"urban" big box isn't the worst idea, but then again, we've seen how big box does in the city. DON'T DO IT AGAIN! (outside the south city Target).
If big-box strip retail went up on this site, I figure it would be pretty similar to the Pier 70 development south of downtown Philly.
There is a new banner (small 5' x 8') advertising the bottle district at the NW corner of Cole and Broadway. It advertises hotel/retail/office and has the website listed. I just check the web, however, and there are no updates.
markofucity wrote:why do they waste their money on banners?
And who is it that decides to waste that money?
Somebody obviously has a plan if they put the flag up, the question is how long will it take to fall through.
Now, now, that all depends on the plan! If their plan for "The Bottle District" is to create a dusty space for tailgating, I'd say they are well on their way...keef227 wrote:Somebody obviously has a plan if they put the flag up, the question is how long will it take to fall through.
There was a second small sign going up this morning in additions to the one hanging on the fence. Maybe they feel that when they get this thing going, I can't see any ground breaking in the next few years, the economy will be picking back up again, but who really knows. At least if I were putting up new signs I would update my website not to say opening summer of 08.
darn it, all the renderings on the website are avaliable to quilified parties only.....any qualified parties out there that want the get the rnderings to share with the rest of us?
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Note that the term "Qualified" is a phrase of art for the investment industry. Essentially, the Bottle District team is seeking out an institutional-size investor to partner for the development, and ostensibly to front the monies necessary to get the ball rolling.
Examples of "Qualified" persons may include institutional investors (such as a labor union, a university, an endowed foundation, a major corporation) that can afford to make major capital allocations in new ventures with elements of risk innate. As well, "Qualified" may refer to professional real estate development companies seeking out new projects, such as Spinnaker or Orchard. As well, and most interesting, "Qualified" includes Private Equity, Hedge Funds, and Real Estate Investment Trust companies; while this would take considerable time, it also could lead to the most aggressive construction schedule from a need to generate a return on investment for multiple parties, with minimum administrative red tape once the decision to go has been given.
The website's an advertisement for new investors in the project, ones with hundreds of millions of dollars to allocate.
Examples of "Qualified" persons may include institutional investors (such as a labor union, a university, an endowed foundation, a major corporation) that can afford to make major capital allocations in new ventures with elements of risk innate. As well, "Qualified" may refer to professional real estate development companies seeking out new projects, such as Spinnaker or Orchard. As well, and most interesting, "Qualified" includes Private Equity, Hedge Funds, and Real Estate Investment Trust companies; while this would take considerable time, it also could lead to the most aggressive construction schedule from a need to generate a return on investment for multiple parties, with minimum administrative red tape once the decision to go has been given.
The website's an advertisement for new investors in the project, ones with hundreds of millions of dollars to allocate.
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We've seen what the economy and the tightening of credit have done for other major projects downtown, and elsewhere for that matter. Why do I suspect we'll still be talking about renderings for The Bottle District five or ten years from now, long after Mercantile Exchange and at least one phase of Ballpark Village are complete? 
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Personally, I think that luxury wheel proposed for the Landing should go to the Bottle District. I'd hate to see Laclede's Landing shift completely away from its historic district status more than it already has (with glitzy Lumiere and more demolitions lately).
Of course, I also think for the BD site to be viable, I-70 needs to be tunneled.
Of course, I also think for the BD site to be viable, I-70 needs to be tunneled.
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Can we still expect the Formula 1 racing track?
Oh, and great addition of the random moronic quotes at the top of the page. Were people seriously stupid enough to write these? I am losing faith in mankind as I read. Each one either makes me laugh out loud, or fills me with rage. Mostly just the rage one.
"It's just what I'm looking for!" Paul R., Chicago, IL
"I can't wait for this to open!!" Alex B., Chesterfield, MO
"I want to move back to St. Louis!" Sean L., New York, NY
"I now plan to move downtown!" Kaushal S., Creve Coeur, MO
"You're doing something great." Cortez R., St. Louis, MO
"May you have success in every venture to make this an outstanding feature of the NEW St. Louis" Emily O., Ireland
"The Bottle District is the reason I have fallen in love again with St. Louis." Todd K., Affton, MO
Oh, and great addition of the random moronic quotes at the top of the page. Were people seriously stupid enough to write these? I am losing faith in mankind as I read. Each one either makes me laugh out loud, or fills me with rage. Mostly just the rage one.
"It's just what I'm looking for!" Paul R., Chicago, IL
"I can't wait for this to open!!" Alex B., Chesterfield, MO
"I want to move back to St. Louis!" Sean L., New York, NY
"I now plan to move downtown!" Kaushal S., Creve Coeur, MO
"You're doing something great." Cortez R., St. Louis, MO
"May you have success in every venture to make this an outstanding feature of the NEW St. Louis" Emily O., Ireland
"The Bottle District is the reason I have fallen in love again with St. Louis." Todd K., Affton, MO
Is there still absolutely nothing going on with this? And to think, Kaushal was planning to move downtown for this.
Heh, why would any of that fill you with rage? Perhaps something will happen with the site in 5 years. That seems reasonable.
Inno8ion, I'm giving it 10 years on the optimistic side and thats after the New Mississippi River Bridge, BPV, Washington & Laclede's landing filled out. Like you said, what to rage about when we got BPV. Instead, I think we got some great areas that still need some attention and infill. Hate to be pesstimistic, but, I just can't see anything happening without a box store or possibly a open air stadium for another new football team (couldn't help taking a pot shot for the fact that the Arizona Cardinals & Warner are still in the hunt).
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Downtown development: What’s moving forward?
Bottle District
Developers: Historic Restoration Inc. (HRI) and Clayco
Cost: $280 million to $650 million
Location: Lot north of Edward Jones Dome
Originally proposed: 2004
Current status: Plans for the so-called Bottle District on the northern edge of downtown fizzled after the exit of Charlotte, N.C.-based developer The Ghazi Co. in 2006. After Ghazi’s departure, Dan McGuire sold the headquarters building of McGuire Moving & Storage to a group of Clayco principals and New Orleans-based HRI in September 2007. The lot next to the McGuire Moving & Storage building has been dormant for several years, except during football season when it’s packed with tailgaters.
Now there is talk once again that the project might be revived. Ron Silverman, HRI’s vice president and regional manager, said this month that the firm is reviewing plans to redevelop the McGuire Moving & Storage building and one other building on the more than 3-acre portion of the Bottle District site that HRI owns in partnership with several Clayco principals. “We’re moving along,” Silverman said. “We’re in the earliest stages of this.”
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tml?page=1
Bottle District
Developers: Historic Restoration Inc. (HRI) and Clayco
Cost: $280 million to $650 million
Location: Lot north of Edward Jones Dome
Originally proposed: 2004
Current status: Plans for the so-called Bottle District on the northern edge of downtown fizzled after the exit of Charlotte, N.C.-based developer The Ghazi Co. in 2006. After Ghazi’s departure, Dan McGuire sold the headquarters building of McGuire Moving & Storage to a group of Clayco principals and New Orleans-based HRI in September 2007. The lot next to the McGuire Moving & Storage building has been dormant for several years, except during football season when it’s packed with tailgaters.
Now there is talk once again that the project might be revived. Ron Silverman, HRI’s vice president and regional manager, said this month that the firm is reviewing plans to redevelop the McGuire Moving & Storage building and one other building on the more than 3-acre portion of the Bottle District site that HRI owns in partnership with several Clayco principals. “We’re moving along,” Silverman said. “We’re in the earliest stages of this.”
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tml?page=1