I'm glad to see the "centRE" sign go. The inversion of those two letters always drove me up the wall. It was always completely inexplicable to me and screamed "Ye Olde Shoppe" , which is something that every city can do with less of.
I am amused the sign takes the effort to display each name in a different typeface, which I expect is intended to convey Contemporary vs. Historic, but the names themselves do not.
I am neutral with the names. They seem like perfectly good names for residential buildings.
Like everyone else, I just want to see something completed. In the meantime, I am glad they put up a banner. It is better that visitors see a development site than see an abandoned mall.
I'd be willing to forgive Pyramid for the ridiculous names, but only if these lofts are open in time for my son to buy one in about 25 or 30 years. Needless to say, I have my doubts.
What happened to 600 Washington? I see nothing wrong with calling the combined office, retail, and residential building replacing St. Louis Centre by that name. And did it occur to Pyramid that a department store once operated across the street? Calling it The Stix, the SB&F Lofts, or the Grand Leader (as Stix Baer & Fuller was alternately referred to many years ago) would recognize the building's historical significance.
What's in a name? Not much, I suppose, because I don't know of anyone that would prefer an empty building with its traditional identity intact over a beautifully rehabbed structure that contributes to downtown's vitality. However, there are some silly names out there lately (The Alexa also comes to mind). I just prefer building names that recognize the historical significance of their previous use whenever appropriate, instead of generic names that are more appropriate for suburban development.
For the St. Louis Centre structure, I would have preferred 600 Washington as well. The Stix Lofts would have been catchy too.
For the The Georgian project, should they have called the building City Hospital Lofts (or Condominiums)? Naw. Cheesy.
Many old buildings downtown don't carry their original names for the project. In time, some of these buildings will get new owners and the names will change again - maybe back to the original.
People can always refer to the buildings by their original names though. I will likely do interchangeable identification. Anyway, I like that Pyramid is keeping The Arcade name for the Arcade-Wright Building project. They did the same with the Paul Brown Lofts. What made them change course with the Stix building, I have no clue. Just renovate it already.
Arch City wrote:For the The Georgian project, should they have called the building City Hospital Lofts (or Condominiums)? Naw. Cheesy.
Good point. Obviously I didn't consider City Hospital when I wrote my previous post, because that just wouldn't work very well...
Arch City wrote:People can always refer to the buildings by their original names though. I will likely do interchangeable identification. Anyway, I like that Pyramid is keeping The Arcade name for the Arcade-Wright Building project. They did the same with the Paul Brown Lofts. What made them change course with the Stix building, I have no clue. Just renovate it already.
I guess that's why I'm surprised. I'm pleased that Pyramid kept the original names of the Paul Brown and Arcade(-Wright) buildings. I don't know why they felt it was necessary to change course with the Stix Baer & Fuller Building, although there's an entire generation out there with no direct ties to Stix since Dillard's has been in the market for well over 20 years now.
Were I choosing names for the buildings, I would have done what Pyramid did: think of two names that have as little to do with their retail history as possible.
Both names they chose have been in the St. Louis streets directory of names for decades. (And there's something particularly fitting about "Laurel" in a downtown that already has a Chestnut, a Walnut, and a Pine Street.)
^I agree. Laurel also brings the image of a wreath, like the Cadillac hood ornament. I can imagine an upscale logo for the Laurel. Concord makes me think of international air travel, but also harmony & accord.
Both names feel upscale and grounded to me, which is appropriate for residential buildings. Perhaps they are a little more uptown than downtown. Bringing uptown downtown is a good idea.
I like the idea of saving the Stix name, but like 314 said, it hasn't been Stix for 20 years. And Downtown St. Louis needs to be more than a quaint museum of past glory. Quaint & historic is appropriate, but we also need upscale, traditional, and cutting edge. A little of everything. I think the Laurel & the Concord fall in the upscale & traditional category.
To me, they sound like vinyl sided condo developments at 21 & 270 in South County.
They should have called the Dillards building The Stix Lofts or The Baer Lofts or something like that. Not sure of a good name for the St. Louis Centre Lofts.
I can see why you think that, since Concord is a South County place name. Anyway, if these properties are nice and marketed properly, the Concord and the Laurel will bring new images to the St. Louis mind. Looking forward to actual building so we can talk about something other than names .
Expat wrote:I can see why you think that, since Concord is a South County place name. Anyway, if these properties are nice and marketed properly, the Concord and the Laurel will bring new images to the St. Louis mind. Looking forward to actual building so we can talk about something other than names .
Yeah, at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. I don't think anyone will not buy because of the name.
But if I was to buy there, I think I would tell people I live in the Dillard's Building.
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