The Wabash Station
building, now owned by Joe
Edwards, will be monitored closely
during construction!
any time for this. i bet when or what will happen there will be a goodie.
but i like the transit plaza. it's about time for that too.
- 466
any time for this. i bet when or what will happen there will be a goodie.
but i like the transit plaza. it's about time for that too.
- 85
Joe Edwards apparently just closed on the hotel deal. Construction will start in the spring.
Word on the old Wabash Station is that nothing will happen until they rebuild the bridge that sits in front of it (crossing the railroad tracks). In essence: nothing's happening.
Also heard that Joe bought the large building at the northeast corner of Skinker and Delmar, where Christopher's Barbershop sits. It's sad to see the barbershop go - a place with a lot of character - but it's a fantastic location for some higher end business. Great visibility, lots of space.
Now if Al Qaeda would just turn its attention to the Church's Chicken franchise and Shapiro's lighting would get its act together re. the huge empty lot east of the bike shop (about the same likelihood), than all would be beautiful here....
Word on the old Wabash Station is that nothing will happen until they rebuild the bridge that sits in front of it (crossing the railroad tracks). In essence: nothing's happening.
Also heard that Joe bought the large building at the northeast corner of Skinker and Delmar, where Christopher's Barbershop sits. It's sad to see the barbershop go - a place with a lot of character - but it's a fantastic location for some higher end business. Great visibility, lots of space.
Now if Al Qaeda would just turn its attention to the Church's Chicken franchise and Shapiro's lighting would get its act together re. the huge empty lot east of the bike shop (about the same likelihood), than all would be beautiful here....
- 2,005
Luftmensch wrote:Joe Edwards apparently just closed on the hotel deal. Construction will start in the spring.
Word on the old Wabash Station is that nothing will happen until they rebuild the bridge that sits in front of it (crossing the railroad tracks). In essence: nothing's happening.
Construction on the Delmar bridge should be starting shortly. I don't know the timeframe, but it will probably take over a year like other City bridges have.
I don't suppose the city is smart enough to allow for future retail to be built over the bridge opposite from the Wabash, is it?
- 710
perhaps this has been covered before...
have there been any plans for a smallish-mid-sized quality (good produce, organics) pedestrian oriented grocer on Delmar in the City? I know there are a few places to grab a frozen burrito...but this isn't what i mean. This would be an incredible asset to neighborhoods directly north and south...indeed, walkable grocers are critical components (and don't hurt in marketing a neighborhood...) of high-functioning urban neighborhoods.
have there been any plans for a smallish-mid-sized quality (good produce, organics) pedestrian oriented grocer on Delmar in the City? I know there are a few places to grab a frozen burrito...but this isn't what i mean. This would be an incredible asset to neighborhoods directly north and south...indeed, walkable grocers are critical components (and don't hurt in marketing a neighborhood...) of high-functioning urban neighborhoods.
warwickland wrote:perhaps this has been covered before...
have there been any plans for a smallish-mid-sized quality (good produce, organics) pedestrian oriented grocer on Delmar in the City? I know there are a few places to grab a frozen burrito...but this isn't what i mean. This would be an incredible asset to neighborhoods directly north and south...indeed, walkable grocers are critical components (and don't hurt in marketing a neighborhood...) of high-functioning urban neighborhoods.
I have been asking the same question for years. It's the missing link in The Loop. I can't believe that a supermarket such as Trader Joe's is not a top priority for The Loop. it's literally the only thing that prevents it from being a completely cohesive and self-sufficient commercial district.
- 145
I am surprised that Walgreens isn't already there. Maybe they are holding out for a corner lot. As we can tell they like to be right on the corner.
- 1,517
An urban Walgreens to replace the anti-urban Churchs would be pretty nice.
^Hmm, no parking...unless they put it underground - yeah that'll happen.
- 1,517
Does AT&T/SBC/whoever that is at the southwest corner even use that parking lot? I'm sure Walgreens could buy that. Not that I'm saying that's the best scenario--I'd rather see both lots with urban infill--but it seems possible, right?
- 214
jlblues wrote:I'd settle for a freakin' Walgreen's...
In the late '90s Walgreen's expressed interest in opening a store at the west end of the Loop in the space that was then occupied by Smith Hardware (and probably incorporating the adjacent property so that the store would extend to the corner of Kingsland), but there was opposition to the proposal from nearby businesses and local residents after Walgreen's declared their intent to sell carry-out liquor at that location, and the project was abandoned. Supposedly, Walgreen's claimed the store would not be viable unless alcohol sales were permitted, though more cynical observers suspected that this was a bogus excuse and that they'd simply been hoping to capitalize on perceived demand for alcohol from residents of the surrounding neighborhoods...
From the '80s until late 1990/early 1991, there was a Medicare-Glaser drug- and convenience store in the former Varsity Theater that is currently home to Vintage Vinyl, but that shut down when Medicare-Glaser pulled out of the local market in the face of mounting competition from Walgreen's.
Well, alcohol is no longer part of Walgreen's business plan, so maybe they'll try again.
If Walgreen's could build urban anywhere it should be in the Loop. If only Koman properties could be pressured? I suppose issuing TIF does not presuppose design consideration.
- 145
Do think that they will even be an urban design? If it isn't in a downtown area I think it will just like every other Walgreens if they were able to find the land to build on.
There are plenty of Walgreen's stores in Chicago - no, not downtown - that have no parking...I know, I know...apples and oranges. 
- 11K
^ Not apples and oranges, low-density residential/office and high-density residential/office.
^Well, I'd think U. City and the Skinky D's density is comparable with some of those Chicago neighborhoods.
- 11K
^ I admit to not having the numbers in front of me and I don't know much about this "Skinny D" place you speak of, but the Loop is not a dense residential or office area.
- 320
(Article posted for fair use and discussion.)
Link: http://www.westendword.com/moxie/news/p ... sit-.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Plans for Delmar transit plaza pushed back until new year
By Tim Woodcock [West End Word]
Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The long-awaited construction of a transit plaza in front of the Delmar Loop MetroLink will have to wait a little longer.
The Delmar Commercial Committee had previously been told by Metro that staging for the project would begin in November, with construction immediately following that. Now it appears the earliest the project could begin is January, if the transit agency approves a contract to proceed with the work at the Metro Board of Commissioners’ next meeting on Dec. 14.
“It was supposed to be under construction by now,” said Lyda Krewson, 28th Ward Alderman.
Metro was accepting bids for the project but was unable to come to terms with the lowest bidder, and the bidding process has been reopened. Even if the transit agency accepts and signs a contract in December, it will be so close to Christmas by that point that work will probably not start until the new year. The project is estimated to take about six months.
However, Metro is reluctant to commit to a particular timeline because “concrete and winter time don’t get along real well,” said Metro spokeswoman Dianne Williams.
Plans for a transit plaza were first drawn up in 1997 and have been revisited several times since then.
During the construction project, Des Peres Avenue — the curved road that gives access to the station from Delmar Boulevard — will be closed, and buses that stop on Des Peres will be rerouted to pick up passengers at the MetroLink Park ‘n’ Ride parking lot, northwest of the station.
When the plaza is complete, newly created bays will mean that buses will use only the west side of Des Peres to pick up and drop off passengers. Currently buses use both sides of the street, and it is not always clear where to wait for a particular bus.
The plaza will also include new landscaping, benches, shelters and improved lighting.
In its meeting with Metro, the Delmar Commercial Committee suggested ways to make the crosswalk safer and to create a less intimidating atmosphere at the main entrance to the station, said committee member Jo Ann Vatcha.
There are often people loitering at the top of the steps, and this tendency is reinforced because of the ash trays and the pay phones in this area. Vatcha said she would like to see the phones moved closer to the guard’s station, which is midway between the platform and street level.
Construction work will cause the station to be reconfigured, and hopefully that will help break some of those anti-social behavior patterns, she said.
The committee is also encouraging Metro to step up security at the station, Vatcha said. It is a particularly big concern to merchants in the area, because the station is the front door to the Delmar Loop for many tourists, and the atmosphere can be less than inviting, she said.
Also in the new year, work is scheduled to start on a complete rebuild of the bridge that crosses the MetroLink tracks at Delmar and Des Peres. The contract for the project has been awarded by the city of St. Louis’ Board of Public Service to Kozeny-Wagner Co.
Krewson described it as a “complex, little bridge project.”
Although the bridge will be completely rebuilt, it will done in parts to minimize the impact on traffic patterns and MetroLink.
The bridge will continue to carry one lane of traffic in each direction, even as part of it is demolished and rebuilt. Although this is an engineering challenge, it is the same principle being followed on Kingshighway Boulevard, albeit on a much smaller scale, Krewson said. The change is not as extreme as it sounds because westbound drivers already experience Delmar narrowing from two lanes to one as they cross the bridge.
MetroLink will also be affected because wires needed to power the trains run underneath the bridge.
When engineering plans were first drawn up a decade ago, the idea of a trolley running up and down Delmar was not under discussion. Since then it has taken several steps toward becoming a reality and plans for the bridge have had to be fine-tuned to ensure that nothing is done to the bridge that might jeopardize the future of that project, Krewson said.
Construction could take up to a year. The rebuilding project was first scheduled when Forest Park Parkway was closed, but it was postponed because of concerns about congestion in the area.
Link: http://www.westendword.com/moxie/news/p ... sit-.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Plans for Delmar transit plaza pushed back until new year
By Tim Woodcock [West End Word]
Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The long-awaited construction of a transit plaza in front of the Delmar Loop MetroLink will have to wait a little longer.
The Delmar Commercial Committee had previously been told by Metro that staging for the project would begin in November, with construction immediately following that. Now it appears the earliest the project could begin is January, if the transit agency approves a contract to proceed with the work at the Metro Board of Commissioners’ next meeting on Dec. 14.
“It was supposed to be under construction by now,” said Lyda Krewson, 28th Ward Alderman.
Metro was accepting bids for the project but was unable to come to terms with the lowest bidder, and the bidding process has been reopened. Even if the transit agency accepts and signs a contract in December, it will be so close to Christmas by that point that work will probably not start until the new year. The project is estimated to take about six months.
However, Metro is reluctant to commit to a particular timeline because “concrete and winter time don’t get along real well,” said Metro spokeswoman Dianne Williams.
Plans for a transit plaza were first drawn up in 1997 and have been revisited several times since then.
During the construction project, Des Peres Avenue — the curved road that gives access to the station from Delmar Boulevard — will be closed, and buses that stop on Des Peres will be rerouted to pick up passengers at the MetroLink Park ‘n’ Ride parking lot, northwest of the station.
When the plaza is complete, newly created bays will mean that buses will use only the west side of Des Peres to pick up and drop off passengers. Currently buses use both sides of the street, and it is not always clear where to wait for a particular bus.
The plaza will also include new landscaping, benches, shelters and improved lighting.
In its meeting with Metro, the Delmar Commercial Committee suggested ways to make the crosswalk safer and to create a less intimidating atmosphere at the main entrance to the station, said committee member Jo Ann Vatcha.
There are often people loitering at the top of the steps, and this tendency is reinforced because of the ash trays and the pay phones in this area. Vatcha said she would like to see the phones moved closer to the guard’s station, which is midway between the platform and street level.
Construction work will cause the station to be reconfigured, and hopefully that will help break some of those anti-social behavior patterns, she said.
The committee is also encouraging Metro to step up security at the station, Vatcha said. It is a particularly big concern to merchants in the area, because the station is the front door to the Delmar Loop for many tourists, and the atmosphere can be less than inviting, she said.
Also in the new year, work is scheduled to start on a complete rebuild of the bridge that crosses the MetroLink tracks at Delmar and Des Peres. The contract for the project has been awarded by the city of St. Louis’ Board of Public Service to Kozeny-Wagner Co.
Krewson described it as a “complex, little bridge project.”
Although the bridge will be completely rebuilt, it will done in parts to minimize the impact on traffic patterns and MetroLink.
The bridge will continue to carry one lane of traffic in each direction, even as part of it is demolished and rebuilt. Although this is an engineering challenge, it is the same principle being followed on Kingshighway Boulevard, albeit on a much smaller scale, Krewson said. The change is not as extreme as it sounds because westbound drivers already experience Delmar narrowing from two lanes to one as they cross the bridge.
MetroLink will also be affected because wires needed to power the trains run underneath the bridge.
When engineering plans were first drawn up a decade ago, the idea of a trolley running up and down Delmar was not under discussion. Since then it has taken several steps toward becoming a reality and plans for the bridge have had to be fine-tuned to ensure that nothing is done to the bridge that might jeopardize the future of that project, Krewson said.
Construction could take up to a year. The rebuilding project was first scheduled when Forest Park Parkway was closed, but it was postponed because of concerns about congestion in the area.
- 710
Grover wrote:^ I admit to not having the numbers in front of me and I don't know much about this "Skinny D" place you speak of, but the Loop is not a dense residential or office area.
skinker/debs relationship with the loop. it's a nice slab of walkable density.
- 11K
^ Most of the properties highlighted are single-family, at least $500K homes with some 6-unit condos and some rentals. People sometimes express frustration about the lack of "urban" Walgreens or other retail/amenities. This area, and the rest of St. Louis simply isn't as dense as places that have more urban retail (parts of Chicago, Boston, etc.).
Few if any of these homes go for 500K. Those valuations are generally found across Skinker in Parkview. Only th 6100 block of Kingsbury (and MAYBE a few on 6100 McPherson and Westminster) would have such expensive homes. Most of the houses in Skink-D that aren't 2 or 2 1/2 stories have been converted to multi-family. Washington and Waterman are almost entirely multi-family homes. The closer one gets to Delmer to the north and FP Parkway to the south the more multi-family homes there are. A lot of the apartment buildings on Washington are currently being renovated into condos. While single family homes may decrease density, they also keep people/families with relatively high disposable incomes close to the retail corridor.
If anything this is exactly the kind of density that can support urban retail. I think it is more the areas north of Delmar, big-box industrial properties along Skinker (as seen in the picture above) and slum clearance between Hodiamont and Union that has sucked the life out of "East Loop" Delmar.
If anything this is exactly the kind of density that can support urban retail. I think it is more the areas north of Delmar, big-box industrial properties along Skinker (as seen in the picture above) and slum clearance between Hodiamont and Union that has sucked the life out of "East Loop" Delmar.