Me too, but I'm not very optimistic about it. I think they could very easily use the economy as an excuse to just building an ordinary garage.Moorlander wrote: I am interested to see the renderings for the Tucker side of things.
I have heard through the grapevine that the new construction portion facing Tucker has been scrapped.
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Not surprising. I just hope the garage component hasn't grown at the expense of Cityside, the new development that was supposed to face Tucker Boulevard. I will be so pissed if the garage faces Tucker instead.STLgasm wrote:I have heard through the grapevine that the new construction portion facing Tucker has been scrapped.
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LinkPark Pacific work to start this spring
By Tim Logan
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
A deadline has been set to resume work on a major rehab project in downtown St. Louis. June 30.
According a bill that will be filed Friday with the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, the Lawrence Group has agreed to get back to work on the $120 million project by mid-year, and finish it before the end of 2011 (though the bill includes a clause could push the completion date out to Dec. 2012 if circumstances require).
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That sounds like another "definitely maybe". And that's probably the best we can hope for in this lending environment, I suppose. 
AFL-CIO invests $108M in 2 downtown St. Louis projects
by Lisa R. Brown
The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, based in Washington D.C., is investing $108 million in two downtown renovation projects that will soon start construction: the Park Pacific and the Laurel.
Union leaders announced the investment at PRIDE of St. Louis Inc.’s Investment Summit this week.
The AFL-CIO trust is investing $63 million in the Lawrence Group’s planned overhaul of the Park Pacific building at 210 N. 13th St. The project includes 230 residential units, office and retail space. The Lawrence Group is the architect on the project, and a general contractor has not yet been announced.
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link: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stor ... ily34.html
by Lisa R. Brown
The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, based in Washington D.C., is investing $108 million in two downtown renovation projects that will soon start construction: the Park Pacific and the Laurel.
Union leaders announced the investment at PRIDE of St. Louis Inc.’s Investment Summit this week.
The AFL-CIO trust is investing $63 million in the Lawrence Group’s planned overhaul of the Park Pacific building at 210 N. 13th St. The project includes 230 residential units, office and retail space. The Lawrence Group is the architect on the project, and a general contractor has not yet been announced.
link: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stor ... ily34.html
I think a new Paric sign went up on the empty parking lot and there is some drilling equipment that has moved around a few times this week.
I can also confirm that this is moving forward because there was a massive set of drawings at the building division for the Park Pacific project when I got my permit for my house a couple weeks ago.
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Well, if the AFL-CIO, Business Journal, AND Matt say it's a go, then IT'S A GO! 
Talk about a nice combination of projects on the west side of Tucker. Park Pacific, Library and new Charter school. Maybe we can see some work on the gateway mall in the immediate future. Thinking of this weekend when I was downtown for the GO! St. Louis marathon events and once again the temporary stage goes up for music and then gone by Monday.
AFL-CIO Trust Commits $108M to Downtown Apts
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ST. LOUIS-The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, based in Washington, DC, will invest about $108 million for two St. Louis apartment projects. Both of the sites are part of a $317 million plan by the city to revitalize the CBD.
The trust is providing $63 million to the mixed-use redevelopment of the Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific headquarters at 210 N. 13th St, to be called Park Pacific. The developer, Parkside Tower LLC, is working on a $98 million reuse project that will convert the 24-story property into 230 residential units, retail, offices and a new parking facility.
link: http://www.globest.com/news/1643_1643/s ... 522-1.html
I'm sure these are early renderings, but if you look closely (at this hideously small rendering) you can see a new parking facility with ground floor retail facing Tucker. I know we are sick of parking garages, but we have to face the realities that a car free lifestyle is still a challenge in the region and comprehensive transit is still decades away. I would love to see high rises on ever empty lot downtown, but the fact is that downtown St. Louis hasn't reached that critical mass yet. It may not be our ideal development, but it will definitely help fill out Tucker.
ST. LOUIS-The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, based in Washington, DC, will invest about $108 million for two St. Louis apartment projects. Both of the sites are part of a $317 million plan by the city to revitalize the CBD.
The trust is providing $63 million to the mixed-use redevelopment of the Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific headquarters at 210 N. 13th St, to be called Park Pacific. The developer, Parkside Tower LLC, is working on a $98 million reuse project that will convert the 24-story property into 230 residential units, retail, offices and a new parking facility.
link: http://www.globest.com/news/1643_1643/s ... 522-1.html
I'm sure these are early renderings, but if you look closely (at this hideously small rendering) you can see a new parking facility with ground floor retail facing Tucker. I know we are sick of parking garages, but we have to face the realities that a car free lifestyle is still a challenge in the region and comprehensive transit is still decades away. I would love to see high rises on ever empty lot downtown, but the fact is that downtown St. Louis hasn't reached that critical mass yet. It may not be our ideal development, but it will definitely help fill out Tucker.
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We absolutely HAVE to stop lining out major (and minor) roads with parking garages. Clayton has committed to having no more parking fronting major streets - of course the Centene garage snuck in under the wire! If nothing else they need to be heavily disguised. Yes, it take a bit more money, but the Park Pacific project should look uniform on Tucker - hiding the fact that a garage will be there.
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Personally, if they need a garage to convince banks they can fill the units (and they very well may), and if they're going to put retail at street level on Tucker (and it looks from that rendering like they will), I have a hard time getting too worked up.
Does downtown really need more parking? No. But it doesn't need more empty office or condo space, either. A garage probably will help Park Pacific attract residents and office tenants, and it's far preferable to a surface lot, which is the most likely option for the foreseeable future.
Even a handful of storefronts on the ground floor of a garage would do wonders for that stretch of Tucker. Especially if they're well-designed (a la Culinaria in the 9th Street Garage).
Does downtown really need more parking? No. But it doesn't need more empty office or condo space, either. A garage probably will help Park Pacific attract residents and office tenants, and it's far preferable to a surface lot, which is the most likely option for the foreseeable future.
Even a handful of storefronts on the ground floor of a garage would do wonders for that stretch of Tucker. Especially if they're well-designed (a la Culinaria in the 9th Street Garage).
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^Agreed.
And hopefully the design of the parking structure allows for future, vertical expansion.
And hopefully the design of the parking structure allows for future, vertical expansion.
I believe the developer stated/advertised that the revised structure was going to be built with the structural ability to place a tower on it. I wonder if thought will remain with the project. It seems like a smart thought considering the prominence of this location.
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But the parking garage shouldn't face Tucker and the retail should be more than a one story facade or else it will look like the Kiener garages with 1st floor retail squashed under an enormous garage.stlwriterman wrote:Personally, if they need a garage to convince banks they can fill the units (and they very well may), and if they're going to put retail at street level on Tucker (and it looks from that rendering like they will), I have a hard time getting too worked up.
Does downtown really need more parking? No. But it doesn't need more empty office or condo space, either. A garage probably will help Park Pacific attract residents and office tenants, and it's far preferable to a surface lot, which is the most likely option for the foreseeable future.
Even a handful of storefronts on the ground floor of a garage would do wonders for that stretch of Tucker. Especially if they're well-designed (a la Culinaria in the 9th Street Garage).
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^ I agree there are some ugly-ass garage/retail projects around downtown. But, for instance, the Schnucks/9th Street Garage looks great from the sidewalk. It can be done well.
That rendering looks like a prison. Very disappointing. I'm with Alex; lining major streets with parking garages is short-sighted, self-defeating, and aesthetically criminal.
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And this is where having Jump own the Jefferson Arms may be a problem. If a developer who had a plan to renovate and reuse the JA currently owned it, that person could say, "Hey, I'm investing $millions to bring the JA back to life and you're going to allow an ugly garage to be built just down the block?!?!" We need ownership of adjacent parcels to mean something, for owners to demand better development around them.
Surely this group remembers that this parking garage was supposed to be a residential tower on the top 8 floors with parking/retail at the base before the economy tanked.
It's not as if the developer, who has much experience saving city buildings, said "let's throw up a parking garage". And who knows, that might not be the final rendering.
Is this the best solution? No, I am pretty disappointed as well, but we should be happy that Park Pacific is moving forward, because it almost didn't.
It's not as if the developer, who has much experience saving city buildings, said "let's throw up a parking garage". And who knows, that might not be the final rendering.
Is this the best solution? No, I am pretty disappointed as well, but we should be happy that Park Pacific is moving forward, because it almost didn't.
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I believe that the original, or early, renderings had the parking garage sandwiched between the existing building and a new tower:
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Agreed. That new parking garage across from City Hall is DISGUSTING. The one with the screens and Slanted squares to hide the fact that it is a parking garage. Why couldn't they cover up the dam space in the squares so I don't see the beams or cars. NASTY.stlwriterman wrote:^ I agree there are some ugly-ass garage/retail projects around downtown. But, for instance, the Schnucks/9th Street Garage looks great from the sidewalk. It can be done well.
I really don't care if there is a garage there, as long as I don't NOTICE it is a garage. Or I notice it and it looks awesome.
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The parking garage is hideous. However, if I were looking to buy there I would want 2 parking spots.
New constructions allows for parking to be incorportated into the new structure but rehabbing these old buildings requires parking to be adjacent to the existing structure. (see Paul Brown building as an acception) Until land values rise, and parking becomes a premium, I'm not sure what developers should do here.
New constructions allows for parking to be incorportated into the new structure but rehabbing these old buildings requires parking to be adjacent to the existing structure. (see Paul Brown building as an acception) Until land values rise, and parking becomes a premium, I'm not sure what developers should do here.