^ I know right! Can't wait until Grand Center starts to see some infill development. Will look great! I would like to see this area turn into the St. Louis version of times square, but I imagine that SLU would be a stop to it being too "flashy". More neon signs, infill, and overall foot traffic would be great. I would also like to see a movie theater, maybe AMC.
That's pretty sweet and would be another feather in GC's cap.... hopefully we'll see more businesses and a bit of infill as things continue to move ahead and hopefully spill over into Midtown, which I think has had a bit of slow motion with its redevelopment pace.
That's awesome. I lived in Denver a lifetime ago and loved the rooftop scene there. Always wondered why we didn't have it. I'm glad its catching on and this is a great location.
I hope the information I have is deficient, however, I heard that project was pulled. Maybe those renderings represent updated information and BBBS found a way to get it completed because it would be a great addition. What is the source of the renderings?
If it is indeed shelved, this sounds like another lesson in the fragility of the architect-client-developer-contractor relationship.
Posted on state of downtown thread. But may Gov Nixon visit also includes New Market Tax credits award. Grande Center Garage/infill seems like a good candidate going forward for St. Louis Development Corp.
^ cool! I feel obligated to post it on the project list. With BBBS' nonprofit mission, perhaps the bistro could also have some kind of jobs training program for youth.
^^ I'm not positive, but I think a parking garage without a larger jobs component would run into difficulty with New Markets rules. I think a better shot would be for the commercial/retail for the Missouri Theater project. IIRC, the plan was for it to be the home for HEC and of course BB King's (can't recall if there would be other space for lease) but as good as that might be I also wouldn't rule out the speculation from some that the Lawrence Group has landed something more significant than even
^ Another thought running through my head is a CORTEX related development, residential component would be a good place to park a New Market Tax credit. Heck, would Wexford first US Metal site/spec building fall within in the rules or make sense for Wexford?
Another thought, do you think the Union has another housing investment lined up for Grand Center/CWE or even within CORTEX. I know you got the two recently announced investments in Richmond Heights and the smaller investment in Jennings I believe but some recent expansion and growing SLU campus on that side of I64 as well as some hefty investment that might be forthcoming for SLU hospital sooner than later and it seems additional housing would be a safe bet for their investment dollars.
Either way you get the impression that some things are coming together in Grand Center and the politicians are lining up to take some credit. Or maybe Nixon is seeking some refuge after his latest political contribution went public... couldn't help to throw that in there
^ dredger, New Markets could definitely go to Wexford building out the US Metals site and that would be fantastic. But while the site could certainly contain residential, the tax credits technically would be allocated for the construction of the office and any other commercial components. A good example is the Arcade project. where the tax credits supported the Webster U portion. (I believe even two separate ownership condos were created to facilitate that project.)
Other projects that have been funded were the new HQ for Laclede Gas, Bissinger's move to the North Riverfront and an early childhood center that recently opened in Carr Square in conjunction with MBS. Interestingly, the City offered Peabody New Markets for their building upgrade but the company said they didn't need them. Anyway, those are the types of projects that likely will be supported again.
Back to the parking garage issue, they can be eligible as part of larger commercial projects for example to meet Cortex parking needs or even if a Grand Center garage had a decent amount of retail space providing jobs; I think a more technical question would be whether a stand-alone garage that was used by patrons and workers but was just filling a general district need would qualify. I suspect GC, Inc. could afford to finance the project themselves if there was demand for it and I doubt it would get selected.... but I'd all be for an announcement tying a mixed-use garage together with a major Lawrence Group announcement!
^ The credits are purchased by investors to reduce their federal tax liability. I believe non-profit projects that were selected for New Markets include the new Flance and Southside Early Childhood Centers as well as CityGarden Montessori. Again I think it would be more likely that say Lawrence Group would receive funding for the Missouri Theater project over Grand Center, Inc. for a garage, but if GCI had a good project they could qualify. (I also wouldn't be surprised if the Confluence Academy/Sun Theater and Big Brothers/Big Sisters were assisted by New Markets funding.)
And the parking lot at the NE corner of Grand and Delmar is just begging for a mixed use reaidential building. I can't help but dream of the North Vandeventer project being replicated here. It would help fill out Grand.
I always like to blame archcity if there is a reasonable opportunity.
chaifetz10 wrote: And the parking lot at the NE corner of Grand and Delmar is just begging for a mixed use residential building. I can't help but dream of the North Vandeventer project being replicated here. It would help fill out Grand.
^ That's Uncle Sam's property just so you know.... I'd really like to see the Palladium get rehabbed, too, but having the VA there seems to have some potential problems for the future of the area.
That's disappointing. The only time it's used is for special events parking. The fence is literally falling apart on the back side too. It's a horrible way to end the Grand Center corridor.
