urbanSTL

We've got overlapping threads.



And we all know how painful that can be.

Thank you. Threads now merged under "Hotel Indigo - Convention District (10th @ Locust)"

New Rendering From killeenstudio.com

Looks better, although it almost looks like the 411 has been demolished!!!

It does look better, but I would like to see the driveway pushed back to parallel the alley and keep the side as retail or lobby. I'd like to see a close up rendering.



The windows have been out for several months now, and with the demo approved, I would assume it could happen at any time. Who knows when construction will start.

MattnSTL wrote:It does look better, but I would like to see the driveway pushed back to parallel the alley and keep the side as retail or lobby. I'd like to see a close up rendering.

Based on what I can see in the new rendering I agree that it looks better. It still seems like a simple porte cochere leading out to Tenth Street would be sufficient to completely eliminate curb cuts and maximize ground floor retail/restaurant space, but I'm guessing the Roberts Brothers and the city aren't too concerned about sweating the details to that extent.



I'd still like to see a close-up rendering- the lack of one enhances the smoke-and-mirrors feel I get from this project. And I'm anxious to see if the Roberts Brothers can resist the temptation of plastering their name all over the building. It's on everything else they've done, and while it's their right by all means, it's also overkill IMHO. However, I do hope the ghost signs for the Scruggs Vandervoort and Barney Annex Store on the west wall of the 917 Locust building will be preserved somehow. As far as I know, it's the only evidence that the store once occupied that building along with the Syndicate Trust and demolished Century buildings across the street.

The windows have been out for several months now, and with the demo approved, I would assume it could happen at any time. Who knows when construction will start.

While it's great to see the Roberts Tower rising just to the east of this block, why do I get the feeling we're going to be looking at an empty lot at Tenth and Locust streets for a prolonged period of time?

Because this is STL and if there's anything we're good at it's demolishing buildings before we have our ducks in a row (Skyhouse, anyone?)

^ Can someone help me understand the logic in tearing a building down before certain agreements are in place. I can understand the property tax savings for the developer, but how does that out weigh the demo costs which have to be in the tens of thousands.

ThreeOneFour wrote: However, I do hope the ghost signs for the Scruggs Vandervoort and Barney Annex Store on the west wall of the 917 Locust building will be preserved somehow.

That's a very good point. I hope someone brings it up at one of the hearings. Although, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they going to be punching a bunch of new windows into that wall?

Sounds to me that this thing may be moving along soon. I stopped in the health store today. They are looking for a new location because a health store and construction/asbestos removal don't get along too well with oneanother.

Its Not That Bad To Me







Hotel Indigo

913 Locust St. - St. Louis (Downtown)

Conversion of historic 12-story building to 118-room boutique hotel

Includes new 2-story lobby and fitness spa addition

I like the project overall. A shame those 2 buildings have to go. But if they tear down those buildings, they had better start building, unlike Skyhouse did.



I am curious what's in that short altered building with the big clock on it that stands next to the proposed Hotel Indigo. BuiltStLouis says it's 913 Locust. Unless it was built like that.



The proposal posted above does not show the ghost signs. I hope they leave the ghost signs there as well. It looks like the hotel will have an extra window added toward the back of the building.



It is a shame to lose a building as old as the Mother's Fish restaurant, but if this Hotel Indigo thing works, I think it could work out okay. Too bad they can't pick the building up and move it, or use it in some way.

Tearing down 921 Locust would be another terrible loss for downtown.



Especially if it is replaced by a cheesy 2 story billboard / driveway / hotel lobby that opens up views of our beautiful parking garage.



The level of creative reuse and historic deference is depressing.

Looks to me like they designed the facade of the new structure to fit in with/compliment the Farm and Home building across the street.

I'm really torn on the tear down issue here. But there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a VERY welcome addition to CBD/OPO. The Roberts are really making some big time changes around town. Whether you agree with every aspect of every project they do or not, they are making quit a difference.



A roof top bar/rest/lounge would deliver quite the view.

Besides the obvious preservation issues, the new design still has some flaws. It's not really a two story building. The second story is only along the front, as you can see along tenth street in that cut out. I've seen the full plans, and that space is for the pool/lounge area that was originally out on the corner. I'd like to see a full second story with that above or behind it. The other problem is still with the porte cochere. It dominates the 10th St. side of the building. While the corner will be car free, which is an improvement, the rest will not be. I still would like to see the drive pushed around to the alley side. The Robert's own the whole block, so any use along the alley would only affect them. The actual facade materials are better this time around. But before I get accused of just complaining, this new plan is much better. Not better than the existing buildings, but better than the original proposal.



STLCards, the building with the clock is an existing building and will be included in the hotel.

Matt Drops The H wrote:To me, it's about 90 percent bad.



> The parking garage to the north is now more visually prominent.



> The loss of two human scale old school downtown buildings is upsetting and should only be pursued if absolutely necessary.



> Can St. Louis fill another hotel? What's that market like?

Agreed. This rendering is an improvement, but still not nearly as good an option as retaining the existing buildings. I realize that it would be difficult to incorporate the buildings into the hotel design, but why not just keep them as separate buildings? A bar/restaurant in the tudor building would be a great ammenity for the hotel.

DeBaliviere wrote:Agreed. This rendering is an improvement, but still not nearly as good an option as retaining the existing buildings. I realize that it would be difficult to incorporate the buildings into the hotel design, but why not just keep them as separate buildings? A bar/restaurant in the tudor building would be a great ammenity for the hotel.

That's pretty much my take. I think the rendering looks much better, but I still have some reservations:



- First, the existing 921 and 923 buildings should be demolished only if absolutely necessary.



- If so, I'd like to see some assurance that plans are moving forward before they are demolished.



- Some effort should be made to preserve the Scruggs Vandervoort & Barney Annex ghost signage- it's the only visible link to the former department store downtown other than the nearby Syndicate Building itself which hasn't had signage since the store closed over 40 years ago (at least there's none to my knowledge).



- I hate how the adjacent parking garage is more obvious with the new lobby building in place.



- Like MattnSTL, I'd like to see the porte cochere moved toward the alley.



- Finally, I'm still skeptical about downtown's ability to support another hotel, especially when there are still plans for an Embassy Suites in the former Dillard's.



I like what I see much better than before, but I wish these issues would get serious consideration from the powers-that-be. The Roberts Bros have done some great things in our city, but I'm not sure that all of their plans (the strip center on Aubert Avenue, the demolition of the storefront on Martin Luther King Drive, etc.) are met with an appropriate level of scrutiny.

To really compete for the major conventions you need to have a surplus of high quality hotels in a close proximity to the convention center. With future plans of continued revitalization of the urban core, St. Louis is on route to become a major tourist/convention destination.....In my humble opinion.

goat314 wrote:To really compete for the major conventions you need to have a surplus of high quality hotels in a close proximity to the convention center. With future plans of continued revitalization of the urban core, St. Louis is on route to become a major tourist/convention destination.....In my humble opinion.

true, i remember hearing about the lack of hotel space when we hosted the final four a few years back.