urbanSTL

If the Roberts brothers put a café with outdoor seating on the ground floor of their new tower as they have said, then this will greatly improve the ambiance of the plaza.

I drove past the plaza around 12:45 and it was about 20 people just relaxing it looked pretty nice with people there

stlouis270 wrote:I drove past the plaza around 12:45 and it was about 20 people just relaxing it looked pretty nice with people there

I just got back from the Pasta House, where the outdoor tables were full and there were lots of people in the plaza, enjoying the beautiful weather. There were people who looked like they were about to work out, a couple of guys with dogs, people eating lunch, etc. And all of this with a major construction project going on next door!



If the Roberts Brothers can get a good restaurant for the ground floor of the tower and get some decent retail tenants for their loft building, the plaza will really get hopping.

Arch City wrote:^I want the Roberts properties to have some decent retail tenants too, however, if they are still charging a ridiculous amount per square footage, getting decent tenants is a long shot.



Seriously, last time I checked they would need to land a big national chain to cover that rent. Maybe that will happen sooner or later.

Yeah, I'm not pleased with what they've done with the retail space in the Gallerie Building in the loft district and at the old W.S. Hotel either. I wish they'd just lower the rent and bring in a leasing agent who specializes in retail.

What's up with the screen. Haven't seen it on yet.

There was supposed to be a bluegrass band performing at the plaza today at lunchtime, but I'm guessing that did not happen.

I am really excited that I got to see this projects from the beginning stages on paper to a completed project. The area around the Old Post office seems to be shaping up rather nicely! That area coupled with Washington Avenue will hopefully serve as a catalyst for more creative and pedestrian active developments in Downtown STL.



Attracting the Creative Class should be a major objective of planners and politicians in STL. These kinds of projects do just that in my opinion.

Channel 4 was broadcasting from the plaza this morning and showed a boot camp class that was taking place. The plaza looked great on TV!

good press for the neighborhood.

Upon first glance it may seem like a fairly cold and uninviting concrete "oasis." However we may want to reserve judgment until after the Roberts Tower has been erected and the trees matured. The finished look appears a bit more polished: http://www.downtownstl.org/OldPostOfficePlaza_2566.aspx

The Roberts Tower Cafe will surely help. As will some activities:





Old Post Office Plaza Calendar

Not So Quiet Concert Series-Dawn Weber & Electro Funk Assembly

05/14/2009 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Old Post Office Plaza



Join us at the Old Post Office Plaza at 9th and Locust for this free concert series. Tonight, Dawn Weber & The Electro Funk Assembly create an explosive, high-energy blend of jazz, Latin, and funk grooves with electronic elements to create great dance music.

innov8ion wrote:Upon first glance it may seem like a fairly cold and uninviting concrete "oasis." However we may want to reserve judgment until after the Roberts Tower has been erected and the trees matured. The finished look appears a bit more polished: http://www.downtownstl.org/OldPostOfficePlaza_2566.aspx

here you go jeff.

Jeff707 wrote:Walked by there last week.... hmm. A lot of concrete. Not much shade. No real place to sit (other than the concrete blocks on the eastern side).



All in all, unless there is programming there, I can't see people being drawn there.

Last week there were about 15 to 25 people hanging out there at lunch every day, with a yoga class going on in the center open space. The section with trees on the east had quite a few sitting and reading/eating lunch. I think as time goes on it will continue to be a popular place.

^Really? I saw the yoga class one day, but walked past during lunch around noon Mon-Thurs and didn't see anyone, save a guy ranting with a bible in his hand and a maintenance worker skimming garbage out of the fountain thing.

bprop wrote:^Really? I saw the yoga class one day, but walked past during lunch around noon Mon-Thurs and didn't see anyone, save a guy ranting with a bible in his hand and a maintenance worker skimming garbage out of the fountain thing.

Actually counted today at 12:30 or so, exactly 15 people using and 1 maintenance man.



4 doing the yoga/exercise thing, 11 conversing, eating, reading.



No, I will not do daily counts.

^ Not even for beer?

innov8ion wrote:^ Not even for beer?

Hold on... You mean I can do this for beer?!

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

bprop wrote:^Really? I saw the yoga class one day, but walked past during lunch around noon Mon-Thurs and didn't see anyone, save a guy ranting with a bible in his hand and a maintenance worker skimming garbage out of the fountain thing.

Cool! I love any space that can attract loons. It's very entertaining.

Me too. Unfortunately I didn't have any chicken wings to litter the ground with so I wasn't able to sit down and eat

If anyone saw the lunchtime concert at the plaza Friday it was an example of what I think is wrong about the design of this space. The band played under a small temporary canopy on the north end with a big open empty expanse of concrete in front them. The music was great but those who did stop to listen were mostly across the street on the steps of the Post Office in the shade. It will get better when the new trees grow, but that's still only the eastern half of the plaza. It's a very uninviting empty space, especially in hot weather.