urbanSTL

I went to the open house today. It was really nice. I don't know who renovated the Cutlery Building (612 N. Second) but it was done extremely well. The fifth floor venue space offered great views of Downtown, the Arch, the Landing and the River. It mazes me that no residential building was on the landing till this summer. I talked tot he man at the Greenway table about the new pocket park and he says, "It will be a great investment into the Landing. It will be a new meeting place to start an adventure and with nearby attractions and transit, it makes it even better". He then went on to say, "People can relax and enjoy the scenery or listen to small concerts that we hope to host after the Katherine Burg Garden opens in the Fall of 2019". I kept a smart ass comment to myself about the park. I was going to say it was redundant to have so close to the Arch and that this small half acre park won't even be connected to the grand Riverfront plan they have for years. As STLEnginerd put above, the site of the park would be better off being a mixed use building. Wasn't this where the Switzer building sued to be?

In other words, the owner of the Lumberjack axe throwing bar said that funding is in place to connect Lucas to Downtown and to the Landing, so we should be hearing more on that soon. It is also great to see businesses moving back into the Landing, two are being worked on and one recently opened. I still see Laclede's Landing getting really dense in a couple years especially if 618 and 700 North 2nd are converted into Lofts. Demand for new buildings is there but existing structures must be dealt with first, and that's what's happening.

My blog post on my website include photos and views from tonight's Open House. Each one has a caption so you kow what you are looking at.

https://www.buildingstlnews.com/the-blo ... -boom-mode

I had planned on going and at least asking why they couldn't trouble themselves to respond to my email, or ask why the park couldn't be moved to the lot immediately east. Unfortunately, work got in the way. I'll probably send them another e-mail next week; it's just frustrating. They could at least design it so it extends all the way to LKS instead of just having a dead patch of grass. It might be better if they can get someone to take the cast iron storefront remnants from that next lot. Maybe City Museum would want them.

One lady who tends to the feral cats on this lot says a lot of people have tried to steal them before, but, shockingly, they're too damn heavy. Also, maybe this park is an answer to the feral cat park currently there lol. I can't believe the property owner has put up with that for so long.

bwcrow1s wrote: ↑

Jun 14, 2018

Also, maybe this park is an answer to the feral cat park currently there lol. I can't believe the property owner has put up with that for so long.

Supposedly they're being trapped and relocated. I know I've seen fewer of them the last couple times (one or zero), but I guess they could just be all chilling under the ironworks and such.

The landing badly needs some sidewalk improvements. In addition to the failing brickwork, at some point a bunch of street trees were put in so that they occupy the entire width. It's like the sidewalk furniture zone, with no walking zone.

Hard Rock Cafe will no longer be at the Union Station anymore & apparently they are going to look at other locations which i think Hard Rock Cafe would fit perfectly in the Landing or Jeff Arms Wash Ave and or possibly Railway Exchange but i think the Landing would be perfect close to the Arch Casino & river..

That could be a good fit. Is the Planet Hollywood gone? Alternately something on Washington to put them near the Blues museum. Add some crossover.

Landing roundup from STL Construction News & Review:

http://stlouiscnr.com/departments/assoc ... dium=email

pattimagee wrote: ↑

Aug 28, 2018

I can't read all of this, but gist seems to be good for the Landing.

https://t.co/batVrRvcoQ

Philadelphia-based Red Rocks Group drops plans to redevelop Greeley, Hoffman Bros. Produce buildings into apartments at Laclede's Landing - St. Louis Business Journal
The project was to be The Landing's second residential development to date.

"the firm walked away from the deal after the project was appraised for 30 percent less than what it needed to make the multifamily project financially feasible"

^ doesn't sound good to me.

Advantes is taking over the Greeley and Hoffman buildings apartment project:

https://www.constructforstl.org/st-loui ... s-landing/

Apparently the Lucas Avenue extension project will be done by Memorial Day.  Anyone been down there lately to get pictures?

https://www.ibjonline.com/local-busines ... -s-landing

Not sure where to put this question, so I'm going to put it here.

There is a large building on the north St. Louis riverfront, on Leonard K Sullivan Blvd at Biddle Street. It is north of the landing and casino.  

What is that building? What is its purpose? I can't see that is it anything on Google Maps, and it has looked vacant in the past. 

The building is creepy, but intriguing, and I love it. 

KansasCitian wrote:Not sure where to put this question, so I'm going to put it here.

There is a large building on the north St. Louis riverfront, on Leonard K Sullivan Blvd at Biddle Street. It is north of the landing and casino.  

What is that building? What is its purpose? I can't see that is it anything on Google Maps, and it has looked vacant in the past. 

The building is creepy, but intriguing, and I love it. 

It’s the Union Light and Power Plant. A beautiful building that shows how much pride we took in the built environment at the time, even for utility housing.


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Is the building still in operation? 

I ask because that entire area reminds me a lot of Kansas City's West Bottoms. 

Broadway Street on the north riverfront, south of Montgomery Street, has the potential to be one of the coolest corridors in the entire city. 

In a truly revitalized downtown and inner core, the drive on Broadway from Soulard to the North Riverfront would perhaps be the most impressive in the entire city. 

I really hope that St. Louis' momentum, as well as NGA, can help spur a complete change of St. Louis' riverfront. 

KansasCitian wrote:Is the building still in operation? 

I ask because that entire area reminds me a lot of Kansas City's West Bottoms. 

Broadway Street on the north riverfront, south of Montgomery Street, has the potential to be one of the coolest corridors in the entire city. 

In a truly revitalized downtown and inner core, the drive on Broadway from Soulard to the North Riverfront would perhaps be the most impressive in the entire city. 

I really hope that St. Louis' momentum, as well as NGA, can help spur a complete change of St. Louis' riverfront. 

I believe it is closed. I feel the same way about north broadway. Feels like that could be a very unique and special loft district, but I-70 present a considerable problem, in my opinion.


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I think the highway is definitely a problem. But I think it can be managed. 

I'm not sure who thought it would be a great idea to have the highway run right along the riverfront. 

SeattleNative wrote:

KansasCitian wrote:Is the building still in operation? 

I believe it is closed. I feel the same way about north broadway. Feels like that could be a very unique and special loft district, but I-70 present a considerable problem, in my opinion.

Someone else can confirm but I'm pretty sure it's the steam plant for downtown. 

Are you talking about the Ashley Power Plant?

https://ashleyenergy.com

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 06870.html

moorlander wrote:Are you talking about the Ashley Power Plant?

https://ashleyenergy.com

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 06870.html

Yes, I believe they are the same. At 1200 Lewis St


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Yes, I was talking about the Ashley Power Plant. 

You should have seen the area before the old candy factory/cold storage complex burned down in the late 90s or early 2000s. Yes, the Broadway corridor north of that is magnificent. There are some fantastic old structures around there.

"St. Louis-based Stika Brothers Concrete Contracting, Inc. is the lead contractor for the  Lucas Avenue Project in Laclede’s Landing, a high-impact effort wrapping up this weekend that creates vehicular access to the Landing’s south end and features pedestrian-friendly sidewalks with trees and lighting."

https://stlouiscnr.com/lacledes-landing ... e-project/

Love this twit(ter) comment:

"Will this put a hinder on parking with the lot that was originally in that space"

Originally!