urbanSTL

ArchMadness wrote:Anybody have any recent photos of the garage-mahal? I'm curious to see how this is going.

Here you go.

citywatcher wrote:a parking garage is a DESOLATE STRUCTURE (devoid of inhabitants and visitors)

A building with apartments or condos is a DENSE STRUCTURE



A structure as large as the new garage adds to the desolation of the OPO district.



Density only occurs in a building with residential and/or retail that adds to the neighborhood.



A smart developer would have seen the potential in the Century. How can you lose by selling condos starting in the 200's range? I guess they will make their money by the hour like a cheap whore.



OH and also by the UPSCALE Schnucks they plan on bringing in to compete with the UPSCALE City Grocer.



No morals or values, they dont care about the city and the area, just their pocketbooks.



The garage adds nothing to the neighborhood and actually is a negative aspect of the area by definition.



if anyone cares

The garage adds nothing to the neighborhood and is a negative aspect by definition? If a Schnucks moves in it will attract many people that will presumably be using spaces reserved in the parking ramp for their customers. You can be sure they wouldn't be moving downtown without adequate parking nearby. I can see people that work downtown stopping by on their way home to the burbs as it might be faster and more convenient than shopping near home and covered parking would provide protection from the elements they don't get in the burbs.



As for morals and values, maybe you should open the grocery store of your dreams downtown and cater to the masses if you think that's what would be best. Of course, you might lose your shirt, but hey....you're not one of those people that only cares about their pocketbook, so go for it!



I feel very badly that the Century Buiding was demolished, but you have to have more than concerned people with lawsuits in their hands to save a building. To my knowledge, no one was willing to come up with the cash to save it and there must be a reason for that as so many other buildings of lesser stature were saved. When comparing the saved buildings in downtown St. Louis to those in Chicago, St. Louis looks mighty good in comparison. That's why most of their lofts are new construction and most of ours to date are existing construction. They tore down their buildings and we preserved most of ours.

Although I really hated to lose the century building I think they did a fine job with this structure. It is a poor poor poor replacement for the century; but as far as garages go I think it looks pretty good.

I rock the party...thanks for posting the pics.... But geeze it makes me nauseous to look at all those ones on tilt...



I'm glad someone else can look past the destruction of Century and see that at least what we got as a replacement appears to be

1. An attractive well designed garage (still sounds weird saying that, but I think it's quite attractive)

2. What appears to be a firsts class retail tenant.



I think if shnucks does indeed open a store there, it will make a huge splash. It will be big news and No Longer will anyone be able to say "ya DT is all spiffy and all but where do yens get dem groceries?"

Thanks for the pics. Beautiful garage with an ugly history.

Probably the best looking garage I've seen.

The only thing I don't like about the garage is that "Park" sign. Otherwise, it's easily the best-looking garage in town.

Why couldn't they reclad the Kiener garages with something similar?

^ Stop scrutinizing! (If you keep asking that question you'll kill the board)

I agree 100% with DeB. I like the design overall. But that park sign is gross. Why couldn't they come up with a sign similar to the garage on 7th and Pine(?), or the Schlafly garage in the CWE? Something fun, neon...



I don't think it's that hard.

A big, neon, Taj Mahal sign would be nice. I seriously think they should embrace the term "Garage Mahal" for this place. Every person I have said that in front of has immediately latched on to it; I think it really works. Whoever came up with that deserves a cold beer.

^ I just checked my watch, I'm pretty sure it still works, and it says get FRIGGGGGGGGIIIINNNNN OOOOOVVVVVEEEEERRRRR IIIIITTTTTT!!!!

Really, Doug, I'm sad about it too and we should do everything we can to make sure things like this don't happen again. But, what are you trying to accomplish by constantly crying over spilled milk? That post you just made is not constructive at all, nor does it bring us anything we haven't heard before.

Have you ever actually ridden in an excursion D? Theyre pretty spacious. Ive sat in a Sherman Tank as well and, well, not so much... Im pretty sure they win the battle of turning radiuses

Doug, we agree. It's dumb. It's a ridiculous concept. But you're "not going to yield" doing what? You're not going to yield complaining to the forumn? That's not a very constructive effort, so "not yielding" is not exactly as valiant as you are portraying it. What ARE you trying to accomplish besides complaint? Can you save all of this energy for Blairmont or something?



I understand you're upset but can you please refrain from redundant points?

My point is that you've made your point, Doug. You are being redundant. The point you've made is not redundant at all, it is actually quite relevant when applied to what is going on in Blairmont for example, but bringing it up twenty times in one thread is redundant. Bring it up when it applies to other projects that might be demolished. What else could possibly be gained by repeating your point ad nauseum to a crowd that is mostly in agreement?

Expat wrote: Beautiful garage with an ugly history.

^I'd say that sums it up nicely!

Thanks for posting the photos. I was really craving to see what it looks like after all the discussion. Still a damn shame the Century is gone, but the garage is certainly nice looking.



I think its funny that the design standards were so high for this one after the uprising of the citizens. I think we found a reason to rise up every time something is proposed. For a respectable design...it's worth it!

ArchMadness wrote:Still a damn shame the Century is gone, but the garage is certainly nice looking.

I agree. Frankly, as much as the loss of the Century bothers me, the process that led to its demolition bothers me much more.