urbanSTL

I haven't found any yet. Amazing the difference in process between two wards. Although that one guy at the meeting Saturday would probably say that this is in the 28th ward.

^

Yes, the 28th ward projects are usually open to public input...

I'm curious whether you all feel there is enough demand for such a project? The Park East is almost finished and they still have units remaining--and since they do not let owners flip until purchse, more units may come to market once the closings begin. With interest rates rising, and general demand in other areas decreasing, does St. Louis or the CWE present a special case for more development? What do you all think?

dashalove wrote:I was reading about the new Mills building this weekend (the 30 story box) and I was curious whether you all felt there was enough demand for such a project. The Park East is almost finished and they still have units remaining--and since they do not let owners flip until purchse, more units may come to market once the closings begin. With interest rates rising, and general demand in other areas decreasing, does St. Louis or the CWE present a special case for more development? What do you all think?

How many units are left in the other building? And what units are left? If the only thing that's left are the really high end units, I don' think they'll have many problems. It's when you have the reasonably priced units not selling for those reasons that you need to be concerned.

HonestBusinesMan wrote:

dashalove wrote:The Park East is almost finished and they still have units remaining

How many units are left in the other building?

Back in mid-March, only seven of the 89 units in Park East hadn't been sold yet...

And the Park East is not even topped out yet...

urbanstlouis wrote:

HonestBusinesMan wrote:

dashalove wrote:The Park East is almost finished and they still have units remaining

How many units are left in the other building?

Back in mid-March, only seven of the 89 units in Park East hadn't been sold yet...

I decided to check again today, and was told only 4 homes remain for sale.

I remember at the Opus meeting, they informed us that only 4 remained in the Park East Tower. IMO, that's an outstanding number. Most highrises don't complete their occupancy during construction. So I think we're safe to say that these CWE highrise projects should be okay.



As for the rising rates, the one market in the economy that has never really slowed was the Real Estate Market. With people getting more and more creative in their financing, they are able to afford more expensive places to live.

As much as I dislike Mills I must say they have an impressive list of amenities that will be in that building. Two basketball courts?? I would be in heaven if I had that at my residence.



Movie room, library, gym, two bball courts, salon, etc. Very nice. Can't wait until I can afford to live somewhere like that.

It's amazing the different levels of information we have on this project and the Lindell Condominiums. Lindell won't break ground for at least a year; site work and demolition for the Renaissance will start next month, yet I know next to nothing beyond what's on that sparse website and in the newspaper. This project is lucky in that it hasn't had to deal with vehement opposition from the community, but just seeing how much community feedback can improve a project like the one on Lindell, I wish this thing got more pub as well.

That's an interesting point, Doc. As much as we all hate to listen to NIMBY groups griping about new proposals, they do tend to force the developers to improve their product.

^



This project needed the NIMBYs even more than Lindell Tower. The Renaissance design is terribly bulky and 1980s retro instead of modern.

^Agreed, ecoabsence. It's way too massive. I hope they redesign the thing...either split it into two slenderer 30, 35 story towers or one tall tower, but to make it one towerand slenderize it noticeably yet keep the same amount of units would likely result in quite a tall tower, which I don't have a problem with...in fact I think it's about time someone push that envelope. And a more contemporary design would be fitting for the CWE.

I'd like to see this tower more slender and somewhere around 400' .

I'm glad somebody agreed with me about the design. I'm not a fan of this project, at least not with the current design.

two narrow twin towers would be cool. I think the current design looks too Claytonish.

Perhaps they could come up with a plan to add a new tower and keep the Doctor's Building...



Back to reality: I think that the idea of splitting the units into two slender towers is a good one. It would break up the mass and give the skyline two new buidlings instead of one.

Two towers might be cool, as long as they're not identical. I've never been a fan of twin towers.

I am looking out my window at the Doctors Building as I write this and I LOVE THAT BUILDING!!! It's so ugly it's beautiful, and it must remain!

Is the "MEDICAL OFFICES FOR LEASE" sign still on the Doctors' Building? I remember seeing that not too long ago and was confused. I thought the Renaissance was pretty much a done-deal.

I think the "too bulky" image is really a factor of the rendering. In real life, I expect this building to just look tall. Its 30 stories, after all!

^Well, I hope that's the case, and the left side might not look too bulky in the rendering, but to me the right side does (height/width ratio---trying to cope with a foreshortened view). And I don't get (or particularly like) the tower/turet on the corner. Imagining it without it, it reminded me of the Maryland Walk in Clayton (which I do like). But things can look much better (or worse) in reality rather than in renderings. I don't mean to pick it appart. I guess I'd rather see it built as is than not built (after all the design is alright) although I really hope a stunning redesign offering as many units would be forthcoming.

That said, I like the Doctors Building, too. I think it's a nice mid-twentieth century piece. If I REALLY had my druthers, I'd wish the Doctors Building had been incorporated into the plan with new complimentary tower(s), but I don't think that's going to happen.

DeBaliviere wrote:Two towers might be cool, as long as they're not identical. I've never been a fan of twin towers.

What about a tower that is connected for about 10-15 stories and then branches into two towers.

I wouldn't worry too much about the design yet. Usually the first renderings look quite a bit different than what actually gets built. Mills will probably release another drawing as they begin to break ground.



When are they actually breaking ground?

2taall,



Now is the time if we are going to get involved in what the building looks like though. Not when they are breaking ground, because then it is too late. That's what happened with the Lindell Tower, the residents got involved early...as well as the current issue on the S. Grand McDonalds. You have to fight for good design, and it has to be early.