urbanSTL

I know there is a thread regarding the grain silos on URBANSTL Now that IKEA will be in the shadows of the silo's maybe it will time to consider what to do with them.

moorlander wrote:This silo is still in use, ya know?

What makes you think that?

Wabash, a few pages back on this thread I believe the name of the grain that owns and operates the silos is posted. As a couple posters note, rail obviously not active but believe trucks still run in an out on occasions.

wabash wrote:

moorlander wrote:This silo is still in use, ya know?

What makes you think that?

While passing on Metrolink, I've seen trucks pulling in and out from underneath the shed thingy attached to the silos.

Interesting. I had no idea. That sounds woefully inefficient to have a grain silo without train or barge access (and located in the heart of a city). Although, it's good to know someone is keeping the lights on and keeping it to a certain standard of maintenance.

I am guessing that Ikea is locked into this design - meets their parking demands, loading and pick-up etc... The inclusion of perimeter buildings would probably be beyond the scope of "doable" by now - That being said, it would be nice to see that surface parking done in such a way to minimize the impact - pavers over asphalt - more trees - pedestrian and bike connections that are more than painted asphalt, appropriate lighting etc... Would be nice to carve out say 2,000 SF for a tiny Starbucks on the corner (the smallest realistic retailer I could think of) but that ship has probably sailed

STLEnginerd wrote:^I don't think its surprising or unreasonable for people to be morally consistent. I just wonder how many of them supported ikea idea in the first place...

Sorry, I've been out of pocket for a few days so excuse me for just answering this.

I agree. I still think, however, sometimes there's room for flexibility when it comes to very hard decisions. Sometimes you can shoot yourself in the foot by being too rigid and "moral".

If Pace moves forward with its suburban box, I'd just look at it as a missed opportunity on their part. In regards to IKEA on FoPo Avenue, although I would have liked a more urban design, St. Louis City and CORTEX didn't miss a major opportunity by being inflexible.

dweebe wrote:

beer city wrote:I am guessing that Ikea is locked into this design - meets their parking demands, loading and pick-up etc... The inclusion of perimeter buildings would probably be beyond the scope of "doable" by now - That being said, it would be nice to see that surface parking done in such a way to minimize the impact - pavers over asphalt - more trees - pedestrian and bike connections that are more than painted asphalt, appropriate lighting etc... Would be nice to carve out say 2,000 SF for a tiny Starbucks on the corner (the smallest realistic retailer I could think of) but that ship has probably sailed

The flying saucer Starbucks a 1/2 mile away probably wouldn't like that.

I have seen them real close, like a couple hundred feet in NY and Chicago - but really i was just trying to come up with a tiny stand alone that could hold down or define the corner w/o upsetting Ikea's apple cart that does not require much into way of parking

dweebe wrote:

Presbyterian wrote:Elevator is owned by Ray-Carroll as the St. Louis terminal for growers in west central Missouri. Open weekdays 6:30 - 3:00.

http://www.ray-carroll.com/PortalBuilde ... &PageID=87

Supposedly does have active rail service:
http://www.bnsf.com/customers/grain-fac ... e2333.html

I thought they did some upgrades in the last few years with new pipes and other metalwork on the exterior.

They almost have to have rail service. These grain elevators normally serve as buffering storage between trucks and rail. Or at least they did back when I worked in one during wheat harvest in Oklahoma for two week right after graduating from high school.

I could be wrong, but I have lived a couple blocks away for about 4.5 years and have yet to see any rail come near there. I think most tracks besides the metro in that spot are unused or abandoned.

I think the tracks coming from that grain thing are the same tracks on the Midtown trestle they want to turn into a park. The one that drops off at the future Midtown Station site.

inTheGrove wrote:I could be wrong, but I have lived a couple blocks away for about 4.5 years and have yet to see any rail come near there. I think most tracks besides the metro in that spot are unused or abandoned.

Someone along there must care because why did they bother to have the third track when they replaced the bridge over Vandeventer?

I'm all for pushing for good urban design and not falling into the "something is better than nothing" trap, but this design is fine. It has a huge amount of parking under the building. So, I do think it's somewhat urban. Maybe down the road, the surface lot along FPPY could be redeveloped with apartments, but come on, they almost didn't even open in the city at all. This can spur more urban development elsewhere nearby. Pace's development should certainly be held to a higher standard. IKEA is a game changer for the city. Having St. Louis marketplace part II with target and or trader joes nearby is not. People should be doing backflips about this ikea. Who cares if the building doesn't back up to FPPY. I'd argue that would make the area WORSE, and far less attractive. Think metros bus garage on Delmar and triple the height. Also, there are hundreds of new apartment units coming to the central corridor. Let's fill up those areas first, then once we run out of room, we can put infill in above the lot.

Will be excited to see what they have for Sarah and FPA and north of FPA.

StlToday.com - Ikea incentives set for hearing in February

One new subdistrict — covering 41 acres — will hold the Ikea store and a planned residential building next door on the corner of Forest Park and Sarah. It also includes an empty lot on the north side of Forest Park that Cortex plans to develop but hasn't yet decided how, Lower said. It would be authorized to receive $37.1 million, mostly to reimburse the cost of buying land.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 8d862.html

^ Thanks for that link....super excited as well. Glad my area is getting a big change coming, more than existing changes that is.

Didn't want to start a new thread and I couldn't find anything in others but since it's related to this area. The near by Commerce Bank is being rebuilt? and
new QuikTrip gas station at Papin and vandeventer will realign or straight out Papin street. Pending funding from ew gateway

courtesy of Pasa47's Flickr

Thanks, I had to re word my last part. Is there any work being done on Papin? (Road itself)

goat314 wrote:


courtesy of Pasa47's Flickr