urbanSTL

I agree the Tampa location is not even close to comparison with Saint Louis, not to mention it is separated from the University of Tampa by a river. Where the Saint Louis IKEA would essentially be in Saint Louis University's backyard, near mass transit. I think the only thing that the Tampa store has is its visibility from the highway, yes its technically near the Ybor trolley, but thats still a hike.

This will bring a number or visitors to the city, and I cant help but think that all the surrounding places will stand to benefit. Hopefully people can resist the temptation of cheap IKEA food and venture out into the dangerous city that surrounds IKEA</sarcasm>

dweebe wrote:

hebeter wrote:I would say that when the IKEA came to Tampa in the Channel Side/Ybor area it did NOT bring forth an especially large growth of new businesses to the area

Fair point. My only counterpoints:
-that store is in a horrible location
-Ybor City has it's own issues
-the Tampa/St. Pete area doesn't strike me as an IKEA market and very different than St. Louis

I agree I'm very familiar with that IKEA on Adamo near the Ybor district. It's in a horrible, semi-industrial, auto-centric area that has been recently bisected by a spaghetti junction that favors the Poplar bridge interchange. Only quality I see in that place is the great view of downtown Tampa from the second floor cafe. It's also packed on the weekends.

St. Louis needs more retail, but I think a lot of the retail in the city is done wrong. For one we lack a lot of everyday retail, which is why I see this proposal in a good light, and for two we try to hard to emulate the suburban style development and fail to embrace urban design. I actually like this proposal because it is street facing with parking in the back.

St. Louis could also capitalize more off of building a true sense of place and tourism. I think our tourism industry currently sucks. There are a slew of smaller cities that make way more money off of tourism that brings millions into the city and development opportunities. I think the city is kind of getting it with redeveloping the arch grounds, but simple things like better streetscapes, marketing, programming and zoning can go a long way.

The Target at Hampton and Chippewa does very well, but that's just one mid-sized store, and it's pretty suburban in it's set up.

Basically all of the above points are true, just thought I'd mention it.

goat314 wrote:St. Louis needs more retail, but I think a lot of the retail in the city is done wrong. For one we lack a lot of everyday retail, which is why I see this proposal in a good light, and for two we try to hard to emulate the suburban style development and fail to embrace urban design. I actually like this proposal because it is street facing with parking in the back.

St. Louis could also capitalize more off of building a true sense of place and tourism. I think our tourism industry currently sucks. There are a slew of smaller cities that make way more money off of tourism that brings millions into the city and development opportunities. I think the city is kind of getting it with redeveloping the arch grounds, but simple things like better streetscapes, marketing, programming and zoning can go a long way.

But we made a great investment in all that cool directional signage, like the ones that direct people to the Loop in either direction off of 64 via Kingshighway!

It appears that Ikea stores have an average size of about 300,000 square feet.. Their smaller stores appear to be located in areas where real estate is really expensive like Hong Kong. Full size Targets run 140,000 to over 200,000 square feet. Locating these retailers plus more on this site does not seem to compute. What am I missing?

dweebe wrote:

jstriebel wrote:The Target at Hampton and Chippewa does very well, but that's just one mid-sized store, and it's pretty suburban in it's set up.

Basically all of the above points are true, just thought I'd mention it.

Besides the
-Best Buy/Sports Authority in Brentwood
-Dierbergs in Des Peres
I can't think of another big-box suburban store with underground parking.

I almost mentioned the parking. You're right about that part.

However, even with the underground garage, the store is still a single story, built with fairly standard big architecture, and the front entrance is significantly offset from the street in favor of a parking lot (even if it's a small lot).

It's not out of place as St. Louis Hills and that area feels significantly less urban than much of the city, and that intersection in particular doesn't feel urban at all.

The Schnucks complex always bothers me, because they did a really nice job making sure the side and backs of the buildings match the neighborhood architecture, but then it's offset form the two major roads with a giant parking lot. Every time I see it, I wish they'd inverted the L shape so that the buildings run along Chippewa & Hampton with the parking lot in the back.

I suspect a lot of the residents around here aren't terribly concerned with it, and I don't mean to judge or to paint with a broad brush. But I don't think a super urban environment is a priority in this neighborhood.

But I digress.

I know this question has likely been answered, but I think I've managed to confuse myself.
Can somebody explain to me, if there is a difference between the 'Pace Lifestyle Center' (anchored by an 80K sq. foot big box) and the site IKEA is rumored to be interested. If I'm not mistaken, the original rendering had IKEA covering most of the site, with a 300K sq. foot building. If an seveal big box stores are going in on those parcels and the property is being broken up between retailers, where does IKEA fit into this equation? Would IKEA but up to the grain silos, across Vandeventer? Is this parcel actually part of "Midtown Station"? It is not included in the map released by pace. Does anyone have a full map of Midtown Station and the site where IKEA is looking at? Again, I've managed to confuse myself. Thanks in advance!

^Thanks Alex!

I've never been to that IKEA, when it wasn't a madhouse. It is very convenient for STL'ers going home on 55 south. I try to hit it on the way home, usually on Sunday afternoon. It is always packed. I hate the toll too! More annoying than anything.