urbanSTL

roger wyoming II wrote:Downtown Detroit companies are hosting more than 3,000 interns this summer, creating an army of urban-loving worker-bots:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/busine ... /29023333/

To retain top young talent, these firms are boosting their investment in on-the-job training as well as tourism, after-work activities and over-the-top experiences, including scavenger hunts, extensive tours and volleyball tournaments...

“We don’t have to advertise this program; it’s all word of mouth,” Salvatore said. “It helps our company by bringing in a great talent pool. We look at it as also helping revitalize Detroit. These are folks that we know really want to be in an urban core. They want to work here. They want to play here. They want to explore.”

Quicken Loans provides a host of benefits to its participants, including subsidized housing for out-of-state students, guaranteed parking and shuttle buses to and from these spots as well as regular social events through programs such as After 5. Interns are treated to special events, whether it is a pass for the rides at Detroit River Days, an insider’s view of Comerica Park or a citywide scavenger hunt.

Having this millennial mass has unexpected benefits as well, Salvatore said. Quicken Loans observes where the interns tend to congregate and what they enjoy doing downtown.

That gives the company insights on what else needs to be done to make Detroit a desirable place for this age group, she added....

It would be interesting to know how many interns are in downtown STL this summer. Also, I know many of these Detroit companies also participate in a program that provides housing financial assistance for employees to purchase or rent in greater downtown neighborhoods.... does anyone know if any STL employers participate in a similar program?

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... e-use.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morn ... rs-in.html

^ ??

^Sounds great, especially for a Wednesday with the Cards out of town.

^ I wonder if this is a reflection in part of tourism. Since I have been curious if after everything the past year if that has affected tourism into the area. Is there a way to know if there is any difference in number of tourists of both domestic and international visitors?

There's been a good-sized convention/conference in town this week (I think it's physical therapists?) that has provided a really nice boost. And someone told me that it's not the type of convention where everyone gets out for lunch at the same time, so that might explain why the restaurants have been hopping throughout the day. There was a line out the door at Taze yesterday, which was great to see for a new restaurant.

^That's another interesting question, how is the convention demand this year compared to last year? The concern is that there may be a "Ferguson effect" in relation to tourism and convention business towards the negative. Though I doubt there is but has been something I've wondered.

I would expect most conventions to be booked/planned out well in advance. So the 'effect' may not appear until later.

Yep. I am afraid we will eventually feel that pain.

^ How long do conventions get planned in advance? Since I would think if there was an effect at this point it would be noticed. Any affect on tourism would have been noticed by now as well. Is there any data on either conventions or tourism yet for this summer as compared to last summer to see if any negative impacts are occurring?

It is possible there might not be due to similar situations happening elsewhere. The real concern with that could be if that plus crime increase puts to a halt the national trends of urban redevelopment and back to another round of white flight.

^ Its easier to tell if conventions are impacted. But how can anyone tell if tourism has been. Anecdotally I have seen more out of state license plates this summer than before which could indicate more tourism from people driving here. Other indicators would be if hotel bookings are higher and if the airport is busier (though that could also be people here going away for leisure too).

Could in an odd way news events possibly increase tourism due to awareness of the area? This would be moreso for non regional and especially international visitors.

I think hotel bookings are the best metric, along with attendance at the Arch, City Museum, Brewery Tour and Zoo.

Arguably, Downtown is (and is increasingly) a better tourist destination today than it has been in decades. Between City Garden, the increasing branding and awareness of Washington Ave, the redevelopment of the Arch Grounds, MX Cinema, The Peabody, National Blues Museum, the recent boost in St. Louis' longstanding BBQ reputation, and (alas) Ballpark Village (and perhaps Lumiere, although, like all casinos it seems to be a bit of a island unto itself), Downtown is more entertaining and engaging for a conventioneer or weekend visitor today than it hass ever been in my memory. Really the only thing that's missing is what used to bring people downtown in droves - shopping.

When you add to all of the attractions relatively accessible hotel rates and a reputation for having great institutions that are 100% free to the public, it's a pretty attractive destination option.

imperialmog wrote:
Could in an odd way news events possibly increase tourism due to awareness of the area? This would be moreso for non regional and especially international visitors.

I've had this feeling for a while now. There seems to have been more St. Louis-oriented stories appearing on various media the last several months (positive, non-Ferguson stories). It really does seem that the nation is more aware of us these days. Funny how things work.

^^ Downtown does seem to be more tourist friendly than its ever been. As for shopping that is likely as much related to how different retail is now with the internet so its likely less important than before.

^ There does seem to be more awareness of local things here. Actually when I was in London a couple months ago there was also more awareness of St. Louis so its not just within the US this is the case. It would be good is if the community tries to make a big tourism campaign highlighting St. Louis along with the surrounding areas in other places and not just within the region, but to advertise in other parts of the country and in other countries. More tourists would be good for creating jobs and could filter over to business opportunities.

^Interesting. Perhaps the ability to have a "primary focus" has been a benefit for the CWE. You basically have two different and geographically separate parties being catered to: BJC south of the Parkway, and residents north of the parkway. Both seem to be making consistent gains.

Blames the lack of prime class a new construction and decentralized location as why firms may leave downtown. Vacancy at 19.5%
They also cite a national trend of executives moving firms from central cities to suburban locations.

So who is getting really tired of the BPV phase II "will be soon" comments.?

I do agree with the lack of Class A space is hurting downtown. I just can't help to think that the city is getting to a point where giving Cordish/DeWitt hard cash for Class A office space is not only a necessary evil but realistically the only developer/site/utilities ready to go with incentives in place downtown to make something happen sooner than later. I don't count old muni courts as the latest proposed office component would be on small side for the impact that is needed to turn things around for downtown employment, think big or go home for downtown.

Personally, I would like to think that any offer the city gives to BPV is given to LHM (Union station or maybe take over McKee's proposed gateway bookend tower), Koman (which I believe has development rights on or owns outright a cupples surface lot) and or Drury for a class A tower on the landing as part of a residential/hotel development. I believe SunEdison execs committed to Riverport and the suburbia trend. But still got my hope for Bunge NA to relocate to downtown and the riverfront.

moorlander wrote:Blames the lack of prime class a new construction and decentralized location as why firms may leave downtown. Vacancy at 19.5%
They also cite a national trend of executives moving firms from central cities to suburban locations.

it only seems to be a trend in the few cities where executives aren't moving from the 'burbs back into the core.

and it's funny how they blame things that are the result of firms moving out of the core (i.e. decentralizing) in the first place. not much incentive to build new class A when you can't secure a tenant.

moorlander wrote:There was also some positive stuff....

Doug Woodruff, president and CEO of Downtown STL Inc., said he’s put together an economic development task force that includes Downtown STL officials with the mayor’s leadership team and other key stakeholders in downtown to help address the issue.

A new office building wouldn’t hurt either, he said.

“One opportunity is right in Ballpark Village,” Woodruff said. “The (St. Louis Cardinals) and Cordish Cos. are looking at a second phase soon and we would hope that one of the things they take a look at is commercial office space,” he said. “But we need to find ways to stimulate job growth downtown because as goes employment downtown, so goes downtown.”

more of the positives...


Another solution could be St. Louis’ growing startup community. Now, more than 100 startup companies are huddled in the T-REX incubator at 911 Washington Ave. As those companies grow, most are moving out and into nearby downtown office buildings. For example, comnpanies such as Pixel Press, the create-your-own video game startup, and legislative tracking startup TrackBill, moved to the old Laclede Gas Light Co. building at 1017 Olive Street, and patent process predictive startup Juristat and sales pipeline analytics upstart TopOPPS moved to the Curlee Building at 611 N. 10th St.

The Colliers report found the tech industry to be the strongest driver of office demand due to both continued sector growth and increasing adoption of technology across a greater range of industries, as well as an accommodative financing environment.

To that end, Woodruff said Downwtown Inc. is trying to do a better job of marketing itself to such companies and employees. “We have to find what our value proposition is,” Woodruff said. “We’re finding more people that want to be innovative like to be in the urban environment. That could help us.”