The Grove keeps adding life... a hand bag boutique just opened on Tower Grove in the small "B" space across from Sweetie Pies (so that's three retail businesses in the building now) and a very nicely done rehab of a single family shotgun on the corner of Tower Grove and Norfolk (right across from Adams Schools) is underway.
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I love how this area has pressed along in redevelopment and kind of getting its own mojo of sense .. i remember as child my mom and i including siblings would walk down Tower Grove and me looking at all the homes i never was aware of St.Louis City losing population nor understood why.. I'm just thrilled to see all this good investment in these areas not just in the grove but all over the city..
Great to see The Grove coming fully into its own. Amazing how it's both organically and organizationally positioned itself for growth and success.
HOWEVER, it still suffers the same issue much of our City does...an issue my girlfriend astutely pointed out on her last visit. Namely, we have these pockets of activity, safety, beauty, etc. and then 8-12 blocks (or more) of dilapidation, industrial decay and disinvestment (sometimes real, sometimes perceived).
I can take her to The Grove or Lafayette Square or Cherokee or Old North or Soulard or Grand (or even Downtown) or any other number of places, but from one to the other the gaps are noticeable (unless, like me, you plot the convoluted scenic route from one to another!).
Of course, we aren't there yet, so it should be expected to an extent -- we won't have seamless neighborhood transitions as much as, say, Chicago's northside east of the Kennedy/river. but hopefully as the Grove and others solidify their staying power, the residential areas and commercial districts surrounding and connecting will come into their own as well. That's why I'm excited to see action heating up in McRee Town (sorry, Bot Heights!) to fully connect FPSE/Grove ->McRee -> Shaw and all the way down to and through Tower Grove Park/South.
HOWEVER, it still suffers the same issue much of our City does...an issue my girlfriend astutely pointed out on her last visit. Namely, we have these pockets of activity, safety, beauty, etc. and then 8-12 blocks (or more) of dilapidation, industrial decay and disinvestment (sometimes real, sometimes perceived).
I can take her to The Grove or Lafayette Square or Cherokee or Old North or Soulard or Grand (or even Downtown) or any other number of places, but from one to the other the gaps are noticeable (unless, like me, you plot the convoluted scenic route from one to another!).
Of course, we aren't there yet, so it should be expected to an extent -- we won't have seamless neighborhood transitions as much as, say, Chicago's northside east of the Kennedy/river. but hopefully as the Grove and others solidify their staying power, the residential areas and commercial districts surrounding and connecting will come into their own as well. That's why I'm excited to see action heating up in McRee Town (sorry, Bot Heights!) to fully connect FPSE/Grove ->McRee -> Shaw and all the way down to and through Tower Grove Park/South.
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I agree I don't like the gaps either but that's what happens when a city decays for 50 years and is chopped up by interstate highways, suburban development, etc.
Just out of curiosity, why can you only take her to a select few areas and have to plot scenic paths in between?
Just out of curiosity, why can you only take her to a select few areas and have to plot scenic paths in between?
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To show her the nice parts instead of the blighted parts. I do the same thing sometimes when I am driving and have people with me who aren't familiar with the City. It's not as if I would drive them along Vandeventer if it's avoidable. Maybe Southwest > Kingshighway > Manchester to get to the Grove if I were coming from the Hill.
Not "scenic" as much as "liveable", I guess, as my end goal is to get her back down here.downtown2007 wrote:I agree I don't like the gaps either but that's what happens when a city decays for 50 years and is chopped up by interstate highways, suburban development, etc.
Just out of curiosity, why can you only take her to a select few areas and have to plot scenic paths in between?
For instance, the quickest route from CWE to my grandma's down in Boulevard Heights would be 40-E to 55-S to Loughborough...or at least Kingshighway straight down to Gravois. But that's no fun and doesn't show her much of the City than what she already thinks she knows. So when visiting, I'd likely take her K'Highway to Manchester to Tower Grove, through the park, through TGS to Morganford or S. Grand and on down past Carondelet Park. Hit a lot of dense, stable neighborhoods and thriving commercial areas.
The only downside, of course, is that it makes Point A to Point B seem muuuch further than it actually is, which creates its own negative for that Chicago-born girl. Ultimately, a N-S line (ahem, De Soto route) and increased bus service would/could fix that issue right up (edit: somewhat).
^That's hilarious! I do the same thing all the time. I knew exactly what you're talking about with convoluted routes. I'm not alone.....
^ I definitely do it. Even if it's just for my own enjoyment/interest.
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The Grove is one of those areas that can be tricky when trying to maneuver around specific parts of the City when someone is with you who you want to impress. Luckily, it is becoming less so. It's great that our popular areas are growing - - rehabs, new construction, new openings in vacant retail space, more residents, etc. But it's just as exciting seeing the NEARBY areas start filling in. Tower Grove Mews is a great example an an in-between area. Once the best parts of the City have bled out enough they will merge with each other and these detours will no longer be necessary as blight disappears.
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City Greens has moved out of the church basement and is now at 4260 Manchester. That's very nice and I'd put it in the 2014 projects but it is only replacing No Coast skate shop which was already in the renovated storefront... it looks like No Coast relocated to Morgan Ford to be near the new skate park.
According to Riverfront Times, the LGBT Center building has been sold and they'll be looking for new, larger space possibly elsewhere in the Grove.... it'll be interesting to see what happens to the current space (4337 Manchester).
I also wish a donut place would open up in the spot a few doors down -- the old donuts sign already there just taunts me the bastard -- and something happen with the vacant lot.... side patio space?
I also wish a donut place would open up in the spot a few doors down -- the old donuts sign already there just taunts me the bastard -- and something happen with the vacant lot.... side patio space?
^Recently, the NextSTL instagram feed had a picture of the space with the donut sign and said something "cool" is coming together for it... haven't heard anything since.
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^ Don't you find it strange Strange isn't there?
btw, I was wondering what was happening to the place across from Rise Coffee and next to the Ready Room; now I know.... more music (and drinks)! The Demo is leaving Atomic Cowboy and getting its own spot: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmus ... _grove.php
btw, I was wondering what was happening to the place across from Rise Coffee and next to the Ready Room; now I know.... more music (and drinks)! The Demo is leaving Atomic Cowboy and getting its own spot: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmus ... _grove.php
I don't know if they have a building permit or not yet, but it looks like some subsurface work is being done on the property where the Home 2 Suites and corner commercial will go.
Also, anyone know if the proposed Reliance Bank at the key Tower Grove and Manchester intersection is moving forward? (Can't wait to see what the Gill's may have planned for the building at the NE corner.)
Also, anyone know if the proposed Reliance Bank at the key Tower Grove and Manchester intersection is moving forward? (Can't wait to see what the Gill's may have planned for the building at the NE corner.)
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^ Progress is being made on the new Commerce Bank on its existing Vandeventer property. Reliance Bank got re-zoning for this building:
But no work has begun on it yet; was curious if anyone knew if it was moving forward or not.rbeedee wrote:Lot upcoming in the Grove right now. There's a plan to renovate the building at 4301 Manchester (Manchester and Tower Grove) as a Reliance Bank. Images are from the Park Central Development packet:
Site plan:
Rendering:
I'm glad to see this building reutilized, but I don't love the traffic flow/curb cuts. Not sure if it could be improved, though. Any suggestions on how to better handle the parking lot/drive through/curb cuts?
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^ Easily happens when the whole friggin central corridor appears to be a construction zone!
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Looks like sh-t. It will be stuck that way for decades, too. I'd rather just wait a little bit for a decent proposal instead. Some entertainment would be nice in the existing building and new infill over the lot would be better than a drive-thru bank.roger wyoming II wrote:^ Progress is being made on the new Commerce Bank on its existing Vandeventer property. Reliance Bank got re-zoning for this building:
But no work has begun on it yet; was curious if anyone knew if it was moving forward or not.rbeedee wrote:Lot upcoming in the Grove right now. There's a plan to renovate the building at 4301 Manchester (Manchester and Tower Grove) as a Reliance Bank. Images are from the Park Central Development packet:
Site plan:
Rendering:
I'm glad to see this building reutilized, but I don't love the traffic flow/curb cuts. Not sure if it could be improved, though. Any suggestions on how to better handle the parking lot/drive through/curb cuts?
What sort of entertainment are you talking about? The Grove can't be JUST bars, restaurants and live music venues.Gateway City wrote:Looks like sh-t. It will be stuck that way for decades, too. I'd rather just wait a little bit for a decent proposal instead. Some entertainment would be nice in the existing building and new infill over the lot would be better than a drive-thru bank.roger wyoming II wrote:^ Progress is being made on the new Commerce Bank on its existing Vandeventer property. Reliance Bank got re-zoning for this building:
But no work has begun on it yet; was curious if anyone knew if it was moving forward or not.rbeedee wrote:Lot upcoming in the Grove right now. There's a plan to renovate the building at 4301 Manchester (Manchester and Tower Grove) as a Reliance Bank. Images are from the Park Central Development packet:
Site plan:
Rendering:
I'm glad to see this building reutilized, but I don't love the traffic flow/curb cuts. Not sure if it could be improved, though. Any suggestions on how to better handle the parking lot/drive through/curb cuts?
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I enjoyed Jaboni's; too bad that wasn't still around.
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Even if not entertainment, I mean, a drive-thru? C'mon. That's horse sh-t. I'd rather see the parking lot see new infill like that shipping container building...Speaking of which, when is that supposed to be built?
I think it's great that a mainstream business such as a bank is making such a commitment to the Grove; and it's a bonus that they're actually saving and rehabbing a corner building, too.
