urbanSTL

^ I don't think that's a fair assessment at all. First, there are two recent buildings in the Loop that are larger - and not as nice IMO. For as cool as the Loop is it's not Michigan Avenue - a masterpiece was not forthcoming. And at the street level I think it's very cool that the old funeral home was left in place (OK, torn down and rebuilt). That's sweet and gives the street some character and life. For all the "we should demand better" comments, I say, we should demand buildings - fill the vacant lots and places like Church's Chicken and then "better" architecture will follow.

Framer wrote:I'm tired of seeing St. Louis settle for "good enough". Can't somebody around here step up to the plate and reach for the fences?

Considering that there's still strong-arm and armed robberies just blocks north of Delmar right now, having a multimillion dollar boutique hotel come in is a very good shot over the fences and deep in the bleachers. For what this will spur in economic development and regional socioeconomic transition, it's pretty damn good.



It's akin to dating a beautiful woman, but your friend criticizes you because he'd prefer if she was blonde. Ease up.



Focus: This will now connect the Pageant to the Pin Up Bowl for all the acts putting shows on in StL. Add the boutique hotel with rooftop martini bar, and we have what may become the best venue draw for performing acts in the Midwest. Already lots of touring bands bowl next door after putting on their sets (not just Nelly bowling a 233); when this is complete, the East Loop will house such a combined site that bands will seek out playing in StL.



What does the Moonrise really bring?

More quality national acts wanting to hold concerts in Saint Louis for how cool it all is.



That's a long ball out of the park.

Framer wrote:We're so eager to get anything built that we'll accept anything. I just wish St. Louisans would start demanding (and expecting) better architectural design.

People keep saying this, but it's just not true. What are the most recent significant projects that have been built? 4545 Lindell. Roberts Tower. Lumiere Place. Park East Tower. BioMed21. Busch III. I'm not saying that all of these should win awards, but they're not crap either. And you may not like the design, but significant effort went into "saving" the historic street facade of the funeral home for the Moonrise. The facade goes a long ways towards keeping the east loop looking homogeneous and bland. Again, it may not be fantastic, but none of these projects were simply "accepted" because we're eager to get "anything."

Wabash wrote:I am somewhat concerned about the disneyification of the Loop. I applaud and am grateful to Joe Edwards for his investments and enthusiasm, but I do find his aesthetic a bit gaudy. It's certainly not a design I would have chosen, but it's not my hotel. This is nothing but good for St. Louis.

Well said. Couldn't agree more with those points. The hotel is great for the neighborhood and consequently the city, but the design is mediocre at best. Previous posts have made the valid point that it's unrealistic for an extremely high quality design to be in the Loop given it's proximity to certain areas. True.



But some extremely high quality modern hotel design should be somewhere in St. Louis. The closest thing we have in terms of architectural merit is the San Luis Apartments... and we all know how that is going.

I don't think most architects are going to consider Lumiere to have architectural merit.

^ i sure don't.

Grover wrote:I don't think most architects are going to consider Lumiere to have architectural merit.

AGREED. It's a welcomed addition to the skyline, but it has very little architectural merit.

UrbanPioneer wrote:

Grover wrote:I don't think most architects are going to consider Lumiere to have architectural merit.

AGREED. It's a welcomed addition to the skyline, but it has very little architectural merit.

Not to say it has merit, but the low rise portion of Lumiere along Second Street is a part of that Neo-Prairie Commercial Architecture movement that seems to be in full swing. The high rise is...meh, at best.



And it definitely doesn't belong in the Landing.



Now, the Moonrise, I like overall. I wish they would improve the side facades though. They're so bland.

Does anyone know if the rooftop bar has opened? They had lights up there last night but I'd heard construction delays had pushed the opening until some time in June.

Yep! Jive and I checked out the rooftop bar last week. The views are amazing! Clear shot of the CWE and downtown skylines. A great place to down a few on a nice summer evening.

^^You'll have to go through the bar area. On most of the busy nights you'll have to give your name and cell phone number to the hostess to be put on a waiting list. You'll then have to wait in the lobby bar to be called. They'll then escort you to the elevator.



On most weekend nights it gets towards a 45 minute wait to go upstairs.



(One thing: you need to finish your drinks before you go from the lobby bar to the rooftop bar.)

DeBaliviere wrote:^

I noticed a lot of people sitting at their sidewalk tables last night - perhaps they were waiting to get into the rooftop bar.

That, plus the smokers get booted to the outside since the lobby bar is non-smoking. (The rooftop bar does allow smoking though.)