I don't quite understand what the expanded, two-story entrance to the Dillard's Building will look like, but I guess that in order to receive historic tax credits, it will be close to the building's original appearance.
- 1,768
brickandmortar wrote:
I wonder what the plans for the St. Louis Centre are? I've thought the best use would be street level retail with condos/apartments on the upper 3 floors. With all the glass in that place, I think it would be perfect for a living space.
Aside from the entryways, like all malls, I don't recall there being alot of glass on the building. It always seemed to have an "fortress" motif going on...I geuss you could cut some windows out like many loft projects do. If this would happen they would have to re-clad the exterior.
I would guess that the two-story enterance will just be a large modern glass enterence that doesn't clash with the rest of the building.
This is one of the best places to get a good picture of Washington Avenue. Go early so the sun isn't in your shot. Go, before it's too late.
- 10K
Now that I work downtown again, I decided to take a walk through the mall on my lunch break. The last time I had been there (besides visiting a first-floor t-shirt shop during the Final Four) was probably 2003. I didn't think it could get much worse, but it apparently has.
The second floor is mostly cheap jewelry stores with cheesy signage and decor. I noticed a couple of clothing stores, a cookie shop and a FootAction, which appeared to be the only "legit" retailer on the floor. Most of the shops appear to have been consolidated on the second floor, but there was still lots of vacancies.
The third floor was completely devoid of any shops whatsoever. Many of the old shops are being used as display space for artists, but all of the storefronts had their doors closed.
The fourth floor still has good 'ol Walgreens and not much else. The food court now consists of three, count 'em, three restaurants: Sbarro, a fried fish/shrimp place (I believe it was called "Fish and Shrimp") and a Chinese place. In what I assume to be a cost-cutting measure, all of the overhead lights in the food court's dining area have been turned off (or are burned out), leaving the handful of diners I saw sitting in relative darkness.
I don't know what the Centre's new owner has in store, but whatever it is, something needs to be done soon. I felt horrible as I was getting on the down escalator and saw a the shocked look on the faces of a group of tourists as they got off the up escalator, only to find that the "Four floors of dining, shopping and entertainment" wasn't exactly what they had bargained for.
The mall is a disgrace, and as a resident of the city, I'm embarassed that it exists. It was on life support the last time I was there; this time it was almost completely dead.
The second floor is mostly cheap jewelry stores with cheesy signage and decor. I noticed a couple of clothing stores, a cookie shop and a FootAction, which appeared to be the only "legit" retailer on the floor. Most of the shops appear to have been consolidated on the second floor, but there was still lots of vacancies.
The third floor was completely devoid of any shops whatsoever. Many of the old shops are being used as display space for artists, but all of the storefronts had their doors closed.
The fourth floor still has good 'ol Walgreens and not much else. The food court now consists of three, count 'em, three restaurants: Sbarro, a fried fish/shrimp place (I believe it was called "Fish and Shrimp") and a Chinese place. In what I assume to be a cost-cutting measure, all of the overhead lights in the food court's dining area have been turned off (or are burned out), leaving the handful of diners I saw sitting in relative darkness.
I don't know what the Centre's new owner has in store, but whatever it is, something needs to be done soon. I felt horrible as I was getting on the down escalator and saw a the shocked look on the faces of a group of tourists as they got off the up escalator, only to find that the "Four floors of dining, shopping and entertainment" wasn't exactly what they had bargained for.
The mall is a disgrace, and as a resident of the city, I'm embarassed that it exists. It was on life support the last time I was there; this time it was almost completely dead.
- 1,610
The mall is a disgrace, and as a resident of the city, I'm embarassed that it exists.
My thoughts exactly. I work downtown too, and when I come across tourists, I divert them away if possible.
Simple sample exchange:
Tourist asks, "Is there a (or where is the) mall downtown?"
I always respond, "Don't bother-- it's a failure. Try Union Station, if you want an indoor festival marketplace type mall nearby. Shop our streets like Washington Avenue, an area beginning to take shape, or explore our many vibrant neigborhoods outside of downtown."
- 1,649
Cohen apparently intends to install glass on the north end of the shopping center, where the bridge connects. He said he will announce his vision for renovating the struggling mall in July or August.
I look forward to hearing something in August...
- 396
What is up with this? Anyone know... I thought it was to be torn down before the Rams preseason game Aug 12th.. we are getting close...
- 687
MidcoastSTL wrote:What is up with this? Anyone know... I thought it was to be torn down before the Rams preseason game Aug 12th.. we are getting close...
You thought the whole center was to be torn down? I hadn't heard that. I think the removing of the skybridge across washington was approved but I don't know when they would start that.
- 1,649
buckethead wrote:MidcoastSTL wrote:What is up with this? Anyone know... I thought it was to be torn down before the Rams preseason game Aug 12th.. we are getting close...
You thought the whole center was to be torn down?
No, they didn't. I moved their thread here from another one they created with a title something like "skybridge coming down." The August 12th date came from Martin Van Der Werf's June 28th column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch titled: <A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... >Skybridge, skybridge, all fall down</A>.
Mike Hejna, president of Gundaker Commercial Group, which owns the Dillard's building, was quoted as saying he had hopes that the skybridge would come down by the Rams first home preseason game, August 12th.
Both developers have agreed to donate their portions of the bridge to Downtown Now, who will then tear down the skybridge. The money for demolition has already been raised. Hopefully it won't be much longer and then we can get the renovation of the Dillards building started.
- 687
urbanstlouis wrote:
No, they didn't. I moved their thread here from another one they created with a title something like "skybridge coming down." The August 12th date came from Martin Van Der Werf's June 28th column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch titled: <A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... >Skybridge, skybridge, all fall down</A>.
Mike Hejna, president of Gundaker Commercial Group, which owns the Dillard's building, was quoted as saying he had hopes that the skybridge would come down by the Rams first home preseason game, August 12th.
Both developers have agreed to donate their portions of the bridge to Downtown Now, who will then tear down the skybridge. The money for demolition has already been raised. Hopefully it won't be much longer and then we can get the renovation of the Dillards building started.
Thanks, that makes more sense now.
And I agree, the sooner they can get the skybridge down the better. I would really open up the streetscape.
- 10K
Has anyone heard any updates on this? I am SO ready for that bridge to come down, and the first (regular season) Rams game is just around the corner.
- 13
"Don't bother-- it's a failure. Try Union Station, if you want an indoor festival marketplace type mall nearby. Shop our streets like Washington Avenue, an area beginning to take shape, or explore our many vibrant neigborhoods outside of downtown."
Southslider, you actulay say that? What do you work for the CVC or are you just reading from a guide book? So very caned. I am sure that converastion is awkard.
- 1,282
Plans for demolishing skybridge blow sky high By MARTIN VAN DER WERF Post-Dispatch columnist
By Martin Van Der Werf
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
09/22/2005
A "deal" to demolish the skybridge over Washington Avenue at St. Louis Centre has fallen apart.
Downtown Now had offered to pay for tearing down the three-level structure. Barry Cohen, who owns the shopping center, and Gundaker Commercial Group, which owns the former Dillard's building at the other end of the bridge, had a verbal agreement to make it happen.
Now, Cohen says the written plan, which involved donating the bridge to Downtown Now, was unacceptable. Last week, Downtown Now withdrew its offer.
"I am perplexed as to why this discussion must be so tedious and difficult," Tom Reeves, executive director of Downtown Now, wrote to Cohen.
Cohen says he plans to redevelop the mall, which has been mostly vacant for several years. "As part of our redevelopment plans, we're going to take down the bridge," he said.
Cohen, however, declined to attach a timetable. "I don't want to give you a date, and then not be able to meet it."
He often has talked about having big plans for the four-story center, but repeatedly has put off launching the project.
By Martin Van Der Werf
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
09/22/2005
A "deal" to demolish the skybridge over Washington Avenue at St. Louis Centre has fallen apart.
Downtown Now had offered to pay for tearing down the three-level structure. Barry Cohen, who owns the shopping center, and Gundaker Commercial Group, which owns the former Dillard's building at the other end of the bridge, had a verbal agreement to make it happen.
Now, Cohen says the written plan, which involved donating the bridge to Downtown Now, was unacceptable. Last week, Downtown Now withdrew its offer.
"I am perplexed as to why this discussion must be so tedious and difficult," Tom Reeves, executive director of Downtown Now, wrote to Cohen.
Cohen says he plans to redevelop the mall, which has been mostly vacant for several years. "As part of our redevelopment plans, we're going to take down the bridge," he said.
Cohen, however, declined to attach a timetable. "I don't want to give you a date, and then not be able to meet it."
He often has talked about having big plans for the four-story center, but repeatedly has put off launching the project.
- 10K
What is with this Cohen guy? I'm glad that MVDW called him out on his "big plans." This is getting ridiculous.
I read that today and just got angry. Can't we eminent domain him or something?
I think the city is willing to give him a chance, but if this drags on much longer the city will procede with condemnation to force his had.
- 10K
It sounds like they're getting frustrated with this guy. Here's a little blurb from a recent South City Journal article:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/neighb ... 20Downtown
But the CVC board was interested in one part of the Downtown in particular ? a part that Geisman said she couldn't talk about much ? the once-thriving and now predominantly abandoned St. Louis Center.
"We are working on St. Louis Center," Geisman said. "That, in our opinion, is the biggest hole in our revitalization effort. Be assured we are focusing on that."
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/neighb ... 20Downtown
The new St. Louis Business Journal that was in stores today has an article on the front page about this subject. I bought a copy, but I haven't been able to read it yet. It should be online late Sunday night, though.
- 1,282
I read it and this Cohen guy wants to tear down the skybridge himself, but he is probably going to take forever. 
- 10K
Did it say why he wants to do it himself, when Downtown Now has offered to pay for it?
If you read his older statements, its clear that the developer wants to find a way to keep the skybridge. If he holds off on demolishing it, then it gives him time to come out with his proposal and maybe sway the city to embrace keeping the skybridge. Besides now or later, if he wants to take it down, I bet Downtown Now will be waiting with a sack of money, so he figures why not wait.
For the next UrbanStLouis forum meet, I propose that we all go down there with sledge hammers and just demolish it ourselves. That may be the only way it ever comes down.
- 1,282
bridge too far
Fed up with slow progress on plans for St. Louis Centre, Downtown Now pulls funding for skybridge demolition
Lisa R. Brown
Gundaker Commercial Group is moving forward with its plans to renovate the former Dillard's building at 601 Washington Ave. into condos, but the removal of the three-story skybridge over Washington Avenue that links it to St. Louis Centre is now stalled
Barry Cohen, owner of St. Louis Centre, and Mike Hejna, president of Gundaker Commercial Group, had reached an agreement in June to tear down the bridge, which Cohen owns. Gundaker only owns fifteen feet of the bridge, where the white and green tile structure connects with the brick facade of the Dillard's building.
Downtown Now, a public/private downtown revitalization partnership, had offered to pay as much as $400,000 to remove the bridge, which its Executive Director Tom Reeves calls an eyesore.
As part of the June agreement, it was to be demolished by this fall. But Reeves said that offer is now off the table. "We set a date of Sept. 15 for Barry Cohen to take down his bridge. That date has now passed
Read More
Fed up with slow progress on plans for St. Louis Centre, Downtown Now pulls funding for skybridge demolition
Lisa R. Brown
Gundaker Commercial Group is moving forward with its plans to renovate the former Dillard's building at 601 Washington Ave. into condos, but the removal of the three-story skybridge over Washington Avenue that links it to St. Louis Centre is now stalled
Barry Cohen, owner of St. Louis Centre, and Mike Hejna, president of Gundaker Commercial Group, had reached an agreement in June to tear down the bridge, which Cohen owns. Gundaker only owns fifteen feet of the bridge, where the white and green tile structure connects with the brick facade of the Dillard's building.
Downtown Now, a public/private downtown revitalization partnership, had offered to pay as much as $400,000 to remove the bridge, which its Executive Director Tom Reeves calls an eyesore.
As part of the June agreement, it was to be demolished by this fall. But Reeves said that offer is now off the table. "We set a date of Sept. 15 for Barry Cohen to take down his bridge. That date has now passed
Read More
Okay this is Slay's response to Cohen's stalling.
Whatever.
As Tom Reeves told us, there?s plenty else to do Downtown. Meanwhile, we?ll keep sending Mr. Cohen those tax bills
Recall NOW!!!!!
Whatever.
As Tom Reeves told us, there?s plenty else to do Downtown. Meanwhile, we?ll keep sending Mr. Cohen those tax bills
Recall NOW!!!!!