The Dorchester - 665 S Skinker Boulevard

shadrach · PostFeb 01, 2006#12006-02-01T18:41+00:00

not really a major project or renovation....

but anyone notice the new sign on the Dorchester?bright red, stacked address numbers, stucco coating, 1930s style metal letters? (like on the old fire houses) Even John's Town Hall got an update. Real nice looking; freshen's up the place.

Not to 'name drop,' but reminds me of the kind of old/new design that was on all the residential towers across from Hyde Park in London.

(if just a fraction of the existing businesses/landlords DT, CWE did this kind of 'minor' updating, it would feel like a whole new, vibrant city!)

tb1000 · PostFeb 01, 2006#22006-02-01T19:06+00:00

They did that a few weeks ago and did some landscaping as well. It looks pretty good. Positive change from what it previously looked like

ecoabsence · PostFeb 02, 2006#32006-02-02T18:51+00:00

New stacked numbers in front: Really cool.

Stucco coated entrance: Tacky.

yuppiegal · PostFeb 02, 2006#42006-02-02T22:23+00:00

From what I've heard, they are trying to shed their "old people with money" image and attract a younger renter. But with a 1 bedroom starting at over $1000, it might take more than a new sign and some shrubs.

doug · PostFeb 10, 2006#52006-02-10T16:28+00:00

With a name like the dorchester, I think it would take a little more to get rid of the old money image. That name implies higher prices and old style, nothing wrong with that, but it is currently out of my price range. I think this building is really cool, and I will have to check it out.

jcity · PostFeb 13, 2006#62006-02-13T00:38+00:00

I think it looks good. The building itself isn't the most attractive, but I love driving south on Skinker and seeing all of those highrises next to each other, Central Park style. No, Forest Park style..

shadrach · PostFeb 13, 2006#72006-02-13T15:45+00:00

Was driving by there yesterday and noticed the Church of Christ (?) is vacant now?their black with gold type sign's gone. I doubt a church plant would survive their nor would it be zoned commercial (for a design studio, etc.)

Another high-rise would be nice! As well as the vacant plot a little south of there just up the rise. With the way FP/CWE is gotting hot this is plausible in the next 5-10 yrs.

framer · PostFeb 15, 2006#82006-02-15T06:54+00:00

Yea, but the neighbors west of Skinker have stopped other proposed highrises, and I'm sure they won't like your idea of tearing down a church to build one, either.

shadrach · PostFeb 15, 2006#92006-02-15T15:17+00:00

I have lots of bad ideas! That's why I went into advertising instead of urban planning.

bastiat · PostFeb 15, 2006#102006-02-15T22:22+00:00

Which one is Church of Christ? Is it the ugly orange brick one on the north side of the Wydown and Skinker intersection? That one should definetely be knocked down and replaced with a highrise. It is embarassing for that one to be in the same city with all the other historic churches in the area and the mansions on Wydown.

shadrach · PostFeb 15, 2006#112006-02-15T22:32+00:00

Framer wrote:Yea, but the neighbors west of Skinker have stopped other proposed highrises, and I'm sure they won't like your idea of tearing down a church to build one, either.

Are these the same people that would have opposed the Gateway Arch?

Bastiat,

I believe that's the Seventh Day Adventist church. (1960s post office)

The old Church of Christ (I think, they took the sign down) is the old, one story classic looking, red brick the one furthest south?close to the Dorchester and other high rises as you head up toward Clayton.

There are single residences either side I believe so honestly, as Framer said, it wouldn't work.

(BTW, I attend of one of the churches there on Skinker so it's best I be careful about all this crazy talk of razing churches!)

tax guru · PostAug 29, 2006#122006-08-29T20:07+00:00

Sorry for the segway, but this was the closet topic and building I could find. I am interested in the two condominiums to the left and right of the Dorchester. I believe they are called the Wiltshire Condominiums and 625 Skinker. I have yet to see a single unit in either of these apartment buildings for sale and if you do a search of "625 S Skinker Blvd" on Google it looks like a lot of prominent people call that building home. Can anybody fill me in? Thanks in advance.

debaliviere · PostAug 29, 2006#132006-08-29T20:46+00:00

Some friends of my family live in 625 - it's beautiful. I remember there being a handful of available condos there about a year or two ago, but I think they sell pretty quickly.

Expat · PostAug 29, 2006#142006-08-29T21:42+00:00

I love the highrises on Skinker, as well as the other buildings. I have seen listings for the condos you mentioned. There are some for 625 on realtor.com right now.

You didn't mention 801 S. Skinker. It is one of my favorites. Looks like the Jetson's could live there. And it is similar to 320 West Oakdale in Chicago.

One of my favorite photos of Grid's areials is the shot overlooking Forest Park/golf course towards the highrises on Skinker.

tax guru · PostAug 29, 2006#152006-08-29T22:10+00:00

^ I'm obviously on the wrong real estate site. Thanks for the tips.

debaliviere · PostAug 30, 2006#162006-08-30T13:30+00:00

Go to gundaker.com - hit "Property Search," select "Condos/Villas" from the drop-down menu and type "Skinker" into the address field - you'll get a bunch of them.

tax guru · PostAug 30, 2006#172006-08-30T15:33+00:00

Thanks for the help. It appears there are acutally several units available in that 625 building. And from the few pictures posted, I don't think that's even the building I'm remembering. One of those buildings on Skinker is absolultely awesome. I went to a party there and from the lobby to the views I was totally blown away. Could it possibly have been the Dorchester? The apartment looked too good to be a rental. Too much money went into it.

jcity · PostAug 31, 2006#182006-08-31T03:53+00:00

Probably 801 S. Skinker. 60's-modern, glass building.

framer · PostAug 31, 2006#192006-08-31T04:47+00:00

I've got a client that lives in a two-story unit at the top of 801, facing East. A wall of floor-to-ceiling glass. Needless to say, it's incredible. Maybe the best view in all of St. Louis.

moorlander · PostApr 29, 2024#202024-04-29T16:36+00:00

What appears to me to be a core soil sample machine was seen recently on the north parking lot…. Anyone know if anything is planned for this parking lot?

DogtownBnR · PostApr 29, 2024#212024-04-29T18:35+00:00

^I saw that activity when playing golf 2 weeks ago. Wondering the same thing.

framer · PostApr 29, 2024#222024-04-29T19:38+00:00

There's also some work happening on one of the lots further north. I suspect utility work, but I'm just speculating.