South Grand: 44 to Tower Grove Park

mattonarsenal · PostMay 29, 2014#12014-05-29T14:42+00:00

This is an interesting portion of the Grand corridor that could use some upgrades. There was some side discussion on another thread, so I thought I would start a dedicated thread starting with part of that discussion. There is a thread dedicated to the Pelican Building here http://urbanstl.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... 0&start=75, but I thought a thread discussing the larger corridor would be useful.

Gateway City wrote:I was thinking Grand between 44 and the park. That area could use some infill/rehabs.

wabash wrote:I think the problem (I suppose I'm stating the obvious here) is that apartment, retail, and commercial rents just don't justify new construction on S. Grand.

There is a group of neighborhood residents knowledgeable in planning and development that are working on laying the groundwork for new developments in the corridor from 44 to Tower Grove.

The issue is site control, not rents. The Pelican/YMCA site ownership was/is a mess. The other main property prime for development just south of Subway is owned by AT&T who has not been willing to sell to this point.

Rents could support new construction, with some incentives. It is doable, and there are developers with interest.

onecity · PostMay 29, 2014#22014-05-29T15:43+00:00

A road diet/Great Streets project, plus opening up Cleveland, Flad, and Flora would be a great start.

zink · PostMay 29, 2014#32014-05-29T15:52+00:00

Question,
What is the building on the corner of Magnolia and Grand. A school?

Knowitall · PostMay 29, 2014#42014-05-29T16:36+00:00

Which side?

Head Start Center on north
Senior Living in the tower next to it.

the 3 story on the south side is police station turned into apartments?

captainjackass · PostMay 29, 2014#52014-05-29T16:42+00:00

What's the traffic like on that stretch over the course of the day? Heaviest in the morning?

jstriebel · PostMay 29, 2014#62014-05-29T16:45+00:00

captainjackass wrote:What's the traffic like on that stretch over the course of the day? Heaviest in the morning?

Pretty much the to and from work times are the heaviest. So 7:30-10:00 and 4:00-6:00 or thereabouts. But there is always a steady flow of traffic during the day.

Knowitall · PostMay 29, 2014#72014-05-29T16:52+00:00

from 4-6, Its a mess down by SLU hospital to about the park, then it thins out after you hit arsenal.

roger wyoming II · PostMay 29, 2014#82014-05-29T16:58+00:00

There needs to be better bus transit to really unlock the potential of Grand... true BRT would be great, but even adding something like what Metro has in mind as its "BRT" could be a big improvement for this key line. Having a 70 Express (or whatever you want to call it) that has limited stops (but more on the lines of every half-mile as opposed to minimum 1 mile per Metro plans), enhanced shelter stops and pre-boarding would be a big step up.

moorlander · PostMay 29, 2014#92014-05-29T17:52+00:00

Hopefully the larger articulated buses will help.

roger wyoming II · PostMay 29, 2014#102014-05-29T18:01+00:00

^ yeah, we'll see. They probably can't hurt and make it more likely to find a seat, but it will do little with the super slo-mo nature of the 70. Pre-boarding and fewer stops would be an immense improvement I think. So say moving north from Arsenal, you have stops at Shenandoah, SLU Medical and then bang you're connected to the Metrolink or continue on one more stop to Grand Center.

btw, I think the public can help paint one of the articulateds this Saturday.

mattonarsenal · PostMay 29, 2014#112014-05-29T21:55+00:00

It always amazes me that there is a stop on the south corner of Reservoir Park and the north corner, less than 1,000 feet away from each other.

BrickCity4470 · PostMay 30, 2014#122014-05-30T00:30+00:00

That subway and At&T were once a Baskin Robbins i think. I remember the Jack n the Box always being there. I do agree that part of Grand can use some upgrading and opening of those streets would really in liven the neighborhood.