urbanSTL

Thanks Marmar. I thought it was good...but I'm feeling all fresh and peppy with my new avatar.

innov8ion wrote:Hi, I can't read.

I never once said anything about branding. Read my third paragraph again. In fact, I will bet all the money in my checking account that the tower names are not permanent. Allow me to elucidate:



Their purpose, based on personal experience and intuition, is most likely to market to other developers (residential ones obviously, who, if they're worth their salt, will be familiar with what's going on Charlotte) and perhaps retail tenants with whom he has a relationship what Ghazi has in mind for the whole site. When he's using the names of the towers, I believe he is borrowing the characteristics of those towers (height, style, pricing, exclusivity, etc) to pitch the idea. "I'd like this one to be like the Vue, this one the Avenue", etc etc....Nothing more, nothing less. It makes perfect sense to me, and I would do it too.



Projects of this size are rarely built entirely by a single developer. This isn't about making the end-user feel warm inside with building names - notice that they're not publicizing individual tower names at all. They're on the plan for internal marketing purposes only.



Furthermore, not a single person is ever going to say this:



"Yeah, I love the location, and the unit is beautiful, and the views are stunning, and it's a great price, and I love living downtown....but EWW, I can't live in a place called 'Gateway Village'! Are you f---ing kidding me? Jesus no! I'm going over to BALLPARK VILLAGE!"



I think I've made my point. If you want to discuss this further, PM me.

Of course you're correct on this point. I just think that the name initially does matter on some level -- however difficult it is to quantify. Think we've probably beaten this one to death. Thanks for the posts...

Furthermore, not a single person is ever going to say this:



"Yeah, I love the location, and the unit is beautiful, and the views are stunning, and it's a great price, and I love living downtown....but EWW, I can't live in a place called 'Gateway Village'! Are you f---ing kidding me? Jesus no! I'm going over to BALLPARK VILLAGE!"

St. Louis is not just excited, but fascinated by this project (Gateway Village/Bottle District). Look how many posts have been made regarding GV/BD. We are so fascinated that we cannot resist discussing every detail to death. Since we have only a few details to discuss, like possible names, possible heights, possible street grid, we discuss these items in circles. We can't help ourselves, we are so excited and so interested in the success of this project, we are compelled to suggest names and other details. Maybe even to the point of emailing people. As we get more details, the discussion will move on. Surely, the developers, the designers, the owners, investors, etc. appreciate this nonstop buzz, fascination, and giddiness over their project. I can assure you this buzz is being spread across the Midwest if not the entire nation. And while it may not have the importance of a tattoo on our bum, the mark this project is making on our beloved city is very important to us. So, if you are watching this circus, I want to offer my sincere gratitude to the developers, designers, owners, and everyone else involved for dropping this incredible gift at our front door.

No offense, but I'd take Gateway Village over "Renaissance Village." Both are mind-numbingly generic. We should all do some research on the history of the neighborhood to come up with a name that actually means something. I know Biddle Market was nearby and the neighborhood was a Jewish ghetto before the Jews moved west. I believe it was also home to large numbers of Irish as well.

I sure hope Ghazi releases more details/renderings soon... if for no other reason than to stop this thread from going in circles...

^I don't want to be rude, but I have to agree. This thread was pretty cool when were were showing off Xing's photoshop renderings and discussing what would happen to the cityscape, but the last pages of getting hung up on the name have been a waste of bandwidth.

I think we ALL enjoyed Xing's amazing talents on this thread...so much so, it has brought out feelings and discussions that might otherwise not have happened!! His renderings have shown us what a (wonderful IMO) tranformation will take place on the St. Louis skyline with this development, so some us think the name just doesn't doesn't fit. I rather enjoy this bantering...shows some of us are concerned with details that others find boring and a waste of space (and that is not meant to be an insult to those who disagree).

^Right. Like I said before, there is a lot of buzz around this project. A positive thing. I would be more concerned if no one was interested or cared about it.

some people kept posting on this thread wanting conversation, and they got it. So at least one person here is very happy.

Expat wrote:^Right. Like I said before, there is a lot of buzz around this project. A positive thing. I would be more concerned if no one was interested or cared about it.

There is alot of buzz because this project is so massive and would be an awesome pace to be. If Ghazi releases a new rendering with the big skyscrapers gone and replaced with a couple of 20 story towers you will see interest in this project plummet. Believe it or not, having a cluster of shiney big skyscrapers is in St. Louis' and Ghazi's best interest. There can't be any half assing this one.

Yeah it'd be an awesome place to be. People can keep speculating about what's going to happen with it but I really think only time will tell. Is anybody here "in the know" and have some facts about this project?

The only fact is that the facts keep changing.

Arch City wrote:I spoke to a representative -Matt- from The Bottle District today. He stated that financing is in place and the project is definitely a go. He stated the first residential tower will get underway by summer and be finished by late 2007.



I also made a follow up call to Seth at the Ghazi Company. I inquired about the district and the residential component. He stated that the project still has some planning underway, but it is definitely a go. There is no information to be sent out on the residential portion because plans are being solidified. He encouraged signing up for updates on the website. The residential will be a combo of condos and apartments. The first residential tower is to be finished by late 2007.



I didn't ask if he was from St. Louis, but he stated he knows St. Louisans typically "don't believe it until they see it", but the project will happen.

That's awesome news. I think I'm going to check it out once a week or something until they start construction. I hope summer means June-July and not August-September... or October... or worse. I doubt it'll be long though if he's right about the financing being in place.

Good news. Thanks for checking on that. I have sent them several emails asking about any news, but haven't received any word back. I guess actually making a personal call will get an answer.

Arch City wrote:


I didn't ask if he was from St. Louis, but he stated he knows St. Louisans typically "don't believe it until they see it", but the project will happen.

^Of course, Missouri is the Show Me State .



Thanks for the update. It is encouraging to get some info.

Arch City wrote:I spoke to a representative -Matt- from The Bottle District today. He stated that financing is in place and the project is definitely a go. He stated the first residential tower will get underway by summer and would be finished by late 2007.



I also made a follow up call to Seth at the Ghazi Company. I inquired about the district and the residential component. He stated that the project still has some planning underway, but it is definitely a go. There is no information to be sent out on the residential portion because plans are being solidified. He encouraged signing up for updates on the website. The residential will be a combo of condos and apartments. The first residential tower is to be finished by late 2007.



I didn't ask if he was from St. Louis, but he stated he knows St. Louisans typically "don't believe it until they see it", but the project will happen.

Great news!

Awesome, with all the construction going on it will be very busy over in this area, I have noticed a lot more traffic by my townhome, people driving thru checking out the homes and townhomes. This could become quite a nice little residential district.

OK, I've been skeptical about this one, but I'll cross my fingers again...

Without any news on which bank is financing a project this size I really doubt they have their construction financing in place. Let's see if they really come out of the ground with any significant construction this calendar year - there is definitely not going to be any activity this summer. Keep the fingers crossed, but keep pushing for the necessary services to support the desired residential component.

jambalaya wrote:Without any news on which bank is financing a project this size I really doubt they have their construction financing in place. Let's see if they really come out of the ground with any significant construction this calendar year - there is definitely not going to be any activity this summer. Keep the fingers crossed, but keep pushing for the necessary services to support the desired residential component.

I'm convinced that you work for Cordish. You are knowledgeabe but yet feel the need to bump TBD threads in order to shine negitivity upon them.

That is funny (urban elitist)!!! No I do not work for Cordish, but I have followed some of their recent developments (I like some aspects and others I am luke warm about). I know the owner of the firm who prepared the initial master plan for TBD (former classmates) and after getting a presentation of their master plan I was initially very excited about this project and the direction it was headed (it was headed for long-term success and a viable neighborhood/district for downtown St. Louis - specifically pumping some much needed development on the north side of downtown). Once the project was so large and so public (they received the $51.3 million dollar TIF presenting the initial master plan) they were replaced by people who did not have the same shared vision and basically took the project several steps backward. This is why I have a wait-and-see attitude about this project because for the past 1 1/2 years this development team appears to be a sailboat without a rudder...wandering aimlessly and taking us along for the ride (no clear vision, direction or destination). I am all for development in downtown St. Louis, but the planning element needs to be complete and well thought through - I had confidence in the initial master plan presentation I saw for TBD because it had these characteristics...I will wait to see an actual plan from Ghazi's group before rendering an opinion. Sorry for appearing negative about this project - I just know the potential for this area and I think they are currently missing the mark.