There's a blurb about the retail market study of the Loop Trolley route in the Times of Skinker-Debaliviere. I couldn't find any additional details ont he Skinky-D website.
It includes detailed demographic data on visitors to the Loop and their buying power. From this data, the consultants determined that the Loop could support an additional 150,000 sq. ft. of retail space including and sufficient market demand exists to support a small grocery store.
If that's the building I'm thinking of I hope parking is now allowed along its front. It had big warehouse garage doors that took away a few spots. It would be infuriating to think you had found a perfect spot, only it turns out to be a driveway.
You can see the new lot in this photo from STL Energized, which was taken from the roof of the Moonrise. It's too bad cars will be using that wide sidewalk as a driveway. It will be particularly awkward if they sit there blocking part of the sidewalk while waiting to turn left.
For the first time ever I saw the lights on and some activity in the 1-story building that's the second one from Rosedale going east on Delmar. I think it's 6046 Delmar. Sounded like some construction was going on. Odd for ~7 pm on Saturday night. Anyone know what's going on there?
Can you clarify a bit? Are they moving to the new building on Delmar temporarily or permanently? Is Wash. U. rehabbing the Delamr building or the apartment building on Skinker? Is there an article or announcement of this anywhere?
I'm pretty sure it's temporary. In November at the Wash U neighbors meeting they said they were going to rehab their building at Skinker and McPherson. They had already moved the realty office to its building at FPP and Big Bend and were still finding a location for the library. That turned out to be 6046 Delmar. As of last night the St Louis Public Library logo was on the windows and bookshelves were in the process of being set up.
Thanks for the details. It's great to hear that building is getting some attention. The Loop now has 2 libraries, one on each end. What if the Skinker-DeBaliviere Library moved into the Wabash Station Building? That could be a great space for a reading room, and seems like an appropriate use for it. Not sure what Joe has planned for it, but it seems pretty mothballed right now.
^that would be cool. Crossing Delmar with the kiddos not so much fun. Although if it's meant as a library for the Skinky-D neighborhood I'd prefer a location more central to it.
Last I heard a few years ago Joe intends to make the Wabash station a fancy steakhouse. I figured he was waiting for the Loop to reach that far or for the trolley to start running.
Lots of good stuff here. This nicely complements where the Vision for Parkview Gardens is headed.
Wustl Record - Loop retail study finds potential for growth
It found sufficient demand for additional retail space of 155,000 square feet and identified the types of retail, restaurant and entertainment opportunities that might best complement existing offerings and attract visitors and consumers.
Among the study’s recommendations for The Loop were to strategically add attractive retail, such as Urban Outfitters, and strategically develop infill retail on empty lots along Delmar. Other recommendations for The Loop include developing and better utilizing parking areas; additional security; public realm improvements; and assembling and developing a grocery site.
WUSTL has retained HR&A Advisors to begin the process of recruiting businesses — such as a grocery store, pharmacy and others — to The Loop. HR&A also will assist with developing marketing materials for The Loop area.
I'll shed many tears of joy if that vision of Delmar and Skinker happens!
Looks like Wash U plans on redoing its North Campus (Page 5)? The Parkview Gardens plan envisioned Enright going through to Eastgate not Clemens. Either way is fine by me. Another east-west connection is needed to get over to Metrolink so one doesn't have to go south and then easy to the Delmar station. More Demo on east side of Eastgate, don't like that. Would like new buildings on either side of Skinker. I guess the arrow means Des Peres runs through to Delmar.
There's plenty of space in Lucier Park. No need to expand it north to Delmar. I'd rather see the street wall added to and Hamilton spruced up to invite you into the park.
quincunx wrote:I'll shed many tears of joy if that vision of Delmar and Skinker happens!
Looks like Wash U plans on redoing its North Campus (Page 5)? The Parkview Gardens plan envisioned Enright going through to Eastgate not Clemens. Either way is fine by me. Another east-west connection is needed to get over to Metrolink so one doesn't have to go south and then easy to the Delmar station. More Demo on east side of Eastgate, don't like that. Would like new buildings on either side of Skinker. I guess the arrow means Des Peres runs through to Delmar.
There's plenty of space in Lucier Park. No need to expand it north to Delmar.
Actually, what parts are in the works? Can think of
1) Loop trolley - $40 million dollar investment with $25 million federal grant in place
2) Delmar streetscapes/trail
Where does everybody think the following are at.
1) Wash U off site /North Campus investments? Can see an infill projecta coming down the pipeline in near future considering their pace of construction. In other words, as on campus build outs are completed they will focus towards the loop.
2) FPP station TOD - the Metroling/McCormick Baron proposal that was floated earlier? I believe this is what we will see from Metro in the immediate future, improvements with private party without actuall expansion of the fixed rail station.
I would love to see more institutions, like Washington University, be better integrated into their urban neighborhoods. It looks like Washington University will be synonymous with the Loop in the near future if they follow through with a North Campus redevelopment plan. The Loop would technically be on Washington University's campus or at least a vital link between both campuses.
This area may be St. Louis' most promising location for real TOD. St. Louis is really underestimating the potential for urban living and I think the Loop is the perfect area to reintroduce young suburbanites to the the most dangerous city in America . I'm sure thousands of people leave the St. Louis area every year, because the perception is that St. Louis lacks vibrant, trendy areas. We need to stop building huge apartment complexes in the suburbs and realize there is a younger demographic that rather live in a city than a gated community. Hopefully TOD is the future of apartment/rental living in Metro St. Louis.
I also love the idea of using the Wabash Station as a the Delmar Metro Entrance. Awesome!
They recommend that the Special Business Districts be replaced by Community Investment Districts whose assessments are uncapped. Then a single 501(c)(3) corp take the ICD money and execute the plans. It'd also be a Chapter 353 Urban Redevelopment Corp which could grant tax abatements and initiate development.
Dredger- add the new French restaurant in the former Brandt's space. Also at the soiree for HTCs last week Joe Edwards said he was very close to getting financing to rehab a building near the Tivoli. I think that's the red-brick two-story building ~6046 Delmar.
I went to the Delmar Commercial Committee meeting today and got some nuggets. Tavolo 5 hopes to open in March in the old OCL building. The Loop Trolley is still aiming to start construction this fall and start operating in 2013. Some Fed funds have been recently released to complete engineering work. They still need to raise a few million. The GRG has bought the building at 5647 Delmar (NE corner) and will issue a RFP soon. For St Vincent's Greenway they have started work north of Delmar and will wait to coordinate work South of Delmar when the trolley work starts.
Then a presentation by Cheryl Adelstein of Wu and John Hoal of H3 of the retail study. There wasn't much new beyond what you can read in the doc.
Some attendees were upset that there wasn't enough inclusion. John Hoal said they conducted street-level surveys along the whole area. They also pointed out that there weren't any Black people in the renderings. I think they were most worried that WU was attempting to dictate future development of the area without working with residents. The study was to determine what the current market can support and to offer suggestions to fulfill its potential and grow in the future. Originally WU was going to study an area from the lion's Gate to the Metrolink station where its properties area. With input from other stake-holders, since the East Loop Business District runs all the way to DeBaliviere, they decided to expand it, and since the trolley will run also down DeBaliviere they expanded it again, and WU paid for it all.
Notes: WU does intend to remake its North Campus in the long-term to better integrate it into the neighborhood. Few people use Metrolink to go to the area for retail, people come for the environs, need to leverage that. Emphasize the notion of creating great gateways, chiefly at Skinker. Orchestrate identity, keep vibrancy. Grocers say they must be as close to Delmar and Skinker as possible. The deeper lots of the East Loop open the potential for projects of significance. TOD housing near Delmar Station. Something is going to happen at the old McDonald's lot east of the trolley barn. They said the History Museum owns it, but the Assessor says Freeman Bosley Jr owns it. I think I heard something incorrectly. Also a building ~70 apts. planned for NW corner of Delmar and Hamilton.
Many asked about Trader Joe's. The feeling WU gets from them is that they want to bring urban-hip-vibe to the suburbs rather than bring Trader Joe's to the urban-hip-vibe.
quincunx wrote:Something is going to happen at the old McDonald's lot east of the trolley barn. They said the History Museum owns it, but the Assessor says Freeman Bosley Jr owns it. I think I heard something incorrectly.
Bosley and some partners opened a BBQ restaurant in the old McDonald's several years ago. It didn't last long.
The McDonald's lot is HUGE - one of the biggest voids in the East Loop. Infill there would really make a difference.
Glad to hear about the project at Delmar and Hamilton.
A couple people wanted to make it a sign of a lack of inclusion or even consideration of the people who actually live around the study area. They also wanted to know why they weren't surveyed. H3 responded that they did street-level surveying on Delmar not door-to-door in the neighborhoods. It got a little contentious. I think it would have helped if at the start of the presentation WU had said a little more about the origins of the study and how the visions for the future were just suggestions and not dictates. I got the feeling some of the upset people hadn't read the action report and that would have assuaged some of their concerns.
Many poorer residents fear gentrification in the Loop area. The vision is being pushed by Washington University, because they have a lot to gain from the Loop's redevelopment. This area also has the most immediate potential for true transit oriented development and that 24/7 lifestyle that St. Louis desperately needs to attract and retain young people. I'm personally a fan of the vision, but I understand the people who fear being priced out. By the time the trolley comes on line in 2013 this area will be receiving a lot of development proposals and they will likely be out of many of the current residents price range.
"Some attendees were upset that there wasn't enough inclusion. John Hoal said they conducted street-level surveys along the whole area. They also pointed out that there weren't any Black people in the renderings. I think they were most worried that WU was attempting to dictate future development of the area without working with residents."
I certainly get that, but replacing a gas station with a grocery store perhaps isn't the looming dictatorial development we should fear.
. I'm sure thousands of people leave the St. Louis area every year, because the perception is that St. Louis lacks vibrant, trendy areas. We need to stop building huge apartment complexes in the suburbs and realize there is a younger demographic that rather live in a city than a gated community. Hopefully TOD is the future of apartment/rental living in Metro St. Louis.