list.
Pretty sure a new CVS is planned across from SLU Law. As it is, the Walgreens on Lafayette is only a few minutes away. Need clothes? Brentwood is only 10-15 mins away. Again, the same phenomena exists if you live in other neighborhoods.wabash wrote:^^There has got to be a discussion on that topic somewhere here.... But I think the lack of a CVS/Walgreens and the lack of clothing retailers (especially now that Macy's is gone) are near the top of the list.
Sorry, but I don't get it. Where in Saint Louis can you live that has everything in an urban, walkable environment? There's simply no panacea but downtown's better than most neighborhoods in this respect. I don't live to shop and prefer to live in a walkable environment that I can enjoy and find most necessities. Other folks have different priorities. If having a mall next door to you is that critical, just move to Brentwood.
- 8,155
Details?innov8ion wrote: A new CVS is going in across from the law school.
@STLRainbow
I thought a CVS was planned for the Park Pacific although I can't seem to find anything about this at the moment. Didn't anyone else hear this?roger wyoming II wrote:Details?innov8ion wrote: A new CVS is going in across from the law school.
There was an article posted to NextSTL on Sept. 16th saying that a CVS was going into the Park Pacific. It was up for a couple hours (at most) and then was taken down. Hence you not being able to find anything on it.
Thanks... Why does this not surprise me?wabash wrote:There was an article posted to NextSTL on Sept. 16th saying that a CVS was going into the Park Pacific. It was up for a couple hours (at most) and then was taken down. Hence you not being able to find anything on it.
I also heard that Walgreens is looking at downtown, but that wasn't anything concrete.
But it's probably likely downtown will see a chain drugstore before long. And the way those two go at it, it wouldn't surprise me if they both move in within a few months of each other and across the street from each other.
But it's probably likely downtown will see a chain drugstore before long. And the way those two go at it, it wouldn't surprise me if they both move in within a few months of each other and across the street from each other.
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