bsharmastl wrote:Which property?
The one in Dutchtown where he hopes to establish some sort of renewable energy center.
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The one in Dutchtown where he hopes to establish some sort of renewable energy center.
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I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but as I was driving by on hwy 40 the other day, I noticed that the pitched roof above the fly space (for non theater people, that's the tall part of a theater above the stage where scenery, backdrops, etc. are hung) seems to be damaged/partially missing. Can anyone confirm whether this is damage/collapse, part of a roof replacement, or merely a feature of the original design?
I wish something would be done with this building...although it seems that nothing will for a while since they even took down the sign that sat for a while in front of the building. sad, because it's such a grand building!
I wish something would be done with this building...although it seems that nothing will for a while since they even took down the sign that sat for a while in front of the building. sad, because it's such a grand building!
I have seen that too and at first thought it was a cave in, but a second look from Market Street convinced me otherwise. I believe it's part of the design. A lot of theatres will have some sort of smoke baffle built in above the fly loft. When the fire curtain comes in, a counterweight triggers the doors up above to allow smoke to escape. Perhaps that is what it is.
I've heard a couple people say that there is going to be an announcement coming up in the next couple weeks regarding the Opera House. Has anyone else heard this as well?
Hopefully it's good news. That would be a great way to begin 2008.
Hopefully it's good news. That would be a great way to begin 2008.
I literally just wrote Mayor Slay an email about how much of a shame it is that it is still sitting there rotting away..... I hope that there is an announcement that will make me look like an a**hole for writing that email.....
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Magnatron wrote:I literally just wrote Mayor Slay an email about how much of a shame it is that it is still sitting there rotting away..... I hope that there is an announcement that will make me look like an a**hole for writing that email.....
They won't need an announcement.
Sometimes you really crack me up CS...- 10K
Magnatron wrote:Honestly..... Are the low blows neccessary?
Seriously now. Magnatron has never said anything here to warrant that comment. Be nice.
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DeBaliviere wrote:Magnatron wrote:Honestly..... Are the low blows neccessary?
Seriously now. Magnatron has never said anything here to warrant that comment. Be nice.
It was all in jest.
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The Central Scrutinizer wrote:It was all in jest.
Knowing your sense of humor, I figured it probably was. Next time, just use one of our lovely emoticons to convey that.
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:DeBaliviere wrote:Magnatron wrote:Honestly..... Are the low blows neccessary?
Seriously now. Magnatron has never said anything here to warrant that comment. Be nice.
It was all in jest.
Well, if you're going to skewer someone, perhaps it should be the sleazebags who took massive public subsidy to build yet another sports arena, promised to include the Opera House as part of the project, and then hid behind their lawyers and PR people when they reneged on their promises. (Hint: They're still in charge.)
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dweebe wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Magnatron wrote:This strand is eerily quiet.... Why do I have the feeling that absolutely nothing is happening with the Opera House?
Because nothing is happening with the Opera House.
Are they still scared because Larry Rice still claims he has "dibs" on the place, just like the federal building next door?
Larry Rice never claimed dibs on the opera house itself. The GSA gives non-profits first crack at for sale federal buildings, which is why Larry went after the federal building just west of the Kiel.
Breckenridge's plans for the opera house where contingent upon usage of that building for parking for both the opera house and the boutique hotel he had envisioned for the municipal courts building across 14th. He especially found the parking necessary so that the arena and the opera could carry events on the same evenings. Rice's claim on the building held up the project for quite some time, though it would never be awarded to him, leading to the eventual death of Breckenridge, scuttling the project.
Dave Checketts and Sports Capital Partners have expressed interest in carrying on a project of similar scope as recently as this summer.
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bonwich wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:DeBaliviere wrote:
Seriously now. Magnatron has never said anything here to warrant that comment. Be nice.
It was all in jest.
Well, if you're going to skewer someone, perhaps it should be the sleazebags who took massive public subsidy to build yet another sports arena, promised to include the Opera House as part of the project, and then hid behind their lawyers and PR people when they reneged on their promises. (Hint: They're still in charge.)
Wow, bitter much?
^ Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. (And judging by the calls elsewhere on this board for a "new Rams stadium" already, at least some of the current generation aren't really well versed in what went on as recently as a decade ago.)
Subsidizing stadiums for billionaires while our cultural and architectural treasures lie vacant or are demolished. What the ***** is wrong with us?
I thought the KOH wasn't renovated because:
#1. The power players didn't have the funding. and
#2. Potential theatre wars.
Fox Associates, which owns the Fox Theatre, did not want to lose its dominance. They feared many shows would go to KOH. Plus, they (or someone) suggested that St. Louis could not support more seats. The debate then became political, and renovations were put on the back burner even farther. KOH was eventually left alone.
With the persistence of a man (I forget his name, not Breckenridge), who lives in St. Louis County, to get KOH renovated; and because it was also revealed that shows/concerts were bypassing St. Louis because of a lack of venue space, a new push to revive the KOH was put back on the table. It was revealed that St. Louis could support more theatres. Other comparable in size regions were supporting more theatres than St. Louis had in operation.
Breckenridge then came to the forefront as the potential developer. Then Larry Rice ***** up everything, slowed down the process, Breckenridge died and the rest is history.
#1. The power players didn't have the funding. and
#2. Potential theatre wars.
Fox Associates, which owns the Fox Theatre, did not want to lose its dominance. They feared many shows would go to KOH. Plus, they (or someone) suggested that St. Louis could not support more seats. The debate then became political, and renovations were put on the back burner even farther. KOH was eventually left alone.
With the persistence of a man (I forget his name, not Breckenridge), who lives in St. Louis County, to get KOH renovated; and because it was also revealed that shows/concerts were bypassing St. Louis because of a lack of venue space, a new push to revive the KOH was put back on the table. It was revealed that St. Louis could support more theatres. Other comparable in size regions were supporting more theatres than St. Louis had in operation.
Breckenridge then came to the forefront as the potential developer. Then Larry Rice ***** up everything, slowed down the process, Breckenridge died and the rest is history.
That's vaguely accurate, although it doesn't go back far enough to indicate that the Civic Progress guys initially promised to reopen it but mentioned nothing about "theatre wars" when milking local governments for subsidies for the real focus of their endeavors, the Kiel Center.
The guy you're probably thinking of is Ed Golterman, who has nothing but an old familial connection to the Opera House, but has been a tireless (and some would say obsessive) crusader to keep it in the public eye until it's finally reopened.
The guy you're probably thinking of is Ed Golterman, who has nothing but an old familial connection to the Opera House, but has been a tireless (and some would say obsessive) crusader to keep it in the public eye until it's finally reopened.
Yeah, that's the dude. Golterman. God Bless him.
Also, me believes the Civic Progress and Fox Associates bunch are of the same ilk. Funding mysteriously became unavailable probably because Fox Associates and Grand Center Inc. pulled some strings behind the scenes (ha ha, get it?).
Yeah, you are right. CP did make promises, but you know how things go in a big small town.
Also, me believes the Civic Progress and Fox Associates bunch are of the same ilk. Funding mysteriously became unavailable probably because Fox Associates and Grand Center Inc. pulled some strings behind the scenes (ha ha, get it?).
Yeah, you are right. CP did make promises, but you know how things go in a big small town.
Simply strengthens my belief that while it is great the Fox was rehabbed into its current glory, the City and region may well have been better off with the remains of the Fox lying in a dump rather than the Ambassador.
You have stumbled upon my "Highlander Theory" of development in St. Louis.
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bonwich wrote:You have stumbled upon my "Highlander Theory" of development in St. Louis.
Which Highlander Theory? There can be only one, or there can be only 37 really bad sequels and an even worse tv show?
no, the Fox is still better than the Ambassador. Man, the loss of the Ambassador has to be at the TOP of my list of St. Louis' dumbest mistakes ever. who was in charge of Mercantile Bank when that happened? I think a lawn job or tarring is in order.
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JCity wrote:no, the Fox is still better than the Ambassador. Man, the loss of the Ambassador has to be at the TOP of my list of St. Louis' dumbest mistakes ever. who was in charge of Mercantile Bank when that happened? I think a lawn job or tarring is in order.
And the sad thing is that Firstar/U.S. Bank most likely would not have torn down the Ambassador, had Mercantile just been willing to leave it standing.