urbanSTL

It's 160 units and the estimated costs of the development have doubled to $151.4m.

Olive Crossing's apartment building will be 181 units and begin construction in the fall. It will be the first component built with the hotel and office components being built in phases. Office building is now larger at 180,000sf. The Lamar Johnson Collaborative is designing the residential building according to the BizJournal.

^While it's not absolutely perfect, this is looks to be a much much better project than the Cosco across the highway. It's a creative use of a difficult site and it adds a lot of density and variety. Would be neat if they made space for some of the institutions U-City is running off. Maybe some of that retail could be a Korean grocery or a Japanese restaurant.

I think this project has the advantage of being able to add in apartments because it's in a more desirable area backing up to million dollar McMansions vs. across the highway. Still those apartments are pretty close to the highway.

^The U. City project is across the street from a park and golf course. There's absolutely room for better design in U. City. They simply aren't demanding it. (After all, you don't land big box taxes with good design.)

I didn't think they solidly committed to anything, besides the Costco. Don't think anyone will pay $1500 for a 1bd/1br to overlook the creek. It's across from the closed gas station.

^The drainage passes under 170 and goes behind those McMansions along the railroad right of way. It's basically the same creek. (Drainage ditch, really.) I used to beat through there treating the puddles for mosquito larvae as a summer job when I was first in college. I don't see any particular reason why the Olivette side would be better suited to apartments than the U. City side. As it stands right now quite the reverse is the case. I'd be willing to bet a fair few of my wife's classmates at SLU would have gladly paid $1500 for a one bed near the Chinatown strip. (They drove up there every night anyway.) But the Yawitz development will change all that. (Well, and the U. City mess.) The biggest differences are that one street of McMansions on one side and the golf course on the other. Other than that they're really pretty similar. Similar vintage housing, similar traffic, similar (lack of) walkability. There's more Asian stores on one side and more chain stores on the other, but I'm not sure the chain stores are the clear winner in the $1500 apartment debate here. Depends on what out-of-towners you can convince to move into your apartment, I guess. And I really think good design will trump all other considerations. The U. City development is slated to have apartments. (In the phase II that might never get built.) They might well ask similar rents at first. But I very much doubt they will look as nice.

More meant given how many apartments are getting built elsewhere in UC. There's also school district to consider.

^There's plenty of room for apartments. And I'm not sure how much the typical fancy apartment dweller really thinks about school districts. (I'm so weary of hearing about them. I'm fairly convinced "good school district" is local real estate code for "black people don't live here.") That said, I mostly meant it as a compliment to the Yawitz plan and a cry for their neighbor to do better.

I think Yawitz is more aiming for families with 2+BDs.  I personally don't find it appealing to be that close to the highway.

sc4mayor wrote: ↑

Nov 22, 2021

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Jun 10, 2021

Olive Crossing's apartment building will be 181 units and begin construction in the fall. It will be the first component built with the hotel and office components being built in phases. Office building is now larger at 180,000sf. The Lamar Johnson Collaborative is designing the residential building according to the BizJournal.

Keeley was answering comments on a sponsored Facebook post today. Sounds like this has started turning some dirt. Not many details though.

I drove by it recently. The activity had definitely picked up over there.

There are workers on-site every day, pushing dirt back and forth. I guess there's just lots of infrastructure to finish first. Does seem to be taking a long time, though. 

framer wrote: ↑

Apr 23, 2022

There are workers on-site every day, pushing dirt back and forth. I guess there's just lots of infrastructure to finish first. Does seem to be taking a long time, though. 

Wouldn't be surprised as you essentially went from frozen season to wet season in dirt work.  Either you work the soil to get moisture content down and or wait in between.   Also, someone can speak better to it but impression with our construction group at work is that utility companies such gas, water, etc. are only tougher to work with in terms of schedule 

The apartment building looks to be fully framed now. 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

office building?
When will we if ever go back to building pleasing looking structures??
https://imgur.com/a/fGrovY1

That's the apartment building. Work on the office building is lagging

Why Is Everything So Ugly?
https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-44/the-intellectual-situation/why-is-everything-so-ugly/

The office building was shrunk and redesigned. JEMA is the architect.
Source: https://jemastl.com/jema-designs-olive-crossing-office/

Well that's disappointing. Not surprising, though.