urbanSTL

Is there a map view available of the improvements? 

Sweet. These lakes have been needing work for a while now. 

(there are maps in the link mayor posted above)

flipz wrote: ↑

Nov 04, 2019

Is there a map view available of the improvements? 

The three bodies of water on the far right, Round Lake, Jefferson Lake and Bowl Lake, and connections between them, are being rebuilt and restored.

Oh great! Thank you. People are always fishing at Jefferson Lake.

Always been curious about Hudlin Park across Kingshighway -- who owns it? BJC? WashU Med? The City? I thought it was officially a part of Forest Park?

According to Forest Park's website, Hudlin Park is part of Forest Park. 

I don't know who owns it, but I'd guess the city.

Ameren just built a huge station at the south end of the park. BJC/WashU would gladly buy the surface if they were allowed to bring out that garage from under the park to about 10 stories above it

KansasCitian wrote:According to Forest Park's website, Hudlin Park is part of Forest Park. 

I don't know who owns it, but I'd guess the city.

BJC is leasing it from the City for the foreseeable future (I think until at least 2060 or so) for $2 million a year. There was a thread about it here: bjc-lease-extension-on-12-acres-of-fore ... t2380.html

Round lake is one or my favorite spots. This seating area looks nice, but I hope they keep the natural feel elsewhere. Too much development might detract from the sense of serenity that's there now.
 

Here's a pic of the fountain I took a few weeks ago:

 

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

Nov 05, 2019

Ameren just built a huge station at the south end of the park.    BJC/WashU would gladly buy the surface if they were allowed to bring out that garage from under the park to about 10 stories above it

Thanks.  Why exactly wouldn't they be allowed to develop it?

Selling parkland requires a city-wide vote.

bwcrow1s wrote:

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

Nov 05, 2019

Ameren just built a huge station at the south end of the park.    BJC/WashU would gladly buy the surface if they were allowed to bring out that garage from under the park to about 10 stories above it

Thanks.  Why exactly wouldn't they be allowed to develop it?

They could develop it. They extended the lease on it to open up development opportunities.

The Richard Hudlin Tennis Courts seem kind of redundant with the Dwight Davis Tennis Center also being in Forest Park. 

If Hudlin Park were to be developed, I'd hope that another quality playground could be placed somewhere nearby, even if just across Kingshighway in Forest Park. I'd also want the footbridge over I-64 to stay. 

In the end, I'd be pretty picky about any development that would replace that park. If all BJC wanted was a parking garage, there's no way I'd be okay with that. 

If they wanted another major medical building there, that adds to their Forest Park skyline, I'd be okay with it. 

KansasCitian wrote:If Hudlin Park were to be developed, I'd hope that another quality playground could be placed somewhere nearby, even if just across Kingshighway in Forest Park. I'd also want the footbridge over I-64 to stay. 

In the end, I'd be pretty picky about any development that would replace that park.

I don’t think BJC leases the strip of park on the Southside of Clayton Ave. That strip is already home to a redundant playground to the one north of Clayton and has the footbridge.

As for being picky, I think BJC has a lot of latitude on what - if anything - they place on the acreage north of Clayton Ave. They control it at this point.

^They lease it, but it is still owned by the city and more or less controlled by Forest Park. There was a big push to amend the lease in 2006 that would have given them much more ability to develop the property, but it apparently failed. I don't think there's been any motion on the issue since and that.

BJC courts city for Forest Park

St. Louis, MO BB376CS

BJC loses bid to extend Forest Park land lease

Sounds to me as though they ultimately lost when they lost the support of Comptroller Darlene Green.  That, in a nutshell, might be why BJC has invested so much in redeveloping its existing campus. The current lease expires in 2050 and I don't see them even trying to build something substantial there unless they also get a more extended lease, or better yet, an outright sale.

Any folks around here remember when Children's Hospital tried to build a new tower directly above Kingshighway?  

^I completely missed that! Would have been really something. That's one for the Unbuiilt St. Louis thread.

symphonicpoet wrote:^They lease it, but it is still owned by the city and more or less controlled by Forest Park...

Sounds to me as though they ultimately lost when they lost the support of Comptroller Darlene Green.  That, in a nutshell, might be why BJC has invested so much in redeveloping its existing campus. The current lease expires in 2050 and I don't see them even trying to build something substantial there unless they also get a more extended lease, or better yet, an outright sale.

Green voted for an amended lease which was approved by the BoA in March 2007. It’s a 99 year lease and allows BJC to build on 85% of the lease land (Hudlin Park - the 9.4 acres north of Clayton Ave.). BJC controls the property as lessee.

wabash wrote:

symphonicpoet wrote:^They lease it, but it is still owned by the city and more or less controlled by Forest Park...

Sounds to me as though they ultimately lost when they lost the support of Comptroller Darlene Green.  That, in a nutshell, might be why BJC has invested so much in redeveloping its existing campus. The current lease expires in 2050 and I don't see them even trying to build something substantial there unless they also get a more extended lease, or better yet, an outright sale.

Green voted for an amended lease which was approved by the BoA in March 2007. It’s a 99 year lease and allows BJC to build on 85% of the lease land (Hudlin Park - the 9.4 acres north of Clayton Ave.). BJC controls the property as lessee.

Could this also be done on the DeBaliviere lots just south of FPP?


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wabash wrote: ↑

Nov 05, 2019

Green voted for an amended lease which was approved by the BoA in March 2007. It’s a 99 year lease and allows BJC to build on 85% of the lease land (Hudlin Park - the 9.4 acres north of Clayton Ave.). BJC controls the property as lessee.

Mea culpa. I googled the thing, but only turned up the 2006 effort.