StlAlex wrote: ↑10:37 AM - Jan 16
It would be pretty straightforward to take down Enterprise. There is very little shared utilities, not even the loading docks are shared. Most of Enterprise could be torn down and redeveloped with little to no affect on Stifel. Even the Blues offices are under Stifel and not Enterprise.
I think we're talking past each other. I don't mean to say it would be impossible, merely that it would be expensive and complicated. Demolishing large buildings always is, and doubly so when they share a common wall or any other kind of infrastructure with another building. (And I would be surprised if a wall is all the opera house has in common with the arena. Maybe it is, but I'd be a little surprised.) This might not be quite as bad as demolishing the Queeny Tower, but it would be more complicated than demolishing the old Arena, which was itself pretty darn complicated.
And I'm not quite sure why it's necessary. I understand that the team offices aren't what the people in them might like, so there's a need for new offices. I get it that the locker room facilities might need updating or expansion. That there could be a need for a practice gym adjacent or some team medical facilities, or some other back of house function. Okay. That makes sense. So I can understand the desire to expand or replace the facility, but there seems to be an assumption on this board that expansion isn't possible, and I haven't heard a call for replacement anywhere else.
Mind you, I don't work for the Blues, and I don't have any special knowledge of the facility. I've worked in there a couple of times, many many years ago, but just as a stagehand pushing boxes. (And the place makes that spectacularly pleasant. Hands down the best hall I've ever worked in to load.) And I don't really see anything else obvious that's wrong with it, so I favor expanding it as the cheaper and less disruptive option. Any option will require some demo, it's just a question of how much and how complicated.
My thinking is that demolishing and replacing a parking garage is a lot easier than demolishing and replacing an architecturally significant historic building that is presently in use,
and demolishing and replacing a large arena. Building on the post office site more than doubles the amount of demo needed, and probably the complexity of it as well. Building north of the dome would require less demo and it would be cheaper than the post office site, but it would still be more demo and likely more expense than my proposal unless you want a vacant arena. (Which I really don't. I can't for the life of me think what we could do with it with no team in there. The Bilikens don't need it, and it would be competing with the Dome for conventions.)
So why are we all so set on building elsewhere? Because we don't think a garage across 14th would work? Why wouldn't it? Because we don't think it's possible to fit an expansion into an adjacent lot that's 250'x350'? Why not? Do we think the city wouldn't sell? They might not. But there's no guarantee the USPS would sell either. And it's darned unlikely either one would say no to a large enough wad of cash. I really feel like a garage across 14th solves a lot of problems and helps more development than just this one project. It makes the Municipal Courts more viable. It helps City Hall, potentially allowing them to do something with their parking lot.
So what is it the team really needs? Keep in mind, if this is a cheaper option it means they can spend more money on other things, like better finishes, more square footage, or maybe even salaries.
