St. Louis Centre Redevelopment/Updates

matguy70 · PostDec 21, 2004#12004-12-21T02:28+00:00

Any new information about this? or STL Centre in general?

St. Louis Centre had been proposed for an event/festival type area for the 2005 NCAA Final Four. I am not sure what they had in mind, but I am all for it. Anything is better than a half-empty mall during such a large event, which would draw a lot of visitors from out of state.

MattnSTL · PostDec 21, 2004#22004-12-21T05:58+00:00

It is going to be used as an event area using the whole mall for various activities. There should be more info on it as we get closer to the Final 4.

urbanstlouis · PostDec 21, 2004#32004-12-21T07:44+00:00

You can call the St. Louis Organizing Committee at 314-621-2582 and inquire as to how their plans for the 2005 NCAA Final Four will incorporate St. Louis Centre. The St. Louis Organizing Committee offices can also be reached at 314-621-2307.

related website:

http://www.stlloc.org

metzgda · PostDec 21, 2004#42004-12-21T13:48+00:00

Wouldn't it be great to use the St. Louis Centre to "showcase" some of the new development projects going on in the city, during the 2004 final four? Developers could setup booths with renderings of buildings, floor plan layouts, etc... A lot of people will be in town, and this would really sell our city, showing all the new developments going on. You never know, it might get out-of-towners interested in moving, company owners to take a look at STL as a relocation area, and out-of-town developers interest in investing in our region.

Anyone on this website have time to contact someone about doing this?

debaliviere · PostDec 21, 2004#52004-12-21T15:51+00:00

That's a great idea. You may want to contact the Downtown St. Louis Partnership on something like that since they already have all kinds of marketing materials on hand touting the virtues of living and working downtown.

And then ask them to pressure the owner of the Centre into tearing it down after the Final Four.

10-intuition · PostDec 25, 2004#62004-12-25T00:46+00:00

I went there the a couple days ago and this place was as dead as a rock, not very many shoppers or stores for that matter. Most of the stores I see there are shoe stores. The Walgreens on the 4th floor was pretty busy, when I was in there buying gift wrapping paper. Seemed like that store was the busiest from what I saw.

Other than that, I wish they find something to do with this relic, either tear it down or modify it to include first level store fronts. This place isn't very nice to show off to visitors coming to see the NCAA. The area along Washington Ave. is thriving, while St. Louis Centre sits and rots.

I wonder what events they have planned this Spring...

debaliviere · PostDec 25, 2004#72004-12-25T19:06+00:00

I was there about a week ago, and it seemed even worse than the last time I was there.

Did you notice, or did it seem like they're not heating the mall. Famous-Barr had its doors partially closed, and it was much warmer in Famous than it was in the rest of the mall.

MattnSTL · PostDec 25, 2004#82004-12-25T19:10+00:00

Maybe the heat is broken and the wonderful former owner didn't want to fix it. I wouldn't be surprised.

10-intuition · PostDec 26, 2004#92004-12-26T01:04+00:00

I did notice it was a bit chilly inside the mall and I was wearing my thick jacket. I am not surprised either they may have had the heat turned off, its costly to heat the whole mall, its stores, and 4 floors. They even had the fountains turned off in the center court next to the elevator.

archmadness · PostDec 26, 2004#102004-12-26T23:05+00:00

I heard they were going to blow it up on national TV after a team wins the title. God I hope so.

10-intuition · PostDec 27, 2004#112004-12-27T00:51+00:00

^ that would be something interesting to see, but what will go in its place?

matguy70 · PostDec 29, 2004#122004-12-29T21:08+00:00

What do you think about this?

I'm not sure what/how I feel about it - but it must be a step into the new St. Louis Centre.

Rehabbing going on NOW at the St. Louis Centre -

New lighting and all lights being replaced in the St. Louis Centre Marquee's today - 12/29/2004

New signage and step/sidewalk repairs at St. Louis Centre / Convention Center Metro Subway Station entrance:

and a new website to boot ?

http://www.stlouiscentre.com/

MattnSTL · PostDec 29, 2004#132004-12-29T21:31+00:00

Nice site. I found this interesting.

It is unclear what will happen to St. Louis Centre, but it has been suggested that there will be street-level retail. The new owner wants to do this right and not make any hasty decisions regarding the malls future. Before St. Louis Centre was sold, some speculated that the mall could be overhauled and better marketed, or torn down all together for the purpose of building a new Class A office building.

In a better office market, just the land under St. Louis Centre could be worth more than the $5.4 million paid at the foreclosure sale. The site is located near the Convention Center MetroLink station, Gateway Arch, America's Center, Busch Stadium, Laclede's Landing, Edward Jones Dome, a revitalized Washington Avenue Loft District and many fine hotels.

debaliviere · PostDec 29, 2004#142004-12-29T22:08+00:00

Maybe this is part of the cleanup efforts in preparation for the Final Four.

I hope that after the Final Four, the thing is torn down! At the very least, I would love to see the two skywalks torn down, especially the one over Washington.

xing · PostDec 30, 2004#152004-12-30T01:31+00:00

What they need to do is make it smaller, get rid of the catwalk, make street level retail, make it more inviting, and fix the exterior so it does not look so out of place. Also, a shuttle between city center and Union Station would be a good idea, IMO. This is assuming they keep it.

arch city · PostDec 30, 2004#162004-12-30T06:04+00:00

Good deal!

debaliviere · PostDec 30, 2004#172004-12-30T14:24+00:00

Good points, Xing. Milwaukee has a downtown mall, The Shops of Grand Avenue, that experienced a decline similar to that of St. Louis Centre, but it is slowly luring new retailers (Old Navy, Linens N' Things, etc.) as their downtown has improved and added new residents. The Marshall Fields store there closed, but has been converted to lofts - like we hope the Dillard's Building will be.

Their mall is kind of a cross between St. Louis Centre and the Arcade Building - it incorporates a historic shopping arcade. One thing about their mall that is better than SLC is its exterior appearance - it has more street level retail and more glass, so you can actually see the retailers in the mall from the street.

archmadness · PostDec 30, 2004#182004-12-30T15:39+00:00

Nice call DeBaliviere bringing up Milwaukee. The Grand Ave mall would be a good example to follow.

par · PostDec 30, 2004#192004-12-30T19:36+00:00

ArchMadness wrote:Nice call DeBaliviere bringing up Milwaukee. The Grand Ave mall would be a good example to follow.

Another good example might be Philadelphia. Cant remember the name off hand.

Michael Allen · PostDec 31, 2004#202004-12-31T19:46+00:00

I know that Philadelphia has an arcade called The Bourse.

par · PostDec 31, 2004#212004-12-31T20:53+00:00

I was thinking of The Gallery at Market East

http://www.galleryatmarketeast.com/pages/index.jsp

One key is they have access into some of the larger stores (Gap, Old Navy) directly from the street.

xing · PostDec 31, 2004#222004-12-31T22:54+00:00

The Nordstrums Mall in downtown Chicago is also another good example. Restaurants, and retail line the street, and invite people inside. City Center never did this, and it's vital that it does.

thewayofthearch · PostJan 04, 2005#232005-01-04T19:44+00:00

We all have to realize that ST. Louis Centre was a product of the times. It was supposed to be a fortress, a brightly lit, private place away form the grim streets. Hell, even inside stores still had gates up. Now, it doesn't fit because there is a neighborhood and environment to be a part of. I would say take the catwalk out, Heller probably doesn't need/want it attached to the Dillards building anyway, and have an full view of Washington Ave. Then punch some holes in the walls for street level action. During this, jazz up/modernize the exterior a notch and BAAM! Instant mall. Well kinda instant. Not really instant at all but a good plan. Or we could tear it down...

sshoe · PostFeb 03, 2005#242005-02-03T16:42+00:00

St. Louis Center Skybridge may come down. Finally. They should actually just tear out the entire St. Louis Center, but the bridge is a good first step.

SShoe

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... +come+down+

urbanstlouis · PostFeb 03, 2005#252005-02-03T16:47+00:00

The skybridge at St. Louis Centre "...psychologically divides downtown from Laclede's Landing"? I think I-70 does a better job of doing that. Good to hear this may finally come down, and double good news in knowing that the old Dillard's building is about to get underway mid-year!