The State of Downtown

roger wyoming II · PostJan 08, 2016#12762016-01-08T19:30+00:00

Here's what I'm looking for this year from downtown:

-- does LHM break ground on its amusement park plans? (hints are yes)
-- will UrbanStreet make any moves on their Locust collection? (no idea on that or the remainder)
-- will Jefferson Arms, Chemical and Municipal Courts move forward?
-- will there be a BPV Phase II announced?
-- is Crowne Plaza conversion moving forward?
-- can M/X get the rear retail sites leased?
-- will a drug store be coming to downtown? additional non-bar/restaurant retail?
-- does Brandonview have anything up its sleeve for Mercantile Library properties?
-- will residential come to The Landing?

I wouldn't be surprised by any of these happening this year but things like RR/X or new construction (aside from maybe BPV announcement) might be too optimistic this year .

ajwillikers · PostJan 08, 2016#12772016-01-08T20:23+00:00

^I like where you head's at. Bring back running people out of town on a rail.

stlgasm · PostJan 08, 2016#12782016-01-08T21:49+00:00

What's up with the LaSalle Building at the NW corner of Olive & Broadway? Is there a cooler building in the entire city? I think not. How has this not been rehabbed yet? Seems like a no-brainer for a residential conversion.

jsbru · PostJan 08, 2016#12792016-01-08T22:18+00:00

jcity wrote:Lots of things are happening downtown from what I've heard, but they aren't public yet. Stay optimistic!

This is good to hear.

I'd bank on an announcement on the Chemical first, because of it's proximity to the Arcade and the somewhat recent news of activity on the financial/ownership status getting ironed out.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 08, 2016#12802016-01-08T23:39+00:00

stlgasm wrote:What's up with the LaSalle Building at the NW corner of Olive & Broadway? Is there a cooler building in the entire city? I think not. How has this not been rehabbed yet? Seems like a no-brainer for a residential conversion.

LaSalle is probably my fave downtown building w. Union Trust a close second. Hopefully it gets some love soon, and its key corner needs activation. I have heard that the small floor plates pose some challenges for the market... who knows, maybe studios and micro apartments?

jcity · PostJan 09, 2016#12812016-01-09T23:19+00:00

LaSalle is supposed to be a hotel conversion. Not sure what flag though. Maybe indigo?

olvidarte · PostJan 10, 2016#12822016-01-10T02:45+00:00

I have heard that the small floor plates pose some challenges for the market

I've always thought these would be great sized condos, one or 2 per floor...don't know if it would work but dreams and all that.

The multiple bay windows would make for amazing spaces.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 10, 2016#12832016-01-10T03:47+00:00

jcity wrote:LaSalle is supposed to be a hotel conversion. Not sure what flag though. Maybe indigo?

Holy crap, jcity! I take it this is one of the exciting things you've eluded to. I do see the building sold a few months ago to someone out of Atlanta.

goat314 · PostJan 10, 2016#12842016-01-10T04:21+00:00

A lot of hotel conversions in Downtown St. Louis. Maybe somebody is anticipating a vacated dome and increased convention business.

dredger · PostJan 10, 2016#12852016-01-10T13:44+00:00

^ Goat, I also take it as a failure of BPV to break ground on phase II. I will have to say after several years that the city might have to subsidize some square footage, say the city helps with hotel square footage if residential is added.

In all fairness, it is a legitimate point that any new construction is going to cost more than these conversions which is probably a big reason Drury won't pull a trigger on Laclede's Landing or won't decide on a mix residential/hotel tower until convention center goes forward with ballroom expansion & refurbish dome.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 10, 2016#12862016-01-10T17:12+00:00

^ I'm about to give up on caring about BPV.... I certainly wouldn't subsidize hotel and think that the primary interest of the city should be to consider any additional support for a new office project that secures a new tenant to downtown or retains a major employer.

wabash · PostJan 10, 2016#12872016-01-10T17:48+00:00

Agreed. Any additional subsidies for hotels don't really seem necessary at this point. The Magnolia, Embassy Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, and hopefully soon Blackhawk have all opened using combinations of the current tax incentives that are in place. Basically, what is available now seems to be working rather well, and there's no reason to give BPV preferential treatment over any other Downtown location.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 10, 2016#12882016-01-10T17:57+00:00

^ I also think the city needs to get more focus on supporting those things that add more to the tax base and day-to-day density and that is office employment and residential rather than tourism and entertainment, etc.

PostJan 12, 2016#12892016-01-12T02:19+00:00

Here's a convention business article on Saint Louis that covers a lot of the hotel changes...

A booming downtown is drawing groups to St. Louis
http://www.meetingstoday.com/Magazines/ ... fault.aspx

“What has happened in the past year or so is a transformation of our entire hotel package in the downtown area,” says John Bettag, vice president of sales for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission. “Virtually all of the hotels that are adjacent or just blocks from the Convention Complex are either new or newly renovated...”

moorlander · PostJan 12, 2016#12902016-01-12T19:25+00:00

jcity wrote:Lots of things are happening downtown from what I've heard, but they aren't public yet. Stay optimistic!

More hints of good things to come...

roger wyoming II · PostJan 12, 2016#12912016-01-12T19:28+00:00

moorlander wrote:
jcity wrote:Lots of things are happening downtown from what I've heard, but they aren't public yet. Stay optimistic!

More hints of good things to come...

Sweet! So what's iceberg cold that's hot?

PostJan 12, 2016#12922016-01-12T19:29+00:00

^ I got it! LHM is going to build a replica of the Titanic!

PostJan 12, 2016#12932016-01-12T19:52+00:00

Ground floor space at the NE corner of Locust and 11th has been leased... not sure what's coming but it's nice to see.

The 1000 block of Locust is really coming along...

-- this spot
-- The Alverne, which I believe will include a ground floor art gallery
-- The Willow, Dave Bailey's new event space at the old Left Bank Books
-- whatever is going on with a new restaurant space across from the Willow at the NW corner of 10th and Locust

The street level spaces should be nearly 100% leased when all is said and done!

DannyJ · PostJan 12, 2016#12942016-01-12T20:02+00:00

moorlander wrote:
jcity wrote:Lots of things are happening downtown from what I've heard, but they aren't public yet. Stay optimistic!

More hints of good things to come...

He must mean this:
Gioia's Deli to Open Downtown Location http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/d ... 5f71b.html

jcity · PostJan 13, 2016#12952016-01-13T00:24+00:00

Ha. Much bigger.

wabash · PostJan 13, 2016#12962016-01-13T02:21+00:00

jcity wrote:Ha. Much bigger.

Please, oh please, include market rate apartments in some way, shape, or form.

DogtownBnR · PostJan 13, 2016#12972016-01-13T17:52+00:00

I found this December 15th 2015 article in the Nashville Biz Journal. Looks like Hardees is still full steam ahead out of Downtown STL.

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/bl ... rters.html

roger wyoming II · PostJan 13, 2016#12982016-01-13T17:55+00:00

^ eh, that't one of those jackal owners you can't do much about. (btw, it looks like GE picked Boston over might Atlanta for its new HQ.)

dbInSouthCity · PostJan 13, 2016#12992016-01-13T18:38+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:
moorlander wrote:
jcity wrote:Lots of things are happening downtown from what I've heard, but they aren't public yet. Stay optimistic!

More hints of good things to come...

Sweet! So what's iceberg cold that's hot?

thank you for making me part of that tweet, Roger.

Presbyterian · PostJan 16, 2016#13002016-01-16T00:20+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:Ground floor space at the NE corner of Locust and 11th has been leased... not sure what's coming but it's nice to see.

The permit reads "FULL DRINK BANQUET HALL W SIDEWALK SEATING."

The State of Downtown

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