urbanSTL

dredger wrote: The one question is that I'm not clear on. Was Geoff @ Nextstl intending to post on Montgomery's tower and simply got beat on the scoop or is this a new, legitimate proposal? Geoff has gone silent and everybody is splitting hairs on words from a one paragraph reply that talked about three different things if not mistaken.

Nextstl said it was not the Montgomery... I think it was Alex that tweeted that.

^ I wouldn't be surprised by a Midtown Station announcement around the time IKEA breaks ground. It will be very interesting to see how that develops.... hopefully it has some urban design to it that would be at least more resembling the Richmond Heights development across from the Galleria that I can't remember the name of than a traditional strip retail zone.

yummy. When was that proposed? I'd like a rendering with people in the JA windows, too!

^I don't know that is such a prime intersection I would think any building there should be at leat 15 stories. Obviously its an improvement over the surface lot but gd this Nadira Place could be built any number of places. Ideal locations for signature buildings don't.

urban_dilettante wrote:somebody somewhere said that Kindred has a contract on the lot at Lindell and Euclid for a number of years yet. (i know that's a lot uncertainty so if anybody can clarify please do.) i presume the contract can be nullified if enough money is thrown at them.

Yes. It's a ten-year contract. The contract is online if you google the address. I think it would take a very large check for them to give up that lot.

I always liked the Nadira Place project. Agree it could go just about anywhere downtown, but there's something cool about smaller modern infill nicely tucked between older architecture. A smaller project may be more stable in the long run, also. To really go off topic, I'd love to see more modern townhomes with that look fill in lots in places like Soulard, Benton Park, Laf Square. Kind of like Art House, I suppose, only in a more classically residential part of town.

^ how bout for the old Praxair site? That spot should be primed for residential development, and modern architecture could make for a nice transition to the old neighborhood.

Presbyterian wrote:

urban_dilettante wrote:somebody somewhere said that Kindred has a contract on the lot at Lindell and Euclid for a number of years yet. (i know that's a lot uncertainty so if anybody can clarify please do.) i presume the contract can be nullified if enough money is thrown at them.

Yes. It's a ten-year contract. The contract is online if you google the address. I think it would take a very large check for them to give up that lot.

Then someone is way overpaying to under utilize that lot just for parking. I've never seen that lot more than half full.

roger wyoming II wrote:^ how bout for the old Praxair site? That spot should be primed for residential development, and modern architecture could make for a nice transition to the old neighborhood.

Praxair is in play, but I don't know the plans. Owners of Moulin/Vin de Set/etc are buying everything east of the trucking company to the gas station. Legislation is moving through the Board of Alderman making the area eligible for tax benefits. Their presentation at the Planning Commission included no specifics. That probably means it's early in the planning stage.

Are those the same owners of PW Pizza/21st amendment? At first blush, I'd like to see what they could do with more land and opportunities.

^ yes. Its good to hear they are on the prowl; I can't wait to hear more details on what they have in mind.

Koplar Hires Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) to Design CWE Landmark Project
http://nextstl.com/2014/06/koplar-hires-kpf/

We'll see...

^ if this was the big announcement from Geoff, its kind of a letdown. Hopefully something great will come of it, but I was hoping for concrete plans.

This will be a sizable project.

I'm assuming a shared parking arrangement could be reached with the two neighboring towers opening up the lots fronting Pine for development.

So IMHO this thing should be taller than the Chase. I am not a huge booster of tall for the sake of being tall but in this case I want to see a tower tall enough for a tourist viewing deck/bar/restaurant at the top. I believe this is one place where you could look east to downtown, Arch, Grand Center, Cathedral Basilica, South to the Botanical gardens, West over Forest Park to Clayton. A tourist here could see a smorgasbord of options to entertain their visit to St. Louis. I'm not sure how tall it needs to be to do that but IMHO it needs to be at least that tall and include some way of calling attention to what St. Louis has to offer for tourists.

Secondly I know the hotel market is pretty Saturated in St. Louis, but I think in the Central West End there is a lot less capacity. I'd like to see a upscale but not top of market branded hotel such as a Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Embassy Suites, or Marriott, as a component of this project. Basically I want to see tourism as a major component of any project here. Main entrance and Valet should be on Kingshighway. Something more like Union Station's Valet IMHO would be better than a circle drive type valet you see at hotels like the Ballpark Hilton.

Also I realize the condo market is a little soft compared to apartments but a large component of this project should be condominiums. This would be and should be a premiere address in the city and is probably the only place i can imagine luxury condos with sticker prices closer to 400K-500K could work, outside of possibly Clayton (sorry but i don't think downtown is there yet).

Next I am sure there will have to be a parking component to this project. The streetcar may be coming, or it may not, but no matter what there will be parking. That said It should be COMPLETELY hidden from view from Pine, Kingshighway, or Lindell. Preferably underground. The on exception is it might make sense for the parking to have an access drive off of Pine. That way the alley access could be restricted for uses such as, loading docks, and garbage pickup.

Lindell should have street level retail. A Cullinaria or City Target would be great but I'm not ready to hold my breath on that one. I just don't think they will be able to commit with the given restrictions on space and parking. Also I think Lindell and Euclid South West corner is a better location for either. If they didn't have retail on Kingshighway, or Pine I would be OK with that. I think that's a realistic expectation of the sites retail potential as it relates to its ability to drive foot traffic and its accessibility by car.

As far as styling I know a lot of people think it should be a gleaming glass tower. I personally would prefer to something with a little more industrial look, with alot of exposed structural members. The Aqua, in Chicago, has been copied several time already, but something like that with maybe a little different twist might also be a possibility.

Something unique on the roof would be cool too. Thoughts include; a roof top forest, green energy features like solar cells or wind turbines, light beams, a torch. Something that really sets this place apart.

^ I think that's a pretty good vision.... just a couple thoughts:

- the hotel market is doing better and that's why we're seeing more action on that front. I could see a hotel component for this.
- I'm not sure about an additional grocer in the neighborhood but perhaps a relocated and expanded Straub's would be a good fit and make it more competitive with WF's. Trader Joe's also likes to follow WF into new markets, but I'd prefer Midtown Station for a TJ's.
- I think there also could be an office component here.... I wouldn't build anything spec, but I wouldn't doubt that a company may express interest in having a marquee location.
- For height, I'd like to see at least as high as the Chase for at least the building that would anchor the Lindell corner.
- I'd like to see at least 500 residential units (assuming it incorporates the south lot fronting Pine)