Pinnacle's new plans: 25-story luxury Four Seasons Hotel!

arch city · PostFeb 17, 2005#12005-02-17T08:18+00:00

Pinnacle strikes deal to buy more property

By Christopher Carey

Of the Post-Dispatch

02/16/2005

Old Pinnacle design

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has struck a deal for more property on Laclede's Landing, giving it control over 18 acres stretching from North Third Street to Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard.

Pinnacle, which is planning a $250 million casino, hotel and residential project on the Landing, said Wednesday that it would buy a parcel owned by Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., which had been pushing a rival development plan.

The Missouri Gaming Commission chose Pinnacle in September to develop two casinos in the St. Louis region, one on the Landing and one in Lemay, in south St. Louis County.

The land that Pinnacle is buying from Isle of Capri is east of the site where Pinnacle plans to build a 75,000-square-foot casino and 25-story luxury hotel.

The land is just north of the Embassy Suites Hotel, which Pinnacle plans to incorporate into its project.

Pinnacle agreed in November to buy the hotel for $38 million.

The Las Vegas-based company said it expects to close both deals in the first quarter.

"The addition of this key property will enable Pinnacle to design a master plan for the entire area," said Daniel Lee, Pinnacle's chairman and chief executive.

The casino and luxury hotel, which likely will carry the Four Seasons brand, will be across from the Edward Jones Dome.

Pinnacle expects to open the property in early 2007. Its $300 million casino, hotel and entertainment development in south St. Louis County would open about a year later.

Pinnacle's latest architectural design for the downtown casino is a dramatic departure from the version it presented to the city and the gaming commission last year. The working design, which Pinnacle is not ready to make public, features a sleek, modern hotel tower that the company hopes will become an iconic addition to the skyline, Lee said.

The other chunk of land targeted for the downtown project is between North First Street and Sullivan. It is home to a small number of nightspots and other businesses, including Mississippi Nights and Sundecker's Bar and Grill.

Pinnacle says it has an option to lease that land from the city.

The company says its development agreement with the city also gives it the right to a parking lot now used by the President Casino on the Admiral and currently in condemnation proceedings.

Pinnacle plans to build a parking garage and condominiums on the property east of the Embassy Suites, between North First and Sullivan, Lee said Wednesday.

Columbia Sussex Corp., which agreed in October to buy the bankrupt President, says it needs the parking lot and two acres of adjacent land for its own $150 million redevelopment project.

Columbia Sussex plans to replace the President, moored on the Mississippi River, with a new, single-story casino boat. It also wants to build a parking garage on the current lot, and incorporate condominiums and retail space.

Columbia Sussex, which agreed to pay $57 million for the President, maintains that the casino would be doomed without the adjacent parking garage.

Columbia Sussex bought the lot on which it hopes to build the garage for $5 million.

The company challenged Pinnacle's development plans by arguing before the gaming commission that the location of Pinnacle's casino was too far from the river to comply with the state constitution.

The commission found, however, that the site was within the required 1,000 feet from the main channel of the Mississippi, using the definition provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Columbia Sussex has taken the matter to state court. In a complaint filed in Cole County, it is seeking to overturn the commission's ruling and to block Pinnacle from starting construction.

Pinnacle doubts the court will issue an injunction, Lee said.

Even if Columbia Sussex prevails, Pinnacle will proceed with its project by moving the location of the casino, perhaps to the Isle of Capri property, he said.

"It's not a question of whether it gets built; it's a question of where it gets built," he said.

Columbia Sussex has complained that the city is giving Pinnacle preferential treatment.

Pinnacle and the St. Louis Development Corp. have countered that Pinnacle was chosen first to develop a casino on the Landing and has a binding development agreement.

"The city had a request for proposal a year and a half ago," Lee said. "They could have shown up then with a proposal, and they didn't."

Columbia Sussex officials received Pinnacle's announcement late Wednesday afternoon and had no immediate comment.

Officials at the St. Louis Development Corp. did not respond to a request for comment.

Related Links:

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.

The Bottle District

LaClede's Landing

xing · PostFeb 17, 2005#22005-02-17T09:22+00:00

Fantastic! I can't wait to check out some updated images of this project. It keeps getting bigger and better.

matt · PostFeb 17, 2005#32005-02-17T14:50+00:00

Can luxury riverfront highrise condos be far behind?

jivecitystl · PostFeb 17, 2005#42005-02-17T16:12+00:00

While I wish these new developments could be part of a master project much classier and more organically productive than a huge casino, I am excited that a lot of those vacant lots will be built upon.

From an urban development standpoint, casinos do not have a good track record of attracting people to urban areas. They tend to be self-contained and autonomous and do not interact well with their environment, and quite often they cheapen the appeal of their surroundings. Hopefully this will be different.

debaliviere · PostFeb 17, 2005#52005-02-17T16:47+00:00

What do you all think of the design?

Shouldn't it make some effort to incorporate the architecture of the Landing?

The part that worries me is the low-rise portion to the left in the picture. It's hard to tell how it will look from that small picture, but I hope that it's inviting from street level and not fortress-like.

I also still don't like the idea of tearing down Sundeckers. I wish they could somehow incorporate that building into the new garage design, even if the corner storefront merely serves as an entrance to the garage.

jivecitystl · PostFeb 17, 2005#62005-02-17T17:15+00:00

The design is okay with me as long as it doesn't look totally cheap. I don't think new buildings should try to mimic the old unless they are not sparing any expenses and employing some artisan craftsmanship to make it look authentic. The Plaza in Clayton is an example of good faux design IMO. I do not like most of the infill I've seen throughout the city that tries to fit in with the historic contexts of the surrounding environment. Most of the time it looks cheap and insulting to the rest of the streetscape.

If a new building is built, I would like to see something bold and different. I think modern architecture can favorably complement historic urban fabric, as is often seen in Chicago (and often completely botched in Chicago as well). But it has to be good, it has to be tasteful. All too often casino architecture is either bland or gaudy or both (i.e. Detroit's downtown casinos). I think it would be refreshing to see some contemporary design on the Landing. The Park East Tower is a fabulous example of great new architecture.

I do not like the idea of demolishing old buildings for this project though. There is plenty of vacant land upon which to build.

arch city · PostFeb 17, 2005#72005-02-17T21:08+00:00

That's the old design above. They are considering something swankier from the way the article reads.

Anyway, if Four Seasons becomes the brand as the article suggests, it will be only the second Four Seasons Hotel in the Midwest. The other is in Chicago (Where else could it be?).

I think if this Pinnacle project continues on the proposed path, it will be one of the best casino projects east of Las Vegas.

urbanstlouis · PostFeb 17, 2005#82005-02-17T22:16+00:00

JivecitySTL wrote:From an urban development standpoint, casinos do not have a good track record of attracting people to urban areas. They tend to be self-contained and autonomous and do not interact well with their environment, and quite often they cheapen the appeal of their surroundings. Hopefully this will be different.

You are probably 100% correct... at least in St. Louis most all the casinos are self-contained because they are mainly accessable by car. They are not in pedestrian friendly areas. My guess is another reason casions remain self-contained is to prevent you from leaving, staying longer and keeping you away form the competition.

This project has the potential to be different because it is not a riverboat and has a physical location on the landing, which is pedestrian friendly. So, the possibility is there, but as you stated, if the nature of the beast is to remain self-contained, autonomous and not interact with it's surrounding environment, then it won't benefit the other businesses on the landing.

By looking at the site plan, they are already psychologically seperated from the rest of the landing by the M.L. King Bridge and look to have aquired enough land (18 acres) to become an island unto themselves. Again, hopefully this will be different.

xing · PostFeb 17, 2005#92005-02-17T22:57+00:00

Honestly though, I won't be quick to downplay Casinos. I feel, that often people respond negatively to Casinos because (this may sound like high school) the non-trendy, and more desperate cities are building them, while the trendy more desirable cities have no need for them.

Now, obviously Las Vegas is the exception, but this, IMO, has a lot to do with quality, entertainment elements, and proximity of the casinos from one another. Many major cities have built them all over the metro area, and do little to promote high quality, luxury style casinos. Also, many of the casinos are not built to play off the urban areas around them.

PostFeb 17, 2005#102005-02-17T23:03+00:00

By looking at the site plan, they are already psychologically seperated from the rest of the landing by the M.L. King Bridge and look to have aquired enough land (18 acres) to become an island unto themselves. Again, hopefully this will be different.

I wouldn't worry too much about the M.L. King Bridge. Based on my perception, the fact that it's elevated so high, and the roads and sidewalks continue on the other side, leaves me to believe it will have only a small psychological reaction.

urbanstlouis · PostFeb 18, 2005#112005-02-18T02:34+00:00

Xing wrote:I wouldn't worry too much about the M.L. King Bridge. Based on my perception, the fact that it's elevated so high, and the roads and sidewalks continue on the other side, leaves me to believe it will have only a small psychological reaction.

Yes, I do agree with you on that... The bridge is elevated high enough that it doesn't really spit the Landing in half. Sundeckers is just on the other side and does pretty good. When I used to go to the Landing, Harpo's was always hoping as well.

I guess I was just pointing out that they can still take this development either way and integrate into the rest of Laclede's Landing, or use the bridge to help mark off an invisible boundry and try to be self-contained as Jive had suggested.

suburban lou · PostFeb 18, 2005#122005-02-18T02:50+00:00

I am all for a new highrise being built Downtown and the fact they want to make it an important part of the skyline makes it sound even better. But can the Downtown hotel market really handle a 25 story building full of hotel rooms? Maybe they could make it half hotel and half residential.

matguy70 · PostFeb 18, 2005#132005-02-18T03:09+00:00

From an urban development standpoint, casinos do not have a good track record of attracting people to urban areas. They tend to be self-contained and autonomous and do not interact well with their environment, and quite often they cheapen the appeal of their surroundings. Hopefully this will be different.

Well, it really isn't like Downtown St. Louis doesn't already have two casinos. I think that, if anywhere this casino project is going to go... it is here in Laclede's Landing - an entertainment and visitor attraction/entertainment section of Downtown.

As for the highrise. I think Pinnacle is dedicated to making this their first big city casino run and is truly wanting to make the casino and the hoel tower a first-class entertainment complex. I do know that this casino will house a large entertainment theatre and will attract some good cabaret shows and names to the downtown (not that STL cannot attract these without a casino) Pinnacle is known for their "vegas-style" cabarets. In getting this news today., it sounds like they are re-working the complex and the tower to be first-class and beautiful for the city skyline. Another fact is that they want it to bear the Four Seasons name. Downtown has an ENOURMOUS amount of hotels, adding the flagship of Four Seasons to the list only makes STL another step higher than most cities. Downtown already has almost every flagship hotel in the book - some of the best too!

I am not really "against" the whole casino idea - simply because STL has downtown casinos already and they don't seem to deter from the greatness and urban fabric of this city at all. STL is and always will be a forefront International city, having casinos is only another "attraction" (for some they are) and I truly believe that Lacledes Landing is the "entertainment" district that will benefit from this! AS WELL AS the new entertainment district "THE BOTTLE DISTRICT" right across from it and the Dome... this neighborhood will truly be the new "fun" attraction for residents and visitors alike. I am just excited that they will be beautifully lit up I am sure and seeing the new tower and casino on the river side of I-70 and the new Bottle District on the right side (especially at night) driving into downtown from I-70 eastbound then into downtown and under the arch and skyline will look fabulous - just think of it!

brickandmortar · PostFeb 18, 2005#142005-02-18T03:49+00:00

I can see a positive in the new Pinnacle Casino that being it will help St. Louis attract more conventions. I can't think of many cities with a casino next to a convention center. I know when if I'm at a convention by myself, it can be hard to find things to do in anytown. Hopefully, this could help us attract a Super Bowl to St. Louis unless the dome is too small. The only city that I've been too(besides Vegas, AC) with a downtown non-riverboat casino is Harrah's in New Orleans. It fit in well with the urban fabric as much as I could remember(it was Mardi Gras).

Hopefully Pinnacle keeps the Sundecker/Mississippi nights block intact, there aren't many brick structures remaining in the area of the casino. The only part of the plan that concerns me is the condo/retail/parking that is proposed for the block. I applaud them for taking the big Rams tailgate lot as well as the empty area by Embassy Suites. However, do they need a 25 story hotel? The amount of vacant land in the area is mind boggling. This photo of downtown that CityLover posted on another thread sums it up

I can't figure out how the President will survive after this gets built. Columbia Sussex will probably cut their losses and sell their land before that happens.

MattnSTL · PostMay 10, 2005#152005-05-10T14:16+00:00

Update-

Pinnacle: The developer is designing the facility. The Four Seasons chain has committed to flag the new hotel. The project will be under construction by the end of year.

source

ibleedlou · PostMay 10, 2005#162005-05-10T15:48+00:00

I hope they give us a quality tower/development on the Landing, something with a crown that's classy. I saw this casino up at Niagra Falls this past summer and hope Pinnacle gives us something to this effect. At night it's lighting is also very nice. (Not crazy about "casino" signs but something to this effect would be a great addition). 30 stories and I wish I could find a better shot of the crown which looks great. Fallsview Casino.

moog rogue · PostJul 05, 2005#172005-07-05T02:07+00:00

New image from the Pinnacle Entertainment web site... kinda weird-looking, like solar panels on the roof:

MattnSTL · PostJul 05, 2005#182005-07-05T09:20+00:00

I can't quite get a full idea of what it looks like from the rendering, but I think it could be good. I like that they decided to go modern, but I'm not sure how the wing thing will turn out. Nonetheless, it should have a nice impact on the skyline.

bprop · PostJul 05, 2005#192005-07-05T10:05+00:00

Does anyone see a problem with the size of that parking lot? I'd like to see a smaller footprint by using a parking structure instead, with some retail or perhaps encased in the middle of the casino structure, like to many developments in Country Club Plaza in KC. This is still an urban area, and a parking lot is very UN-urban and larger than the development itself. It is good, but could be fantastic.

jfknet · PostJul 05, 2005#202005-07-05T14:07+00:00

Other then some modern styling ques it looks like your typical 70's rectangle skyscraper to me. It's hard to tell from that drawing though.

Expat · PostJul 05, 2005#212005-07-05T14:28+00:00

The rendering is lame. I can't really tell what they have planned. I hope this is a case of the real thing being better than the rendering.

thewayofthearch · PostJul 05, 2005#222005-07-05T14:56+00:00

bprop wrote:Does anyone see a problem with the size of that parking lot?

That parking lot is pre-existing and will be used for mixed use in a later phase of development.

That is a really disappointing picture. What happened to the one that they presented to win the development rights? "Well now that we have the rights locked up we'll show you the real plans..."

markofucity · PostJul 05, 2005#232005-07-05T16:07+00:00

That building is hideous (though I agree the rendering is a bit fuzzy) - and (even worse) completely suburban. Can't we force them to build somethign better than that? Does the community have any input here?

brickandmortar · PostJul 05, 2005#242005-07-05T16:26+00:00

I don't really like the look of it either, can't they build a garage for the cars a la Ameristar instead having what looks to be a large surface lot?

This is what is on the Pinnacle website:

Link

We will expand to the "center of the Center of America" with plans to develop two new major casino properties in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Both the City and County of St. Louis gave their approval to our ambitious projects slated for Laclede's Landing and Lemay, respectively. Additionally, in September 2004, we received priority investigation from the Missouri Gaming Commission for our two St. Louis area casino projects.For both of these projects, it is anticipated that construction will begin shortly after the Company receives all necessary building and land-use approvals. The Company hopes to receive such approvals for the City casino by Spring 2005, with an expected opening date approximately 18 months thereafter. For the County project, the Company expects to also begin site work in 2005 and open the facility in 2007.

Our site at Laclede's Landing, near the famed Gateway Arch, will feature a $208 million casino and a 200-guestroom luxury hotel. The project will help revitalize the downtown St. Louis area by serving as a catalyst for additional neighborhood redevelopment. Pinnacle Entertainment has also committed - likely with one or more development partners - $50 million of investment into a new residential, retail, or mixed-used development, to be completed within five years of the casino and hotel's opening.

Our $300 million dollar project targeted for Lemay, in south St. Louis County, will feature a first-class casino-hotel plus many non-gaming amenities, including a new county park with softball and soccer fields, an outdoor concert amphitheater, an ice skating rink, a retail/entertainment center, a multiplex movie theater, and a bowling alley.

We consider the St. Louis Gaming Market to be underserved, particularly in the downtown and south St. Louis areas. We believe our projects will allow us to fill these market voids and fully capitalize on our investments.

MattnSTL · PostJul 05, 2005#252005-07-05T16:40+00:00

Past articles stated that they were building an attached garage, so I don't think we have to worry about surface parking. I would assume that mid height portion in the back is the garage, since the gaming area has to be upfront, but I can't really tell much from that rendering. I think the only thing I can really get out of that rendering is that there is a building for the four seasons, and an entrance canopy thing in front of the hotel. What the use for the rest of the structure is is indiscernable.

It also doesn't include any of the mixed use development, so that wil be interesting to see. Wonder what kind of design they will go for there.