Modern infill on The Hill

framer · PostMar 22, 2009#12009-03-22T03:48+00:00

Well, maybe not technically The Hill, but a new attached townhouse project is nearing completion on Macklind, just south of Hanneke Hardware. Looks like 3 or 4 units.

They've got a very contemporary facade; certainly the most modern-looking thing built in that area for quite some time. Yes, they have vinyl on the sides, but it's brick-colored, so it doesn't jump out at you.

Nice to see some modern design mixed into the neighborhood.

matt drops the h · PostMar 22, 2009#22009-03-22T08:05+00:00

Do they look anything like this rendering, or do I have the wrong area?

(That shot is from the 2700 block of Macklind, just south of Magnolia).

MattnSTL · PostMar 22, 2009#32009-03-22T12:38+00:00

No, they are of a contemporary design. I'll grab a few pics in the next couple days. I drive by it all the time, but I have yet to take any pics. I think that sign was from the same project.

matt drops the h · PostMar 23, 2009#42009-03-23T15:24+00:00

I look forward to it.

I am begging for St. Louis to catch onto smart, contemporary infill.

Kind of like the Kingshighway Hills example on Miami, though I think even that one could have made some sort of reference to its Tudor surroundings--even if it was just a sweeping gable roof.

Mark Groth · PostMar 24, 2009#52009-03-24T01:37+00:00

I think these look really sharp and fit in well with the adjacent buildings.

Some photos here: http://stlcitytalk.blogspot.com/

Alex Ihnen · PostMar 24, 2009#62009-03-24T01:46+00:00

Anyone see a real estate listing for these anywhere? (they should use hardi-board or similar material on the side and not vinyl siding)

urbanpioneer · PostMar 24, 2009#72009-03-24T14:10+00:00

Grover wrote:Anyone see a real estate listing for these anywhere? (they should use hardi-board or similar material on the side and not vinyl siding)

At least vinyl is already plentiful throughout the neighborhood. Not saying I'm glad they used it but at least it is contextual.

Pretty nice project in general. Wish we could have more like-minded projects around the city.

debaliviere · PostMar 24, 2009#82009-03-24T14:15+00:00

These look great!

bikinʹ_man · PostMar 24, 2009#92009-03-24T14:35+00:00

next door to the original tin ceiling. in high school i was part of the 'house band' that played there every month. had lots of good times. i was glad they moved because i always thought that area was never going anywhere. but these are nice, and what an urban building should be. it get's a thumbs up from me.

Alex Ihnen · PostMar 24, 2009#102009-03-24T14:35+00:00

No one has a listing price? Name of builder/developer?

framer · PostMar 25, 2009#112009-03-25T03:17+00:00

Here's the info on Killeen Studio's website (Developer is Pagano Development):

http://www.killeenstudio.com/Pagano.php

BTW, I swear the siding looked much darker in real life.

threeonefour · PostMar 25, 2009#122009-03-25T03:35+00:00

These look great!

Hopefully we'll see more contemporary designs like this since the retro look has been played out and, in most cases, poorly executed.

debaliviere · PostMar 25, 2009#132009-03-25T18:19+00:00

I have to say, I like the way this development interacts with the commercial building on the corner.

I have become a huge Killeen Studio fan.

Mark Groth · PostMar 25, 2009#142009-03-25T19:28+00:00

Framer wrote:
BTW, I swear the siding looked much darker in real life.

I believe the north wall on the condo nearest the cool brick building is maroon vinyl.

I'll try to get a pic of that side.

gelatinousendive · PostMar 25, 2009#152009-03-25T20:52+00:00

The contemporary houses, two of them, on Lafayette just west of Barr Library, seem to be going no where. They' been completed for a while, maybe close to a year.

They have not sold. Perhaps the St. Louis buyers don' like contemporary.

I personally like these--they are simple and the proportions are more or less right to fit into city scale.

Alex Ihnen · PostMar 25, 2009#162009-03-25T21:00+00:00

^ That's the Vivian right? http://www.vivonlafayette.com/

I love these places and would buy in a second if they were nearer where we wanted to live. Similarly, I really like the EcoUrban homes, but they can't seem to get into Dogtown, Shaw, FPSE . . . . Put one of these on Gibson Avenue or Chouteau for $240K? Sweet.

http://www.cbgundaker.com/search/advanc ... m=90014079

http://www.cbgundaker.com/search/advanc ... m=90014075

matt drops the h · PostMar 26, 2009#172009-03-26T01:01+00:00

Grover wrote:^ That's the Vivian right? http://www.vivonlafayette.com/

I love these places and would buy in a second if they were nearer where we wanted to live. Similarly, I really like the EcoUrban homes, but they can't seem to get into Dogtown, Shaw, FPSE . . . . Put one of these on Gibson Avenue or Chouteau for $240K? Sweet.

http://www.cbgundaker.com/search/advanc ... m=90014079

http://www.cbgundaker.com/search/advanc ... m=90014075

I personally find Benton Park West and Tower Grove East awesome urban neighborhoods. Why wouldn't you want to live there? (This is an honest question, not accusatory).

Chouteau, I agree, requires infill and lots of it.

Alex Ihnen · PostMar 26, 2009#182009-03-26T01:20+00:00

^ Yes, those neighborhoods are fantastic. The problem for my family is that we're currently within 5 blocks of one place of work and 6 blocks from the CWE Metrolink station - I take Metrolink to work every day. We still have two cars but are likely going to sell one (2001 Honda Civic EX Coupe w/75K miles - if anyone's looking

) because we put a combined 8K miles on our cars last year (including a few trips to Cincinnati and Northern Indiana). We typically drive 10 miles a week and are unwilling to give that up.

matt drops the h · PostMar 26, 2009#192009-03-26T01:51+00:00

Grover wrote:^ Yes, those neighborhoods are fantastic. The problem for my family is that we're currently within 5 blocks of one place of work and 6 blocks from the CWE Metrolink station - I take Metrolink to work every day. We still have two cars but are likely going to sell one (2001 Honda Civic EX Coupe w/75K miles - if anyone's looking ) because we put a combined 8K miles on our cars last year (including a few trips to Cincinnati and Northern Indiana). We typically drive 10 miles a week and are unwilling to give that up.

That arrangement sounds like a winner.

South of Manchester in Forest Park SE is so untapped. There are tons of vacant lots west of Newstead, especially. There could be a lot of infill experimentation here if there were the demand.

gelatinousendive · PostMar 26, 2009#202009-03-26T05:38+00:00

Grover wrote:^ That's the Vivian right? http://www.vivonlafayette.com/

yep, I like those.

innov8ion · PostMar 26, 2009#212009-03-26T14:21+00:00

Vivienne

moorlander · PostMar 26, 2009#222009-03-26T14:49+00:00

I'm not a fan of laminate countertops, or laminate anything for that matter. Everything else looks very nice.

Alex Ihnen · PostMar 26, 2009#232009-03-26T14:54+00:00

^ Funny you mention it - if/when we build a new home I was just telling the wife that we should go with laminate countertops (IKEA baths/etc.). I know they're out of favor, but I've seen a lot of laminate countertops still looking pretty good after 20 years. Not to mention they're cheap! Don't like the color after 5 years - 10 years, for $500 you can change them out. Try that with granite. And don't try to claim that black granite will still be in fashion in 10 years.

Mark Groth · PostMar 26, 2009#242009-03-26T17:02+00:00

GelatinousEndive wrote:The contemporary houses, two of them, on Lafayette just west of Barr Library, seem to be going no where. They' been completed for a while, maybe close to a year.

They have not sold. Perhaps the St. Louis buyers don' like contemporary.

I personally like these--they are simple and the proportions are more or less right to fit into city scale.

These places are cool. For me, the fact that these haven't sold is not about the contemporary design or the new construction materials or the price, it's the locations. There are vacant lots on each side of these and nothing across the street. That keeps me from looking furhter.

gelatinousendive · PostMar 29, 2009#252009-03-29T17:42+00:00

Grover wrote:^ Funny you mention it - if/when we build a new home I was just telling the wife that we should go with laminate countertops (IKEA baths/etc.). I know they're out of favor, but I've seen a lot of laminate countertops still looking pretty good after 20 years. Not to mention they're cheap! Don't like the color after 5 years - 10 years, for $500 you can change them out. Try that with granite. And don't try to claim that black granite will still be in fashion in 10 years.

I'm with you on this. While I could easily afford granite, I'm just not gonna. Unobtrusive laminate for me. Unfortunatley my ktichen has a LOT of coutertop space so it's a big surface, and noticeable. We are the ones living here now and if I replace countertop it will be with laminate again.

Let the Jones who buy it after us put in the countertop du jour.