urbanSTL

Twitter informed me today that this is a widely hated project


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

^ how do you mean? NIMBYs?

urban_dilettante wrote:^ how do you mean? NIMBYs?

There are some legitimate complaints, I think. 0 affordable units next to public transit, too many subsidized parking spaces. But a lot of complaints about the size of the building and the aesthetics, too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

^ I can get behind the first two.

KMOV - New $90 million developments aim to transform the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood

https://www.kmov.com/news/new-90-millio ... f8309.html

good ol' KMOV doin' what KMOV does.

^ you got me. 1 out of every 10 or 20 reports is positive-ish.

quincunx wrote: ↑

Oct 28, 2020

KMOV - New $90 million developments aim to transform the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood

https://www.kmov.com/news/new-90-millio ... f8309.html

"In March, St. Louis City leaders said the developments at the corner of DeBaliviere and Pershing will help reduce crime."

"Hmm", I thinks to meself. "Howzzey going to do that...???"

Next paragraph:"...the plans include tearing down the Italian restaurant as well as the strip mall across the street."

Oh, I see. 

So, if people are going to hate this development because it took away surface spots, and low productivity strip malls to get people to use Link, but blindly hail the new Cortex station with the constant building of garages.. what exactly are our goals here?

I personally think this is a great project.  The garage situation in Cortex is maddening.  The irony of a new station while we build more temporary homes for cars.  Developers need to be willing to take a risk to change the urban environment.  In fact, I believe it their responsibility.

At the same time, I see the flip side.  This development basically takes the public parking spots and privatizes them.  Will new residents overwhelmingly take Link if they still have a car in their back pocket? At any rate, you're transforming what was just a surface lot into something infinitely more productive.  The draw back is taking away the commuter spaces that some riders relied on.

The same number of complementary parking spaces for Metrolink riders will be available to anyone. Shameful to have SLPS school kids forgo tax base for that. 

I too am very excited for this project. However, the subsidized parking is regrettable and immoral.

In some ways this project is similar to the Link in the Loop Building. Sure, it includes an auto element. But ultimately it will provide and enormous improvement to the built environment and pedestrian experience.  

Work is continuing. Long line of trucks on site when I took these photos...

I never did look at the plans for this project. There was some concern about the location of the garage entrances and the traffic on Degiverville at one point, did they move them?

I don't think so. The entrance to 5720 DeGiverville is from DeG and 301 DeBaliviere is from Waterman.

December update...

I wonder what the peninsula off DeB on the 5720 DeG site is about.

quincunx wrote: ↑

Dec 10, 2020

I wonder what the peninsula off DeB on the 5720 DeG site is about.

My guess would be underground utilities that they may not have known about. 

Could be, but it doesn't look like there's a way to access any utilities under there.

Have they forever confiscated the small alley that ran behind the strip mall? The construction fence is right slam up against houses 5714 Waterman and 5715 DeG, and you can now only access the Waterman-DeG alley from DeG. Or will it return after the construction is complete?