urbanSTL

DrDrew wrote:Is anyone else a little concerned about what all these new towers will do to traffic on Euclid? It's just a little skinny two lane street, and there are pleny of cars already. I have no problem with the Renaissance, but it just seems out of place where it would be. Something like that built on the Chase parking lot at Lindell and Kingshighway would be perfect though. It seems like something good for the Doctor's building spot would be a 6-10 story building that would complement the Forest Park Hotel across the street.

If we wanted a lack of traffic, then downtown hit it's pinnacle around 1995. Traffic is what we want. Traffic means a good concentration of people are there. A good concentration of people brings money, businesses, and amenities. Population, financial prosperity, businesses, and amenities. All of those things should have positive impacts to the city. Isn't that what we're striving for in St. Louis?

^^Precisely. Plus, increased traffic makes it more practical to WALK rather than drive. All these complaints and concerns from residents are actually the best case scenario. God forbid St. Louis becomes a real city with congestion!

I think a good many of the people moving into such neighborhoods do so so they DON'T HAVE to drive everywhere. If anything, it's the sidewalk traffic that should greatly increase. This is an urban neighborhood---plenty of restaurants, shopping, recreation all within walking distance. Of course, street traffic will aslo increase and as SoulardD and STLgasm pointed out with their excellent points, traffic is a part of city living. Some are still stuck in "suburban gear". No one ever complained when Gaslight Square was at it's height and it took you 45 minutes to drive one block or when downtown StL was still vibrant before they took the streetcars out. Guess those that didn't like the traffic simply stayed away, walked or took public transit. That's how a healthy city functions.

I think we should take it easy on the lady who wrote the letter. She doesn't really attack the project the way Teper did. This seemed almost halfhearted. More like an, 'Aww, c'mon...' type argument.



As for the traffic issue, I welcome more traffic. I've rarely driven on Euclid, but when I do, I like to go through slowly so I can look at everything. If anything, the traffic moves to fast. Slow the speed limit down, brick the street, do whatever you need to make traffic worse, it won't bother me a bit.



I think that what this lady misses overall, is the idea that the CWE is really St. Louis' best version of a true urban area right now. It's got everything that any major city in the world has, if not more. It has beautiful family homes, cool unique condos, highrise aparment buildings, luxurious hotels with extravagant ballrooms, fine gourmet eateries, cheap pizza places, pubs, bookstores, furniture stores, a top 5 hospital complex, a basillica, and one of the best parks in the country. As long as we focus on keeping the area diverse and unique, it's fine. I would never want the CWE to be exclusively one thing, that's what makes it so great.

I love to sit at the Majestic and people-watch (the corner of Euclid and Laclede). One thing I notice is the large number of people pulling those luggage-on-wheels things. Clearly, people who live in the area are WALKING to the metro-link station for the ride to the airport. This is what an urban neighborhood (and public transportation) is all about!

not to seem crazy, but I had a dream last night that this project was cancelled!! thank god its not true LoL...i'm excited about this for the city of STL! the CWE will be a truly great place to live (moreso than now!) after this and the other projects get off the ground

From a purely aesthetic perspective, I wish this building had been designed taller and slenderer. It has a "too squat" look to it and IMO looks like the developer is reluctant to go too tall while addressing the need for more high rise living. There really is no reason why the envelope shouldn't be pushed and go to 40 or 45 stories since the Park Plaza (the tallest CWE building) will be eclipsed by the Park East Tower. Either that, or break it into two towers. Still, I think it's a great that this kind of construction is going on in the city...just think a little more aesthetic attention needs to be applied to the silouette of the CWE skyline.

I walked by there last thursday and saw moving vans clearing out the pharmacy that was on the ground floor. Does anyone know when the building's current tenants have to move out and/or when demolition will start?

I agree with one of the above posters, this tower is a bit too squaty looking. Either make it 40 floors and more slender , or break it into two 30 story towers.

Are there any dates that this project will be reviewed by the City government?

There was a mention in the last Business Journal that construction would be starting soon. Can't recall the specifics but I thought this spring was quoted.

southcitygent wrote:There was a mention in the last Business Journal that construction would be starting soon. Can't recall the specifics but I thought this spring was quoted.

You are correct. The St. Louis Business Journal made a mention that construction on the "Renaissance on Euclid" is expected to start in May.

Yay i cant wait till May. Thats when all the cool stuff starts happening.

From Mayor Slay's BLOG

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Development Updates



[[The staff also met recently with Bruce Mills. Bruce plans (with the support of Alderman Joe Roddy) to replace the former "Doctors Building" at Euclid and West Pine with a multistory mixed use building including residential condominiums and apartments, as well as first floor retail space. The "tower" will be situated at the corner of Euclid and West Pine, with a parking structure on the northeast corner of the site and townhouses fronting West Pine on the southeast corner of the site. The project is designed to complement Opus? Park East Tower at Euclid and Laclede, and the new joint venture between Opus and City Treasurer Larry Williams immediately north of the Park East. The Opus/Treasurer joint venture will combine a public parking garage that serves area businesses (Majestic Restaurant, Einstein?s Bagels, etc.) with residential condominiums above the garage.]]

I got dinner today from the Subway on the ground floor of the Doctor's building, and asked them how much longer they'll be open. The worker said that they're moving "across the street", in 3 or 4 weeks. I'm not exactly sure where across the street is, but I'd guess that it's the new storefront created by the remodeling of the Clubhouse secondhand shop. If you haven't seen it lately, they put all new windows and such in the front, and powerwashed all the pasty white and teal paint off to reveal the original red brick. The Clubhouse now takes up about 2/3 of the front of the building, and there's construction going on in the other section, possibly for Subway.

If the Lindell Condos are getting this much press and problems, I can't imagine this one flying off without a hitch.

The members of the CRD at the meeting on Friday did not make any objections to this building because it is not in the historic district, and it is not in the heart of the CWE as they say. It is on Euclid though, so Blake the evolutionist should be against it, right?

Oh, and also, it won't cast any shadows on their backyards.

Thanks for the news Arch. I like that they added a floor.

Glad to hear the project moving forward...

Anyone seen a revised rendering?