urbanSTL

innov8ion wrote:This could easily be fixed by reinforcing the glass in some fashion and installing a curtain rod or by reinforcing and extending the glass fully (which would be a better solution.)

A thousand times NO to shower curtains!



Has anyone addressed this with the developers?

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

innov8ion wrote:Fully agree with you regarding the shower curtains and that it should be addressed with the developers.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

A thousand times NO to shower curtains!



Has anyone addressed this with the developers?

I'm thinking a full glass panel with door could be installed

I agree with Central. Seems that a full glass panel with door should be installed. I guess I was wrong for assuming that there would be one put in.

We went down to check out our unit today. They've made an amazing amount of progress on the penthouse units that haven't been sold, but it doesn't look like they had any time left to work on ours that was supposed to have been completed on 10/21.



The good news is that the displays look great. I can't wait to get in the building!

FYI - The compiled list of questions/observations from the meet and greet held on October 12th has been posted on the private forum:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themeridian_hoa/



NOTE: this was an informal gathering so this list is a rough draft at best but a good start none-the-less.



An updated list will be submitted to the three developers who are currently listed as HOA members on Friday, October 27, 2006. If you'd like to add to this list, please pass your questions/observations along to me sometime this week.

I asked for an email list earlier but was denied due to privacy issues. However, emails had been sent out to us from the team that listed all of our emails.

cbroy2544 wrote:

innov8ion wrote:I'll talk with the developers and let them know people are expressing interest in talks about forming the HOA and ask for the email list so we can send invites to the new Yahoo Group.

Dave - were you able to obtain a copy of the email list? I'd like to forward a copy of the questions from the meet and greet to all of the unit owners?

Stunning pics!

Has anyone inquired as to the status of the retail space for the building lately? Just curious if there has been any interest or if it's still a little early since the space is still occupied by the contractors.

Thanks for the compliments on the pictures!



Some notes

- The second elevator in the building is now working.

- Paric will be scaling down their presence as construction is nearing completion.

- The developers own the retail space area and the timeframe for someone coming in is still a ways off -- possibly spring although I'm not certain. A bakery and jewelry store have expressed interest. I asked about a Trader Joe's type grocery and Jeff felt that would be a great fit for the building however there may not be enough space. He thinks a Starbucks would be good. City Photo, also in our retail space, is approx 2 years into a 5 year lease.

- The first floor garage may be done around the end of next week. Not sure when assigned residents will be able to start parking there. Lifts for first floor garage targeted for December...

cbroy2544 wrote:Has anyone inquired as to the status of the retail space for the building lately? Just curious if there has been any interest or if it's still a little early since the space is still occupied by the contractors.

this is exactly what sucks about the first floor parking at the Meridian.



It is using up half of the leasable first floor commercial space in the building. This building is highly visible on a highly trafficked corner which is perfect for a larger grocery / retail.

And the better alternative is for all residents not to have a parking spot? Also, first floor parking enables use of a lift which can be used to park two cars in one spot. Regarding our building, the needs of its tenants outweigh the desires of the public.

bab wrote:this is exactly what sucks about the first floor parking at the Meridian.



It is using up half of the leasable first floor commercial space in the building. This building is highly visible on a highly trafficked corner which is perfect for a larger grocery / retail.

Once again the automobile has triumphed over good urban design in St. Louis. This is so frustratingly typical of short sighted local deveopers. As I have stated on several other postings, a retailer I know that was looking for a large space (over 8000 feet) was unable to find a spot east of Tucker because so many building have parking encroaching on the first floor retail space. They would have loved to have the exposure in the Meridian but were forced to look further west for space.

Once again, someone sticks their nose in where it doesn't belong. This is so frustratingly typical of short-sighted nonresidents.



As I have stated in other postings, the primary purpose of the building is a condominium. Frankly, it's more important for all residents to have a parking spot than to serve someone's whim of having 8000 ft. of retail.



And this wouldn't be an issue if more people like you didn't have cars. Wait a sec, you have a car don't you? A bit hypocritical, perhaps.

southcitygent wrote:Once again the automobile has triumphed over good urban design in St. Louis. This is so frustratingly typical of short sighted local deveopers. As I have stated on several other postings, a retailer I know that was looking for a large space (over 8000 feet) was unable to find a spot east of Tucker because so many building have parking encroaching on the first floor retail space. They would have loved to have the exposure in the Meridian but were forced to look further west for space.

I think the whole point of downtown living is to have a balance between residential and retail.



The Ventana had to do something similar, and now the first floor has a VERY SMALL space for retail.



The losers in this case are also the residents, cause a larger retail would have meant (can someone confirm this, cause this is hearsay and may not be true) lower monthly dues. (this is what was told to me)



Big cities, or cities that are trying to be big have a good balance of the 2, specially on major intersections. That is a well established fact.

I'm with innov8ion on this one. If St. Louis had better public transit options, it would be different, but as it stands most of us aren't ready to give up our cars and ride the Metro yet.



So for now, we'll keep our cars, which means that we need a place to park them.

Heh, get over it. It's not as if we won't have retail -- just no supermarket. The neighborhood currently has many empty retail locations that can and will be filled as other lofts come online. The balance of retail will improve as this occurs and it's also a bit silly to suggest that the neighborhood is thrown off balance due to the building having 4000 or so sq. ft. of retail as opposed to 8000.



I'd rather pay a few dollars extra in my monthly assessment so I have a place to park one or even two cars on a lift. I'm sorry if you feel differently but then again you aren't a resident so it doesn't matter.



Due to recent behavior from nonresidents, I'm considering stopping posting updates here.

bsharmastl wrote:I think the whole point of downtown living is to have a balance between residential and retail.



The Ventana had to do something similar, and now the first floor has a VERY SMALL space for retail.



The losers in this case are also the residents, cause a larger retail would have meant (can someone confirm this, cause this is hearsay and may not be true) lower monthly dues. (this is what was told to me)



Big cities, or cities that are trying to be big have a good balance of the 2, specially on major intersections. That is a well established fact.

innov8ion wrote: I'm considering stopping posting updates here due to this foolishness.

Vindication!

Haha, sure. Primarily I'm posting these updates for the benefit of fellow residents. No offense, but taking the time to explain common sense rationale to hypocritical, rude, non-residents that don't listen in the first place is just a waste of my time. Makes more sense to post in the private group instead.

Urban Elitist wrote:

innov8ion wrote: I'm considering stopping posting updates here due to this foolishness.

Vindication!

innov8ion wrote:Haha, sure. Primarily I'm posting these updates for the benefit of residents. No offense, but taking the time to explain common sense rationale to hypocritical, defaming nonresidents is just a waste of my time. Makes more sense to post in the private group instead.

Urban Elitist wrote:

innov8ion wrote: I'm considering stopping posting updates here due to this foolishness.

Vindication!

Whoa..... This is a public forum. Is some discussion by a non Meridian resident so offensive that you would think of going to the "private" forum only?



Any criticism directed is more for discussion rather than being offensive. It is through Forums like these that we can discuss how to bring "STL downtown" alive, as opposed to individual buildings.



A lot of people I know have found things in this forum very constructive. I may not have a loft in that building, but truly admire it.

Steve Patterson often laments that our aldermen are too parochial, that they fail to look at the needs of the city as a whole.



Perhaps we can keep in mind that thought here.

bsharmastl wrote:

innov8ion wrote:Haha, sure. Primarily I'm posting these updates for the benefit of residents. No offense, but taking the time to explain common sense rationale to hypocritical, defaming nonresidents is just a waste of my time. Makes more sense to post in the private group instead.

Urban Elitist wrote:Vindication!

Whoa..... This is a public forum. Is some discussion by a non Meridian resident so offensive that you would think of going to the "private" forum only?



Any criticism directed is more for discussion rather than being offensive. It is through Forums like these that we can discuss how to bring "STL downtown" alive, as opposed to individual buildings.



A lot of people I know have found things in this forum very constructive. I may not have a loft in that building, but truly admire it.

I do think some behavior displayed recent was rude or otherwise uncalled for. Calling a developer short-sighted because they provided the ability for all tenants to have a parking spot? Tenants lose because they pay maybe a few bucks extra in a monthly assessment where the alternative is to pay $50-$75/month for surface parking, increasing risk to the vehicle and its passengers? Condos should now instead cater to the whims of 8000 sq. ft. retail companies instead of its tenants? We're parochial because the building provides you 4000 or so sq. ft. of retail instead of 8000?



Frankly, I wouldn't have bought the loft if I didn't have a parking spot just so you could benefit from shopping in an 8000 sq. ft. retail store. Hmm, maybe no one would live there if that were the case. And without residential to support it, there would likely be near zero retail instead of 4000 or so sq. ft. Which would you prefer?



I just find this quite amusing. Honestly, if the shoe were on the other foot, what would you think?

I would not have bought a loft without a secured parking spot either. I don't know who called the Developer short sighted. The general view was that there should be a good mixture of res and comm.



I truly believe that Downtown is coming up magnificently and that buildings like the Meridian and Bogen will become earmarks of good development. That said, these buildings should try to maximize the exposure they can get outside of being "just another" loft building. These are two of the most visible sights of STL loft district.