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urbanstlouis wrote:There is an article in today's St. Louis Business Journal that summarizes what the Gill's efforts in the FPSE neighborhood... I am sure the link will be live on Monday as usual.
Here is the link:
EXCLUSIVE REPORTS
From the December 30, 2005 print edition
<A HREF="http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tml">Gills buy Forest Park Southeast properties</A>
Lisa R. Brown
Developers Amrit and Amy Gill are embarking on a $50 million redevelopment plan of the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
The Gills began buying residences and vacant lots near Manchester Road and Chouteau Avenue in 2005. The principals of Restoration St. Louis want to gentrify the area, which has been redubbed "the Grove." So far, they've invested $20 million buying homes and vacant lots, and they plan to raise that to $50 million in acquisition and development costs within the next three years. "It just depends on how many buildings we can get," Amrit Gill said.
<A HREF="http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tory2.html">>>> read more</A>
All in all a very positive article. One can hope that the FPSE rebirth will give some stablity and a better link between tower grove park, the CWE, and SLU.
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Finally! FPSE residents waited for years for Renard to just do something. It's good that he sold to people who actually develop buildings.
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Any word on the rumored Vandeventer Metrolink stop? Probably too good to be true, but you can always dream.
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The proposed station is at Sarah, not Vandeventer. But surrounding development will have to likely be committed or have taken off before a station is added. Besides, you want riders to use a station. And ultimately, Metro wouldn't pay for the station, instead a special TDD tax on new development about the station could finance its construction.
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Has Metro ever made mention of this potential stop location or is all rumor?
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The Sarah station concept is not rumor, but the area about it has a long way to go before it can support a special TDD tax district and generate enough to finance a new station.
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Last nite on kdhx, the 7p.m. local discussion was with Amrit Gill
and Chip Schloss about future development plans for the Grove
and it seems that the Gills now own 39 buildings but plan as
many as 75 total...I have known Chip for 15 yrs. and he is
starting a blues club called the Kentucky Club on Kentucky Av.
The interview covered future plans which included clubs,bars
and restaurants along Manchester Av. It sounded like a very
strong commitment to the whole area and a sound plan.
I believe that Chip is owner of the Atomic Cowboy. Possibly my
stepdaughter and husband are investors, they live in California
but are originally from the Lou.
and Chip Schloss about future development plans for the Grove
and it seems that the Gills now own 39 buildings but plan as
many as 75 total...I have known Chip for 15 yrs. and he is
starting a blues club called the Kentucky Club on Kentucky Av.
The interview covered future plans which included clubs,bars
and restaurants along Manchester Av. It sounded like a very
strong commitment to the whole area and a sound plan.
I believe that Chip is owner of the Atomic Cowboy. Possibly my
stepdaughter and husband are investors, they live in California
but are originally from the Lou.
Do you mean they own 39 buildings in the Grove? Planning a total of 75 in the Grove? Or do you mean they own 39 buildings all over the city? Also, is the Kentucky Club going to be in the Grove? If I am understanding you correctly, this is major. Did they mention timeline?
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It has been said of the Gills that:
If this is true then I think 39 buildings in the Grove and 36 more to coe is a real possibility.
"They've invested $20 million buying homes and vacant lots and they plan to raise that to $50 million in acquisition and development costs within the next three years."
If this is true then I think 39 buildings in the Grove and 36 more to coe is a real possibility.
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I understood that there would be around 75 buildings within the
Grove area which the Gills are going to commit to redoing,some
residential ,some businesses but they discussed a broad plan
taking 2-3 yrs which would truly make the Grove a destination
like Central West End or U. City Loop...they weren't proposing
half measures. One of the phrases I once heard some time ago
was that the area could be a "...entertainment center similar to
the Loop but more for the adult crowd..." Kentucky Club is on
Kentucky St. in the Grove (when completed).
I may discuss having another Art Gallery there, since I once had
one in Clayton with him and his wife, called Chocolate Suede.
My website is www. artdayinternational.com and I am ready to
EXPAND it again. Retail in the Grove could be very interesting.
Grove area which the Gills are going to commit to redoing,some
residential ,some businesses but they discussed a broad plan
taking 2-3 yrs which would truly make the Grove a destination
like Central West End or U. City Loop...they weren't proposing
half measures. One of the phrases I once heard some time ago
was that the area could be a "...entertainment center similar to
the Loop but more for the adult crowd..." Kentucky Club is on
Kentucky St. in the Grove (when completed).
I may discuss having another Art Gallery there, since I once had
one in Clayton with him and his wife, called Chocolate Suede.
My website is www. artdayinternational.com and I am ready to
EXPAND it again. Retail in the Grove could be very interesting.
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The only thing that scares me is what happens if this whole thing falls through? The Gills have a good track record, but imagine how bad it would be if they over extended themselves and bought too much. I remember how excited everyone was 10 years ago when WashU was taking interest in the area. That didn't realy turn out like they planned.
The Gills seem to have the business sense to make this work, but nobody is perfect. I hope other investors jump in their too.
The Gills seem to have the business sense to make this work, but nobody is perfect. I hope other investors jump in their too.
- 10K
I think they have a lot going for them though - they've been able to successfully take on big projects like the Coronado and they got their start doing small projects, in particular, rehabbing individual homes in Skinker-DeBaliviere. Leon Strauss' work in DeBaliviere Place was somewhat similar - one developer rehabbing most of the buildings in a single neighborhood.
I can only add that the Gills know what they're doing. Everthing they've done so far has been a smashing success, as far as I can see. For decades I've driven down Chouteau/Manschester admiring the urban landscape of what is now called The Grove, hoping that this area would be saved from neglect, and ultimately bulldozers. Then, when I heard the Gills took great interest in the area and were buying up places, I nearly rejoiced.
I think the parallels with DeBaliviere Place are quite apt... if anything, the Grove should be even more successful because of its greater potential for retail development.
I expect quite a few students and employees of Wash U medical center will choose to live here in the future, not to mention those from SLU as well.
This area is also exciting because it will link the CWE to the north with the Shaw/Garden/Tower Grove neighborhoods to the south. I can imagine a very pleasant 20-minute bike ride some day from Arsenal and Grand up to the Chase for a movie.
I expect quite a few students and employees of Wash U medical center will choose to live here in the future, not to mention those from SLU as well.
This area is also exciting because it will link the CWE to the north with the Shaw/Garden/Tower Grove neighborhoods to the south. I can imagine a very pleasant 20-minute bike ride some day from Arsenal and Grand up to the Chase for a movie.
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I always thought the housing in FPSE would be good for many students too. My grandparents have lived in the neighborhood for over 50 years and I am quite familar with the interior size of these buildings. Most of them are 2 family flats and are the perfect size for 1 or 2 bedrooms.
Interesting point about St. Charles... we already have the Family Arena there, and now we'll be getting the Family Sports Park in O'Fallon.
Call me a cynic, but once -- just ONCE -- I'd like to see a municipality open something dedicated to single people. Or to couples without children. Whatever.
This quote is from a thread over on one of the Illinois forums. Sorry, but I couldn't resist putting it here as well, because I've just had an idea for a new business. Does anyone think it would cause offense if I opened a gay bar on the Manchester strip and called it The Family Arena?
I think I might be joking... but I'm not 100 percent sure.
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Landlord criticizes use of eminent domain for vacant buildings
Jim Merkel
Of the Suburban Journals
South City Journal
03/01/2006
An effort to redevelop 29 properties in the Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood last week came under criticism from the coordinator of the Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition.
Alderman Joseph Roddy, D-17th Ward, said a redevelopment bill he's sponsoring for the vacant, run-down properties includes the threat of eminent domain if the owners refuse to rehab them.
But Jim Roos of the Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition (MEDAC) told members of the Neighborhood Development Committee that using eminent domain for the use of a private developer is an abuse of power and unnecessary.
After hearing testimony about the legislation, the aldermanic Neighborhood Development Committee voted without opposition Feb. 21 to recommend passage by the full Board of Aldermen
f the owner wants to develop the property, eminent domain action wouldn't be initiated, Roddy said.
"Our hope is the eminent domain is a use of last resort," Roddy said. "Our hope is that we don't use it on any of these properties," he said.
"These buildings are all vacant. Most of those have been eyesores for a number of years," said Irving Blue, executive director of the Forest Park Southeast Development Corp. "We cannot tolerate people sitting on vacant buildings," he said.
"We have a collection of largely vacant buildings in an area that's emerging," Roddy said. "Our hope would be that we would go ahead and assist this neighborhood and its development corporation in its efforts to transform itself."
The once-struggling neighborhood has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
Read More
Jim Merkel
Of the Suburban Journals
South City Journal
03/01/2006
An effort to redevelop 29 properties in the Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood last week came under criticism from the coordinator of the Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition.
Alderman Joseph Roddy, D-17th Ward, said a redevelopment bill he's sponsoring for the vacant, run-down properties includes the threat of eminent domain if the owners refuse to rehab them.
But Jim Roos of the Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition (MEDAC) told members of the Neighborhood Development Committee that using eminent domain for the use of a private developer is an abuse of power and unnecessary.
After hearing testimony about the legislation, the aldermanic Neighborhood Development Committee voted without opposition Feb. 21 to recommend passage by the full Board of Aldermen
f the owner wants to develop the property, eminent domain action wouldn't be initiated, Roddy said.
"Our hope is the eminent domain is a use of last resort," Roddy said. "Our hope is that we don't use it on any of these properties," he said.
"These buildings are all vacant. Most of those have been eyesores for a number of years," said Irving Blue, executive director of the Forest Park Southeast Development Corp. "We cannot tolerate people sitting on vacant buildings," he said.
"We have a collection of largely vacant buildings in an area that's emerging," Roddy said. "Our hope would be that we would go ahead and assist this neighborhood and its development corporation in its efforts to transform itself."
The once-struggling neighborhood has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
Read More
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Roos needs to STFU. He's a slum lord, plain and simple, and would stand to gain a great deal of credibility had he actually properly maintained his buildings.
I like this quote from Roddy:
Gee, I wonder who that developer could be.
I like this quote from Roddy:
If eminent domain was used, "We would try to identify a developer that would want to come in and develop the building and we might have to go through the process at that point," Roddy said.
Gee, I wonder who that developer could be.
Don't you just love our local media sticking up for the slumlords? Also, ever notice how blind they are to promoting the city?
Should Read:
"Like most in the city, this neighborhood has experienced a resurgence in recent years."
Citylover wrote:
The once-struggling neighborhood has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
Should Read:
"Like most in the city, this neighborhood has experienced a resurgence in recent years."
While I don't fully agree with the act itself of razing McRee Town, the pro-slumlord angle on that article made me practically retch. Why didn't they just post a picture of Roos replete with a halo and wings? I still can't believe what I just read. I'm cancelling my P-D subscription right now and citing this crap as the reason.
One of our fabulous photographers should go take and post pictures of his "well-maintained" properties. And send them to the P-D. Show them what real investigative journalism is all about.
One of our fabulous photographers should go take and post pictures of his "well-maintained" properties. And send them to the P-D. Show them what real investigative journalism is all about.
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They should find a judge willing to make Roos be confined to one of these buildings for 6 months.