^ Or One Tower filled up.... they problem could get a bargain lease rate or purchase price. In fact, if they think they could fetch a decent price for their WestCo properties (they own most, no?) it would ake perfect sense even w/o being the HQ.
I see Charter continuing to expand locally, they just recently announced plans for a third call center in Saint Louis and the teams located at the Des Peres location have been growing so much that they recently moved most of their Information Technology department out to Riverport. Shame it couldn’t have been downtown or to Cortex instead.
- 8,155
^ I wonder what rents out there cost... you can lease the 505 Washington building (right by Metrolink helpful for attracting workers from across the region) for around $10 sq. ft. or buy it on the cheap.
I am not sure something like a call center is worth a significant subsidy but it seems like such a use could find a fit downtown and help put boots on the ground.
I am not sure something like a call center is worth a significant subsidy but it seems like such a use could find a fit downtown and help put boots on the ground.
I can't help to think that a Charter IT center in the Railway Exchange would be great opportunity to build out a data center as well as offices for a good chunk of the building plus a big confidence booster if even one major company expanding in the region would at least to the core for part of its operations.
Heck, At this point I would even take a new Charter IT center next to WWT HQ over Riverport if the county was determined to build a new metrolink into the heart of Westport Plaza.
Heck, At this point I would even take a new Charter IT center next to WWT HQ over Riverport if the county was determined to build a new metrolink into the heart of Westport Plaza.
- 1,868
I'm guessing Charter feels they can procure enough warm bodies to stuff into desks no matter where they are, so what's the benefit of being downtown?roger wyoming II wrote:^ I wonder what rents out there cost... you can lease the 505 Washington building (right by Metrolink helpful for attracting workers from across the region) for around $10 sq. ft. or buy it on the cheap.
I am not sure something like a call center is worth a significant subsidy but it seems like such a use could find a fit downtown and help put boots on the ground.
- 8,155
Saint Louis is hosting a pretty big scientist/tech conference this week...
Science is happening in St. Louis this week at the American Society of Mass Spectrometry Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics.
The conference is being held at America’s Center and the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Overall, the convention is expected to attract 7,000 attendees who will use more than 21,200 room nights at local hotels and generate $10.9 million in direct spending.
Among the advances being touted at the conference are new computer chip technologies and tools to help speed drug discovery....
The conference runs through Thursday and concludes with an event at the City Museum.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... s-off.html
If we're fortunate enough we may even see some investment in the city from attendees impressed with our tech scene.
Also, while on the subject of conventions, it is too bad FIRST Robotics will be leaving us in a couple years.... that was huge for the city.
Science is happening in St. Louis this week at the American Society of Mass Spectrometry Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics.
The conference is being held at America’s Center and the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Overall, the convention is expected to attract 7,000 attendees who will use more than 21,200 room nights at local hotels and generate $10.9 million in direct spending.
Among the advances being touted at the conference are new computer chip technologies and tools to help speed drug discovery....
The conference runs through Thursday and concludes with an event at the City Museum.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... s-off.html
If we're fortunate enough we may even see some investment in the city from attendees impressed with our tech scene.
Also, while on the subject of conventions, it is too bad FIRST Robotics will be leaving us in a couple years.... that was huge for the city.
- 3,767
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... ba76c.html
#38? Anyone know how legit this index is?
How are we #38. Seems awfully low. If legit, there goes our start-up buzz.
#38? Anyone know how legit this index is?
How are we #38. Seems awfully low. If legit, there goes our start-up buzz.
- 9,566
we were 35 last year, so was there much buzz to begin with? we are probably 5 years behind the top 15.
- 8,155
The Kauffman report is pretty well-regarded for what it is but remember this is for all business start-ups from entreprenuers so it is much more than just tech. The immigrant opening a restaurant in Maryland Hts. or whatever we now call people we used to call hipsters opening a retail spot on Cherokee are included, e.g..DogtownBnR wrote:http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... ba76c.html
#38? Anyone know how legit this index is?
How are we #38. Seems awfully low. If legit, there goes our start-up buzz.
We're just a slot behind Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh is last on the list although it is a hotbed for advanced robotics and has a lot of established tech. So while it is a decent indicator of a region's overall spirit of entrepreneurship we have to keep in mind its just one snapshot.
^Exactly RW. When people think startups, they think technology, primarily.
But I believe opening a corner market would count in the Kauffman numbers.
That's not to dismiss it. It's a plenty worthwhile measurement to follow. But a lot of the buzz in St. Louis is about tech-based startups. Whether we actually deserve THAT buzz, I don't know. But I don't think the Kauffman numbers are apples to apples in that regard.
But I believe opening a corner market would count in the Kauffman numbers.
That's not to dismiss it. It's a plenty worthwhile measurement to follow. But a lot of the buzz in St. Louis is about tech-based startups. Whether we actually deserve THAT buzz, I don't know. But I don't think the Kauffman numbers are apples to apples in that regard.
Since the St. Louis population is not growing our retail startups are not growing which puts low growth cities such as stl at a distinct disadvantage. The tech startup scene within cortex and downtown St. Louis are an exception to these statistics. That being said we still have our work cut out for us. More capital is needed but the recent MTC capital increase by the state will help.
Since the St. Louis population is not growing our retail startups are not growing which puts low growth cities such as stl at a distinct disadvantage. The tech startup scene within cortex and downtown St. Louis are an exception to these statistics. That being said we still have our work cut out for us. More capital is needed but the recent MTC capital increase by the state will help.
Small Israeli tech company moving it's US headquarters to STL:
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 77417.html
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 77417.html
^ To the Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur, just to be clear. Still good news, though.
I thought this was interesting read on a Cali Tech company, small mind you, seeking a better business climate and why it picked Austin over Atlanta. I think this right up Cortex/Wexford alley if they can get some more spec space off the ground or if Railway Exchange can come together as a tech/data center hub for small to mid size companies. I think launch code helps immensely but please note the comment about Autsin's/BA's direct London flight
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco ... costs.html
Over time, Becker narrowed the search down to Atlanta and Austin.
It was a tight contest and the fact that Austin-Bergstom International Airport doesn’t offer nearly as many direct flights nationally and internationally as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was a concern.
What sealed the deal was the fact that British Airways now flies nonstop from Austin to London. Volex’s corporate headquarters are in London, and Becker said he needs quick access across the pond.
Another big factor in the decision was access to talent — both Atlanta and Austin could provide that.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco ... costs.html
Over time, Becker narrowed the search down to Atlanta and Austin.
It was a tight contest and the fact that Austin-Bergstom International Airport doesn’t offer nearly as many direct flights nationally and internationally as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was a concern.
What sealed the deal was the fact that British Airways now flies nonstop from Austin to London. Volex’s corporate headquarters are in London, and Becker said he needs quick access across the pond.
Another big factor in the decision was access to talent — both Atlanta and Austin could provide that.
- 8,155
Something like this apartment project for a Cincy start-up accelerator could be cool in St. Louis.
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/n ... artup.html
(The "Branderyhaus" is the perfect name for the Over-the-Rhine project, btw.) Maybe in conjunction with Cortex and Launchcode and/or downtown with T-Rex and Industrious.
Also from other rust belt cities. it looks like pinterest will be opening up shop in downtown Detroit when Industrious opens up there later this year. twitter already is there, too... C'mon, give us even a small presence, Jack!
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/n ... artup.html
(The "Branderyhaus" is the perfect name for the Over-the-Rhine project, btw.) Maybe in conjunction with Cortex and Launchcode and/or downtown with T-Rex and Industrious.
Also from other rust belt cities. it looks like pinterest will be opening up shop in downtown Detroit when Industrious opens up there later this year. twitter already is there, too... C'mon, give us even a small presence, Jack!
^ Unless someone can explain otherwise, I think Jack checked out of St. Louis a long time ago. The one thing I can think of to defend Jack from not having a significant hometown presence is the lawsuit by the Wash U prof is what killed any chance of Square being based or having a meaningful presence in St. Louis. Can't really comment who is in the right or wrong on that one but somehow must have been a decision factor
It is interesting to note out on this end that couple of stories that relate to Square as of late. Square put up 50,000 sq feet for sub lease recently. In addition, the owners the building where Twitter/Square is based that also holds the large data farm is up for sale as per San Fran biz journals article this morning. San Fran biz journals noted that building might fetch a big dollar amount. Only way to recover on a big real estate purchase is raise lease rates.
Still think Railway Exchange would be an awesome location if Square wanted to do its own data farm and start up a costumer service center. The state finally passed a data center tax credit this year so that is a big plus and at some point the business model of Square should be looking for a much better cost basis as far as nuts & bolts of transactions processing goes. I just wonder at what point does the tech world realize that they are paying a huge premium being in the Bay area when a large part of that work force and real estate can be had in places like St. Louis at a much better cost basis. Something that I think Charter understands and why the majority of its workforce wasn't moved to NE.
It is interesting to note out on this end that couple of stories that relate to Square as of late. Square put up 50,000 sq feet for sub lease recently. In addition, the owners the building where Twitter/Square is based that also holds the large data farm is up for sale as per San Fran biz journals article this morning. San Fran biz journals noted that building might fetch a big dollar amount. Only way to recover on a big real estate purchase is raise lease rates.
Still think Railway Exchange would be an awesome location if Square wanted to do its own data farm and start up a costumer service center. The state finally passed a data center tax credit this year so that is a big plus and at some point the business model of Square should be looking for a much better cost basis as far as nuts & bolts of transactions processing goes. I just wonder at what point does the tech world realize that they are paying a huge premium being in the Bay area when a large part of that work force and real estate can be had in places like St. Louis at a much better cost basis. Something that I think Charter understands and why the majority of its workforce wasn't moved to NE.
Isn't that the purpose of the "Silo Lofts"? Or so I thought.roger wyoming II wrote:Something like this apartment project for a Cincy start-up accelerator could be cool in St. Louis.
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/n ... artup.html
(The "Branderyhaus" is the perfect name for the Over-the-Rhine project, btw.) Maybe in conjunction with Cortex and Launchcode and/or downtown with T-Rex and Industrious.
I thought Silo Lofts are supposed to be like Grand Center's Metropolitan artist lofts except it would be largely geared towards the tech community.
And what's the status on the "Silo Lofts"? Who took the bait CORTEX put out?
Detroit is coming on strong. I think with Industrious' connections, St. Louis should be able to get a big tech player too. However, I think Industrious uses the same images to promote their various locations. I think that Pinterest photo is of Chicago's location.roger wyoming II wrote:Also from other rust belt cities. it looks like pinterest will be opening up shop in downtown Detroit when Industrious opens up there later this year. twitter already is there, too... C'mon, give us even a small presence, Jack!
- 8,155
^ arch, from the outside, it looks like the housing situation is very much in flux at Cortex. I know the historic Crescent Building was at least at one time slated for housing and then the rfp was put out last spring for the mixed-use Silo Lofts project. I have no idea on the outcome of that process and I don't recall it being specifically for tech workers, either. But since then I think two interesting developments have occurred... a significant residential component being planned for the US Metals site and apparently for the Cortex One parking lot as well.
So it looks like they have a lot to go through in evaluating their residential scope and staging. But you'd think at least one project will be coming sooner than later and I also wouldn't doubt something specifically catered to launch code and start-up workers would be in the mix.
As for downtown and T-Rex, what comes to mind as a perfect "Branderyhaus" type project would be the two taller buildings on Locust that Roberts Bros had owned and picked up by StateStreet as part of the package.... maybe even the third building, the odd corner one could be rehabbed as part of the project. I think there could especially be a need here for the Arch grant winners who are brought into town for a year, which I believe is what the Brandery does as well with an annual class.
So it looks like they have a lot to go through in evaluating their residential scope and staging. But you'd think at least one project will be coming sooner than later and I also wouldn't doubt something specifically catered to launch code and start-up workers would be in the mix.
As for downtown and T-Rex, what comes to mind as a perfect "Branderyhaus" type project would be the two taller buildings on Locust that Roberts Bros had owned and picked up by StateStreet as part of the package.... maybe even the third building, the odd corner one could be rehabbed as part of the project. I think there could especially be a need here for the Arch grant winners who are brought into town for a year, which I believe is what the Brandery does as well with an annual class.
Curious if anyone can share some news on Answers.com? I thought their was going to be announcement sooner than later for expansion/growth. But it seems to have gone quiet.
My hope was that they were going to be announced as Old Courts building development downtown after the rendering of additional office space on top of the parking was sent around.
My hope was that they were going to be announced as Old Courts building development downtown after the rendering of additional office space on top of the parking was sent around.
- 8,155
^ good question. I'm also curious if anyone has heard more about the GreenStreet project on Jefferson that supposedly has a mystery tech company lined up.