Post Office Plaza

gone corporate · PostMay 28, 2009#4262009-05-28T23:37+00:00

^ The fact that there was a lunchtime concert to begin with is a good thing. Sure as sh*t would not have happenned on that old gravel parking lot.

Another concert there tonight, 3 guys in a string band. Downtown suits and residents were hanging around watching it, a few dozen as I drove by. Hot dog vendor making money, a couple families watching the show, band being videotaped by a friend. AND, no homeless people milling around.

I say: success.

rbb · PostMay 29, 2009#4272009-05-29T12:19+00:00

-RBB

the central scrutinizer · PostMay 29, 2009#4282009-05-29T15:29+00:00

Gone Corporate wrote:^ The fact that there was a lunchtime concert to begin with is a good thing. Sure as sh*t would not have happenned on that old gravel parking lot.

Another concert there tonight, 3 guys in a string band. Downtown suits and residents were hanging around watching it, a few dozen as I drove by. Hot dog vendor making money, a couple families watching the show, band being videotaped by a friend. AND, no homeless people milling around.

I say: success.

Is there a link to some sort of schedule for this place? I'd like to check it out sometime.

debaliviere · PostMay 29, 2009#4292009-05-29T15:33+00:00

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Is there a link to some sort of schedule for this place? I'd like to check it out sometime.

http://www.downtownstl.org/OldPostOffic ... _2735.aspx

PostJun 26, 2009#4302009-06-26T18:07+00:00

There was a great brass band playing in the plaza at lunch. Despite the ridiculous heat, there was actually a pretty good turnout. I had no intention of walking in that direction, but the music lured me over there and I stuck around for a few songs.

It does seem a little weird in that the band performs in front of a large open space in the center of the plaza, while everyone is sitting off to the sides. When I first walked up, I thought there was no one there, but looking around, that did not prove to be the case. Lots of people, including me, were sitting on the OPO steps across the street.

Anyway, I've been really impressed with the programming at the plaza so far. Made for a nice lunch break.

moorlander · PostJun 26, 2009#4312009-06-26T18:23+00:00

What's up with the Cardinals Arch?

debaliviere · PostJun 26, 2009#4322009-06-26T18:25+00:00

Moorlander wrote:What's up with the Cardinals Arch?

They're all over downtown right now. I think there are a few in Kiener.

moorlander · PostJun 26, 2009#4332009-06-26T18:33+00:00

^ Ah.

zink · PostJun 26, 2009#4342009-06-26T19:11+00:00

Saw one in Clayton!

moorlander · PostJun 26, 2009#4352009-06-26T19:26+00:00

^I assume they all look different?

debaliviere · PostJun 26, 2009#4362009-06-26T19:35+00:00

Moorlander wrote:^I assume they all look different?

The Kiener ones have the various MLB logos on them.

flopoerich · PostJun 27, 2009#4372009-06-27T07:25+00:00

The one at the History museum looked like that one I think...

debaliviere · PostJun 29, 2009#4382009-06-29T14:52+00:00

Alex Ihnen · PostJun 29, 2009#4392009-06-29T14:56+00:00

^ Awesome. Unfortunately I will likely be :30 north of Indy on the way home to see the parents for the 4th weekend!

streetsabby · PostJul 01, 2009#4402009-07-01T06:49+00:00

Grover wrote:^ Awesome. Unfortunately I will likely be :30 north of Indy on the way home to see the parents for the 4th weekend!

Awwwwwww! Cute!

matguy70 · PostJul 11, 2009#4412009-07-11T22:55+00:00

Two movies this weeend in th plaza -

July 11 - can't remember (sorry)

July 12 - A League of Their Own

the count · PostSep 01, 2009#4422009-09-01T16:25+00:00

This Thursday, September 3 at the OPO Plaza: Footloose

MORE

doug · PostSep 01, 2009#4432009-09-01T16:33+00:00

OPO Plaza emptier than my bank account this Friday night.

Perhaps everyone was partying @ the Lot instead?

migueltejada · PostSep 01, 2009#4442009-09-01T20:01+00:00

had a chance to check out the plaza not too long ago, and talked to a number of people in the area about the plaza. They all said the same thing: Needs shade.

Another major failing of the plaza is the eastern end where all the benches are. My friend said it looks like the holocaust memorial in berlin, I think it looks like a graveyard, bottom line is that it looks bad. Shade and some reworking of the site could lead it to be used more, but who knows. And would it kill to have a street performer?

doug · PostSep 01, 2009#4452009-09-01T22:46+00:00

Will anyone agree that this site would be better used with a building?

debaliviere · PostSep 01, 2009#4462009-09-01T23:49+00:00

Doug wrote:Will anyone agree that this site would be better used with a building?

I would agree with that. I do think that the plaza will get better as the trees mature and the buildings around it are renovated.

urbanpioneer · PostSep 02, 2009#4472009-09-02T00:26+00:00

Doug wrote:Will anyone agree that this site would be better used with a building?

There is a building on the site. It's that tall one that's still under construction.

I think a completed and occupied Roberts Tower will add quite a bit of activity to the plaza.

rbb · PostSep 02, 2009#4482009-09-02T12:20+00:00

Doug wrote:Will anyone agree that this site would be better used with a building?

Needs a parking garage...

-RBB

jmedwick · PostSep 02, 2009#4492009-09-02T12:55+00:00

I will agree with Miguel's description of the Plaza, which when I visited was dead and oppressively hot due to the lack of shade from landscaping. I agree that the true test of the space will not come until the Roberts building has opened (and that the plaza would be much better if either the Roberts filled the ground floor retail space in the Board of Ed building or Schnucks had located their main entrance at Locust and 9th), but with the overall design of the space, I think it will be sparsely used even once the area around it has improved.

The site would have been better with a building. That said, the idea of a plaza in the Old Post Office area wasn't a bad one. As usual, it is execution which is key. Was the north side of Locust the best choice? No. Anyone who saw the space created when the Century Building was demolished would understand that the garage site would have made an incredible urban park (and the garage could have gone where the park is now).

threeonefour · PostSep 02, 2009#4502009-09-02T13:43+00:00

JMedwick wrote:I will agree with Miguel's description of the Plaza, which when I visited was dead and oppressively hot due to the lack of shade from landscaping. I agree that the true test of the space will not come until the Roberts building has opened (and that the plaza would be much better if either the Roberts filled the ground floor retail space in the Board of Ed building or Schnucks had located their main entrance at Locust and 9th), but with the overall design of the space, I think it will be sparsely used even once the area around it has improved.

What exactly are the Roberts Bros. charging for that space anyway?

It seems like it would serve them well to lease the space for less instead of letting go vacant for so long. Although, it's not like they have to worry about money, and they have many eggs in many baskets, so I suppose filling that space isn't really high on their priority list even though it would make their projects in the area more appealing if there were ground floor tenants besides the Roberts Tower sales center.

I'm reserving judgment of Post Office Plaza until I see the impact that Roberts Tower has on the space, but I believe that it represents a missed opportunity, while Citygarden is a success beyond expectations from both a design and usage perspective.

Post Office Plaza

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