New Hotel Indigo - Convention District (10th @ Locust)

debaliviere · PostJun 04, 2008#1012008-06-04T13:52+00:00

MidcoastSTL wrote:Do we know for sure that new construction is happening here?

No, but the Roberts Brothers have announced that it is their intent to tear the buildings down for new construction.

With regards to the "bombed out" reference, I do think there is some validity to that. While downtown has come such a long way, there is still a lot of work to be done. In my opinion, there are four glaring areas that need to be addressed in order for downtown to reach its potential:

1) Ballpark Village - obviously

2) St. Louis Centre and the Mercantile Library Building, which will hopefully be renovated by Spinnaker. This project is so important - it will add life to Broadway, Washington, Locust, etc.

3) The Arcade Building, to complete the OPO district

4) The wasteland of parking lots along 11th Street

stlcityres · PostJun 04, 2008#1022008-06-04T15:49+00:00

I absolutely agree that there is still much room for progress. However, I am criticizing the notion that our downtown looks "bombed out." I have traveled extensively, and most cities have buildings, spaces and blocks that are in need of TLC. Yet residents of those cities don't consider that their downtowns look like "war zones." I think our downtown is much more pleasant than other cities I have been to or lived in. I'm glad we want our city to be perfect, but keep things in perspective without all the hyperbole. People in other cities pick up on it, and our inferiority complex makes them feel more superior.

gone corporate · PostJun 05, 2008#1032008-06-05T18:48+00:00

That even one person sees Downtown as looking like a warzone proves that, even with the successes taking place daily, we still have a ways to go. And this is a local; how do visitors interpret what they see when they're walking up Locust while at a convention?

New windows and fresh paint make a whole lot of difference, if nothing more than to just say somebody's paying attention to upkeep.

stlcityres · PostJun 06, 2008#1042008-06-06T12:20+00:00

Gone Corporate wrote:how do visitors interpret what they see when they're walking up Locust while at a convention?

Probably the same thing they interpret when they are walking in the Civic Center area in San Francisco, the Clinton neighborhood in midtown Manhattan, Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle, and near Union Station in DC.

framer · PostJul 09, 2008#1052008-07-09T03:52+00:00

Sorry if this is posted elsewhere, but what's happening with the 917 Locust building (the former St. Louis Design Center)? I know the Roberts own it, but I don't know what their plans are.

One of the best downtown buildings still not developed, IMO.

arch city · PostAug 25, 2008#1062008-08-25T18:58+00:00

Concept drawings for 115-Unit, boutique hotel - St Louis. Includes renovation of 12-Story historic building and new 2-story Entrance.

Source

moorlander · PostAug 25, 2008#1072008-08-25T19:01+00:00

address?

MattnSTL · PostAug 25, 2008#1082008-08-25T19:06+00:00

Locust at 10th.

debaliviere · PostAug 25, 2008#1092008-08-25T19:27+00:00

So the 12-story building is the St. Louis Design Center and the other buildings on that block would be torn down for the new entrance?

midcoaststl · PostAug 25, 2008#1102008-08-25T20:06+00:00

With the Schnucks, Syndicate Retail, Left Bank Books, The 411, etc. This hotel will be in one of the most exciting areas in DT! Although I hate to see demolition with all of our surface lots, a hotel at this intersection would be really cool. Hope to see some more complete renderings soon.

Does anyone know it this is for sure a go? I have seen the windows removed from these buildings but I did not know if they were for sure going to start on this or not.

jakektu · PostAug 25, 2008#1112008-08-25T20:31+00:00

So, based on those renderings, we actually lose height and density!?

Why does the hotel need a 2 story entrance and drive up? (at the expense of existing, taller structures) I would prefer the entrance and drive up to have multiple stories above it.

They will be clearing the way for a great view of the alleyside of the Renaissance Grand parking garage!

(i think its the black horizontal lines in the first two drawings)

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostAug 25, 2008#1122008-08-25T20:33+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:So the 12-story building is the St. Louis Design Center and the other buildings on that block would be torn down for the new entrance?

AND rooftop pool!

urban_dilettante · PostAug 25, 2008#1132008-08-25T20:41+00:00

oh, it's these two ...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 8047982131

the new hotel looks nice but i wish we could keep these. the hotel's drive-through isn't going to add any density to that corner. hopefully it will add people ...

bonwich · PostAug 25, 2008#1142008-08-25T20:54+00:00

How do low downtown room-occupancy rates, a failing convention center hotel and a total lack of recent new office construction add up to a need for another hotel downtown?

MattnSTL · PostAug 25, 2008#1152008-08-25T22:07+00:00

How dare you question the almighty Roberts Brothers.

zink · PostAug 25, 2008#1162008-08-25T22:12+00:00

Yea, that seems excessive to tear down those TWO buildings. The 2nd one @ 4 stories is a nice height. I guess it would be to expensive to tear down the first one, and gut the 2nd one?

matguy70 · PostAug 26, 2008#1172008-08-26T02:09+00:00

How do low downtown room-occupancy rates, a failing convention center hotel and a total lack of recent new office construction add up to a need for another hotel downtown?

Downtown STL's Hotel Occupany rates are just fine. In fact they are far higher tghan most downtowns in the country and especially for as many hotels as grace Downtown St. Louis.

The "failing" convention hotel (The Renaissance Grand) is failing only because of it's management company. NOT because of the convention market in STL. The issue lies in the price per room overhead the hotel management company is fighting. Let's get that straight.

As for Downtown new office space... that is being worked on.

urban_dilettante · PostAug 26, 2008#1182008-08-26T04:10+00:00

zink wrote:Yea, that seems excessive to tear down those TWO buildings. The 2nd one @ 4 stories is a nice height. I guess it would be to expensive to tear down the first one, and gut the 2nd one?

i'd rather they save the smaller one and restore its original facade. someone mentioned in another thread that it dates back to the civil war. goodbye irreplaceable history; hello drive-way!

doug · PostOct 21, 2008#1192008-10-21T12:11+00:00

Downtown does not looked bombed out. I think people don't know how to accurately describe bad planning and the dead zones created by unnecessary demolition.

Regarding these demolitions, the Preservation Board will convene at 1015 Locust, 12th floor at 4PM next Monday.

There's no reason to demolish these buildings. They should be storefront whatever. Developers that need this amount of space should should take their suburban design to Chesterfield.

St. Louis will never reach it's potential until leadership takes a stand for urbanism and preservation. If change does not come from the Administration, then we are obligated to voice our opposition.

jlblues · PostOct 21, 2008#1202008-10-21T23:32+00:00

Doug wrote:Downtown does not looked bombed out. I think people don't know how to accurately describe bad planning and the dead zones created by unnecessary demolition.

OK. It looks like it was bombed out, most of the buildings "damaged beyond repair" have been torn down (although apparently the Roberts Bros. aren't quite satisfied yet), many other buildings have been repaired, and the many, many bomb craters and demolished building sites have been paved over for surface parking. We are still waiting for the rebuilding.

ttricamo · PostOct 22, 2008#1212008-10-22T11:55+00:00

^great explanation.

The said, Berlin looks far better than StL, if we're comparing bomb-out cities.

urbanarchstl · PostOct 26, 2008#1222008-10-26T01:37+00:00

The Roberts proposal calls for renovating the 917 building as the hotel tower and building a new lobby structure on the to be demolished 919 site. The major problem with this proposal is that the corner lot at 923 and part of the 919 lot would be left open with a circle driveway off 10th street in front of the new hotel entrance. This would destroy the only fully intact intersection (buildings on all 4 corners) in the CBD west of 9th street. Please see my post on the proposal: http://vanishingstl.blogspot.com/2008/1 ... plaza.html

Preservation Board meetings are open to the public and attendees can present their opinions to the board if they wish prior to the board voting on each agenda item.

jcity · PostOct 28, 2008#1232008-10-28T01:17+00:00

what about the Hilton on 4th street? there is no large driveway at this historic building either. I'm all in favor of an Indigo on this corner, just keep the two buildings, or AT LEAST build something that is BETTER than what is currently there. A large tower, etc, is fine, but NOT a driveway. jesus, suburban style driveways don't fit in quality urban cities. are people still this dumb? I'm sure that corner building actually looks pretty cool under that 60's/70's skin. didnt the fatted calf used to be there?

vollum · PostOct 28, 2008#1242008-10-28T15:54+00:00

So...What happened at the meeting yesterday?

debaliviere · PostOct 28, 2008#1252008-10-28T16:24+00:00

vollum wrote:So...What happened at the meeting yesterday?

Pretty much the result we were anticipating - demo.

New Hotel Indigo - Convention District (10th @ Locust)

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