Can $25 million build a tower like the one they originally showed in the renderings? I'm guessing no.
How is this Pinnacle fufilling part of their residential obligation? This project was proposed by Rodgers back in May and it is on the other side of the MLK bridge from the new casino. Seems to me Pinnacle just found an existing development and threw some dollars into it so they can say they spent 25 million on new housing. If this was a project that was going to get built regardless, seems to me we just lost 25 million in housing development dollars downtown. Maybe next Pinnacle will announce a condo deveopment in the Bottle District. It's about the same distance away from the new casino as Port St. Louis.
Hopefully this is just poor reporting on the Post's part and there are actually two separate developments.
Hopefully this is just poor reporting on the Post's part and there are actually two separate developments.
My thoughts exactly. I don't send a lot of emails to city officials, but there will be one about this tonight.
An absolutely ugly building. It's squatty, fortress-like, appears to have no retail, and is an overall uninspired design. I can't believe that they are calling this thing a "tower". That's ridiculous. So far, it appears to be a huge disappointment.
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I would have to agree with that comment. It looks like a big Rubix Cube. At least designate some space for retail!!!
Downtown2007 wrote:I would have to agree with that comment. It looks like a big Rubix Cube. At least designate some space for retail!!!
Looking at the renderings for the casino itself, I can pick up some ques in the Port St Louis development. I think the structure would fit if it were adjacent to or linked somehow to the casino, but not in the current location.
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Port St. Louis' current location within Laclede's Landing sits among north-south blocks just west of the elevated railroad, which are currently nothing but empty lots and a parking garage. And this site greatly hugs the more modern MLK, not the 19th century Eads. If any site would be most suitable to non-replica infill within the Landing, I think this is the right one for a development like Port St. Louis.
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Oh i dunno the design has a kind of air about it that kind of makes it seem a little officy and makes it look official like its the number one building. Oh who am kidding, its the ugliest piece of sh*t since Janet Reno was in office. god They should flare it up with a few gargoyles or something cuz that is one ugly piece of crap. In fact my crap would look better there.
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Gargoyles... 
That combination of pseudo contemporary with neo gothic would be frickin hilarious.
Also extremely ugly...
I'm suprised the city let this fly aspart of the residential component..what a cop-out. It would have been awesome if it had been this project plus another 5o mil from the casino...this thing was announced independent months ago...
That combination of pseudo contemporary with neo gothic would be frickin hilarious.
Also extremely ugly...I'm suprised the city let this fly aspart of the residential component..what a cop-out. It would have been awesome if it had been this project plus another 5o mil from the casino...this thing was announced independent months ago...
It's awsome that you guys can b**** and moan about how a new condo they're bulding downtown looks. Imagine this being announced six years ago, you'd all be crapping your pants with glee.
Good point SoulardD. Everyone should stop a minute and savor the fact that we have gotten to this envious point. There are so much development going on that we have the luxury of being picky.
I don't think this building is ugly. But, then I really can't tell by the rendering.
I don't think this building is ugly. But, then I really can't tell by the rendering.
I honestly can't see what is so bad about this building. I've seen far worse. Maybe the others see something in it that we don't, SoularD & Expat, but I can't for the life of me figure out what. It's rather simple in design, yet I don't think it's boring. I'm just glad it's not going to be cheap looking infill with (yuk) vinyl siding.
Great to hear about the pool and green on the Packard Lofts...sounds nice. Thanks for informing us, Buckethead.
Great to hear about the pool and green on the Packard Lofts...sounds nice. Thanks for informing us, Buckethead.
Look at those balconies and floor to ceiling windows! Overlooking the river, these places will have the best view in the city. Can you imagine looking out your window and watching river traffic, eagles flying along the river, or the fireworks on the 4th?!! You guys are crazy.
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I don?t think it?s that bad either. I?m sure the real thing will look a lot better than the rendering. It reminds me of a building you would see along the Thames or around the Docklands in London.
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mcarril wrote:How is this Pinnacle fufilling part of their residential obligation? This project was proposed by Rodgers back in May and it is on the other side of the MLK bridge from the new casino. Seems to me Pinnacle just found an existing development and threw some dollars into it so they can say they spent 25 million on new housing. If this was a project that was going to get built regardless, seems to me we just lost 25 million in housing development dollars downtown.
There is a special section in the St. Louis Business Journal today that highlighted the Port St. Louis development. Once construction starts, the project is expected to take about 18 months to complete. It was also mentioned in the article that Port St. Louis was almost 40 percent pre-sold by the time Pinnacle Entertainment contacted Rodgers Development. The Journal reported that the condos will count as part of Pinnacle's $50 million commitment towards further development in the city, but didn't say how much more of a part.
Hopefully their soundproofing is as good as they claim it will be. This is a spectacular location, but I wouldn't be all that thrilled with being right next to the train tracks. I wonder why those were left off the renderings?
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Contractors win part of $1 billion casino projects
Heather Cole
The principals of Rodgers Development Group got the opportunity to purchase a city block's worth of riverfront property -- five months before Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. announced its plans for a $400 million development on Laclede's Landing.
John Clark, president of Laclede's Landing Redevelopment Corp., and board member Jim Huck saw the Rodgerses' Shaw Park Villas project in Clayton and asked twins Mark and John Rodgers in early 2005 to come down to the Landing. They wanted a similar project for the riverfront lot, Mark Rodgers said.
"We said, 'There's no way we could get this lot. It's the greatest lot in St. Louis.'"
They were quickly proved wrong -- over the next month, Rodgers Development was able to put the three parcels that comprised the empty lot under contract. As they were working on approval from Laclede's Landing Redevelopment for a $25 million condominium development to be called Port St. Louis, they received a call from Pinnacle's Chief Executive Dan Lee.
Mark Rodgers said, "At that point, (the project) was almost 40 percent pre-sold. One thing led to the next, and we signed a joint operating agreement," with Pinnacle taking on half the risk of the project. The deal was announced Dec. 8.
Rodgers Development is the developer and contractor for the condominiums. The condos will count as part of Pinnacle's commitment to the city of St. Louis to be responsible for $50 million in development in addition to the $400 million being spent on a casino, hotel, business center, restaurants, and meeting and convention space.
Rodgers Development is among many St. Louis contractors and subcontractors to find opportunities for work on four major casino developments planned or under way in the St. Louis area.
In addition to Pinnacle's downtown project, it also is developing the $375 million River City Casino and Hotel in Lemay. Ameristar Casinos Inc. announced in November a plan for a $241 million expansion at its St. Charles location to include a 400-room hotel and a conference center; and the Casino Queen Hotel and Casino in East St. Louis also has on tap a $150 million expansion with a "boat in a moat," restaurants and additional hotel rooms.
Read More
Heather Cole
The principals of Rodgers Development Group got the opportunity to purchase a city block's worth of riverfront property -- five months before Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. announced its plans for a $400 million development on Laclede's Landing.
John Clark, president of Laclede's Landing Redevelopment Corp., and board member Jim Huck saw the Rodgerses' Shaw Park Villas project in Clayton and asked twins Mark and John Rodgers in early 2005 to come down to the Landing. They wanted a similar project for the riverfront lot, Mark Rodgers said.
"We said, 'There's no way we could get this lot. It's the greatest lot in St. Louis.'"
They were quickly proved wrong -- over the next month, Rodgers Development was able to put the three parcels that comprised the empty lot under contract. As they were working on approval from Laclede's Landing Redevelopment for a $25 million condominium development to be called Port St. Louis, they received a call from Pinnacle's Chief Executive Dan Lee.
Mark Rodgers said, "At that point, (the project) was almost 40 percent pre-sold. One thing led to the next, and we signed a joint operating agreement," with Pinnacle taking on half the risk of the project. The deal was announced Dec. 8.
Rodgers Development is the developer and contractor for the condominiums. The condos will count as part of Pinnacle's commitment to the city of St. Louis to be responsible for $50 million in development in addition to the $400 million being spent on a casino, hotel, business center, restaurants, and meeting and convention space.
Rodgers Development is among many St. Louis contractors and subcontractors to find opportunities for work on four major casino developments planned or under way in the St. Louis area.
In addition to Pinnacle's downtown project, it also is developing the $375 million River City Casino and Hotel in Lemay. Ameristar Casinos Inc. announced in November a plan for a $241 million expansion at its St. Charles location to include a 400-room hotel and a conference center; and the Casino Queen Hotel and Casino in East St. Louis also has on tap a $150 million expansion with a "boat in a moat," restaurants and additional hotel rooms.
Read More
Wow, $1,000,000,000 in casino investment. It's a great force for redevelopment, but you have to wonder who will be paying that back.
I just don't think those computer-generated renderings are very inviting. I'd like to see a more life-like image. I checked out the architect's website (SFS Architects of Kansas City) and they seem to do some pretty nice work. The finished building should be fine.
Is this supposed to be underway, or is it on the back burner until the casino is done? I think this project is a great addition to the Landing.
According to the Ballpark Village Market Study, it is still planned, but no start date was given.