goat314 wrote:
Good assessment. It's also worth noting that the parking lots have been havens for crime. Like most parking lots in urban cores do. Numerous times there has been reports of people blasting loud music late into the night that eventually leads to fights and gunfire. Same things happen on the lots south of I-64. I've noticed that in more developed urban cores it is harder to have larger crowds congregate in dead zones and to pull drive-bys and get away fast.
urbanitas wrote:
Whatever happened to the $50 million residential development commitment by Pinnacle? Is GLPI paying the annual non-development penalty?
Contributions to National Blues Museum, Arch, a Cass Ave. building (Bissinger's redevelopment?) and parking lot donation.
Thank you. Yeah I'm not sure to what building that paragraph refers:
Pinnacle got a $10 million credit related to renovation of a building on Cass Avenue even though the company’s contribution was only $2.6 million.
It also says, this:
Tropicana Entertainment, the casino operator buying Lumière Place, says it will pay St. Louis the $1 million annual fee included in a redevelopment agreement with the city.
Of course that was Tropicana, and they were acquired. I doubt the new owner is still making any payments.
I would love to see something with a bit of height on one of the Western lots. It doesn't have to be more than 200 feet, but something like that would have a significant impact on the surrounding area.
I was told by someone with knowledge of this that Drury has been in contact with Advantes Development over their 3 projects on the Landing. I was told that Drury is reaching out to determine their uses. They are working on a plan that compliments the other 3 projects by Advantes but also offers something new. The guy didn't say when Drury would have a final decision by but he says that it is the first time in a while that Drury is exploring the idea. The success of Peper Lofts caught them by surprise and an even bigger surprise was when Avantes announced plans for the Greeley and Hoffman buildings. And an interesting new development from the same guy: Drury may build a modern office building in addition to residential because they see the Witte Building going fast once renovations are 100% complete.
I guess Drury didn't want to be first. Advantes was first in bring apartments to the landing and they added office space for Abstrakt.
STLrainbow wrote:
Water is almost to Commercial Street with a few more days til crest yet. Anyone know if it made it to Commercial in '93?
My recollection is that it came within about a foot and a half of overtopping the floodwall. Those portions of commercial behind the floodwall would have been fine, but in the landing itself it was probably about the limit of flooding. I know the garage flooded.
STLrainbow wrote:
Water is almost to Commercial Street with a few more days til crest yet. Anyone know if it made it to Commercial in '93?
I do remember the business owners between Lucas and Morgan had sandbags around their back doors along Commercial, but I don't think it ever made it that far. A day after the crest, the river level had dropped less than a foot and it was only about 2/3 the way up that grassy area north of Morgan Street.
I of course can't find this picture now but I was curious about this same thing a while ago. It showed the water about 2/3 covering commercial street. There were planks laid over the water so people could get into the garage. Lots of sandbags.
GoHarvOrGoHome wrote:
I of course can't find this picture now but I was curious about this same thing a while ago. It showed the water about 2/3 covering commercial street. There were planks laid over the water so people could get into the garage. Lots of sandbags.
I'm thinking that was mostly so sightseers could go up on the top and look at the flood, correct? I seem to recall a fair few photos from that vantage point. I want to say there was no way to really get a vehicle in there safely, as the lower level was underwater. Can't imagine they'd have let you park there under the circumstances. (And lollygaggers watching the water were something of a nuisance in some places, so they were mostly directed downtown.)
framer wrote:
I see that the water is durn near up to the bottom of the railroad trestle right now. Has it ever actually lapped up against it?
I was going to mention that, but I don't know if the sign is still there. The yellow clearance height sign on the west side of the trestle over Washington was half under water in '93 when I was down there. I didn't see any trains go by, but I don't think they even closed the tracks.
Looking at that sign has always amazed me since then whenever I've been down there walking in that area.
^^And for the record, I was down there for several hours and did not gag a single lolly.
^^I suspect there is still a clearance sign. I doubt they would have taken it out over something trivial like tearing out the road. But it wouldn't be the same sign, as they removed and replaced the bridge in the late 90s when they single tracked the high line. The clearance afterwards wouldn't even have been quite the same. (Close, but maybe a few inches higher, since they moved the uphill side of the bridge a few feet closer to the river. Essentially, they centered the single remaining track in the previously two track tunnels. Gives a little less capacity, but greater clearance for everyone. Could well be they simply reused one track's worth of bridge, but they did at least center it.) And I believe you're correct; they left the line open. No reason to close it, particularly given capacity crunches elsewhere in the Midwest because so very many bridges were underwater. There were probably slow orders up one side and down the other, but I'm sure they used the line. Anyway, that's getting alarmingly close to the 93 crest.
I'll have to get down there and see if I can gag a lolly or two myself, if Urbanitas failed to do so. Yowza.
chriss752 wrote:
I was told by someone with knowledge of this that Drury has been in contact with Advantes Development over their 3 projects on the Landing. I was told that Drury is reaching out to determine their uses. They are working on a plan that compliments the other 3 projects by Advantes but also offers something new. The guy didn't say when Drury would have a final decision by but he says that it is the first time in a while that Drury is exploring the idea. The success of Peper Lofts caught them by surprise and an even bigger surprise was when Avantes announced plans for the Greeley and Hoffman buildings. And an interesting new development from the same guy: Drury may build a modern office building in addition to residential because they see the Witte Building going fast once renovations are 100% complete.
I guess Drury didn't want to be first. Advantes was first in bring apartments to the landing and they added office space for Abstrakt.
chriss752 wrote:
I was told by someone with knowledge of this that Drury has been in contact with Advantes Development over their 3 projects on the Landing. I was told that Drury is reaching out to determine their uses. They are working on a plan that compliments the other 3 projects by Advantes but also offers something new. The guy didn't say when Drury would have a final decision by but he says that it is the first time in a while that Drury is exploring the idea. The success of Peper Lofts caught them by surprise and an even bigger surprise was when Avantes announced plans for the Greeley and Hoffman buildings. And an interesting new development from the same guy: Drury may build a modern office building in addition to residential because they see the Witte Building going fast once renovations are 100% complete.
I guess Drury didn't want to be first. Advantes was first in bring apartments to the landing and they added office space for Abstrakt.
A unique riverfront neighborhood with views of the Arch can't lose. I don't know how we have gone so long without it, especially the Landing. You got views of downtown, river and arch, easy access to Metrolink, historic architecture, and nightlife right there.
Does anyone know what's up with that Katherine Ward Burg garden by GRG? The site is still desolate and is now approaching a year behind schedule. I hope GRG realized that a park on that site, which I think was occupied by the Switzer Building, isn't needed due to the Arch grounds literally on the other side of the Eads Bridge. I looked back through UrbanSTL the other night and remembered reading that a redevelopment plan for Switzer once included a new 12-story building. While Switzer is long gone, I wonder if a new building could rise there and GRG is realizing that having a developer build something new there is better than some garden. I don't know for sure but I would hate to see lots like that be converted to something other than infill. Flood waters touch Commercial Street so I don't think Switzer's site is in a threat zone.
How was GRG going to acquire the land to begin with? It looks like the site was last sold in 2005 per a really rough STL property search, and GRG are the owners. That was before Switzer even went down, yeah?
I've sent long winded messages to them regarding the site, all of which came back unanswered. Seems like such a horrible use of land. But seems like they just want to blow money for green space because "Why not?" Seems very short sighted. Work on the greenway and sell this plot of land.
chriss752 wrote:
Some photos from today. When the river crests this Tuesday, it will be over Commercial Street. Today, it was getting there but wasn’t there yet.
Thanks Chris! Compared to another one hosted by the RFT from 1993:
Eric Reed @EricReedPM18
@jcoatar Jack, as a Landing resident, I wanted to explore a proposal to have the cobblestone paved over in the area. With more investment, we need more efficient transportation in the area. Who can I speak with to discuss?
@jcoatar
This is in the works. East/west streets are supposed to be replaced with concrete. Working through the details with Laclede’s landing association.
Jack Coatar added,
I will not be missing the cobblestones too much, driving up hill in the Landing makes me feel like I need a Jeep or Hummer
Eric Reed @EricReedPM18
@jcoatar Jack, as a Landing resident, I wanted to explore a proposal to have the cobblestone paved over in the area. With more investment, we need more efficient transportation in the area. Who can I speak with to discuss?
@jcoatar
This is in the works. East/west streets are supposed to be replaced with concrete. Working through the details with Laclede’s landing association.
Jack Coatar added,
I will not be missing the cobblestones too much, driving up hill in the Landing makes me feel like I need a Jeep or Hummer
Maybe the new streets can be stamped concrete like the cross walks on Grand by SLU. They’ll look like brick and retain some character but will easier to walk, bike and drive on.
No! Please no. What, and then add speed bumps to slow travel back to current speeds? Are we too busy to drive slowly over one or two blocks? This is one of the primary things that makes the Landing unique. Keep the cobblestone streets. I can scarcely believe anyone would suggest otherwise. Buy an SUV. As everyone else already has anyway.
