urbanSTL

topher wrote: ↑

Aug 24, 2020

A quick overlay i did to help me visualize the project better.Sogro.jpg

This is actually a nice visualization. Thanks for this Topher.

I wonder if you could convince the developer to fund station improvements (shelters) for the 95- Kingshighway. It’s a 20 minute ride to BJC/Wash U Med.

The two nearest already have benches. Shelters, trash cans, and adopting the stops would do great to encourage resident use.


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SOGRO sounds like a fertilizer designed to be applied at the time of planting. 

Aside from that, it makes no sense. SOGRA would make sense. Or SOOSAS - South of Old Shop & Save.    

topher wrote: ↑

Aug 24, 2020

A quick overlay i did to help me visualize the project better

This is great, thanks for posting. Now if we could just keep north pointing up. 

wabash wrote:SOGRO sounds like a fertilizer designed to be applied at the time of planting. 

Aside from that, it makes no sense. SOGRA would make sense. Or SOOSAS - South of Old Shop & Save.    

I would’ve preferred Southtown Apartments or Southtown Flats. But there has to be a reason for the name

Maybe SouthGrove

flipz wrote: ↑

Aug 24, 2020

topher wrote: ↑

Aug 24, 2020

A quick overlay i did to help me visualize the project better

This is great, thanks for posting. Now if we could just keep north pointing up. 

I don't think this is an abomination.  The parking ratio (surface area) related to the buildings seems somewhat reserved.  Am I in love with it all? No, not really.  But leaps better than anything South Town has seen in forever.

I also agree on the bus stations.  The lack of half decent bus stops in this city is depressing.  Visually, depressing, and depressing to watch folks just stand next to a sign and an overflowing trash can.  We can do better.

^ not an abomination, but the layout is just arbitrary and ridiculous—just stuff randomly plopped all over the place with no apparent logic to it other than to use up all the available space, ensuring that the area bounded by K'way, Chippewa, Ridgewood, and Landsdowne remains a super-block in perpetuity. Agreed that we can do better.

You can still build a street on the back of the site on what was once a rail right of way. Although it may be difficult, it is possible. That’s the only resolvable way to break the super block.

Beyond that though, if you want a street grid returned, everything in the super block would have to be demoed and rebuilt. In other words, never going to happen.

There’s a better chance of building the street on the old rail ROW and connecting it to a new street that cuts through the Burlington Plaza when redevelopment happens there. You can then connect to Delor near Elenore if you play it right. I believe that Plaza is the next thing for a major redevelopment beyond projects at Toyota and Avalon

^ there's not that much in the super-block to begin with, and the grid doesn't have to be built out all at the same time, but structures need to be built in a way that could accommodate a grid. baby steps. look at the granularity of the surrounding neighborhoods. that's what we should be aiming for. a single through-street along the back of this development isn't going to do much to improve connectivity.

urban_dilettante wrote:^ there's not that much in the super-block to begin with, and the grid doesn't have to be built out all at the same time, but structures need to be built in a way that could accommodate a grid. baby steps. look at the granularity of the surrounding neighborhoods. that's what we should be aiming for. a single through-street along the back of this development isn't going to do much to improve connectivity.

I see now. Unfortunately, I doubt the developer will change anything for future planning proposes

^ oh, i doubt it too.

Beyond the building placement issue, what bothers me is that we will still be stuck with that junk gas station. I would've also like to seen Jimmy Kavadas (old Rally's), Jiffy Lube and Meineke included in the development plans. Just build new from the driveway of Jubilee Church down to Lansdowne. And then later on, get rid of the storage facility on Lansdowne and swing development around there.

^ agreed. but each new development makes the surrounding land more valuable and redevelopment more likely, so smart design from the start is pretty imperative IMO.

This is going to totally change the whole feel of that stretch of Kingshighway. Hopefully it will spur more development in the near future. 

framer wrote:This is going to totally change the whole feel of that stretch of Kingshighway. Hopefully it will spur more development in the near future. 

That hope is one shared by many including Alderwoman Howard

I agree.  Also interested in to see if/what Garcia could plan around here.  I think having their HQ in southtown would increase their commitment to the nearby area.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the area, here's what the site looks like today. Now imagine this replaced with a contemporary, four-story wall of apartments, built right up to the sidewalk, with the parking hidden in back.  

BTW, this is the same architect who did Chroma, Encore at Forest Park, and One Light in KC (wish we could get a clearer rendering). 

In the site plan it's not right up to the sidewalk. I hope they don't repeat Aventura and put a fence next to the sidewalk.

It looks like a thin layer of shrubs or grass, then the sidewalk.  Pretty much right there.

Forgot to post this the other day, but the LCRA approved of the tax abatement request. It moves ahead now in the process.

Stltoday - $72 million, 333-apartment project in south St. Louis could change South Kingshighway

https://www.stltoday.com/business/local ... 0d7c3.html

Yes.  

https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d ... uments.cfm

All I see are agendas, no minutes.