Great news from Anthem and City SC. Does anyone know Anthem’s current status of in office or WFH? Just wondering how often these new roles will be downtown?dbInSouthCity wrote:With City SC officially moving 170 team jobs from Clayton to downtown west, that’s now 420 new permanent jobs in that part
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Lol the title of the article in the Business Journal is “Big Insurance Company to Add 250 Workers in Downtown St Louis.”robertn42 wrote:Great news. I wonder how the Business Journal will spin this to a negative piece on downtown.dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Nov 30, 2023Anthem is adding 250 jobs at their downtown office.
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Its Editor induced clickbait, because if they name the name then you know the story and you won't click. If you want the details, you gotta pay the piper...
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They show a picture of the building with a big Anthem sign right next to the title of the article.TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 wrote:Its Editor induced clickbait, because if they name the name then you know the story and you won't click. If you want the details, you gotta pay the piper...
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Doesn't mean an editor doesn't choose the headline and have purposes for doing so...
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Ok. The original point is that the headline, and article, doesn’t appear to be anti St Louis in any way. It’s a positive story about our downtown.TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 wrote:Doesn't mean an editor doesn't choose the headline and have purposes for doing so...
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I agree with your point. I genuinely am glad to hear that being in that area is seen as a perk by Anthem employees.
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Agreed. It’s refreshing to see that the momentum we’ve had in Downtown West appears to be making a difference in the sentiment of the employees in that neighborhood.TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 wrote:I agree with your point. I genuinely am glad to hear that being in that area is seen as a perk by Anthem employees.
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Law firm will stay downtown, in 'strong signal of support' for city
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2023/12/11/law-firm-stays-downtown-office-gray-ritter-graham.htmlThe Gray Ritter Graham law firm has renewed the lease on its space at the Peabody Plaza office tower, 701 Market St., the firm said in a news release. The company will keep its current footprint of 16,319 square feet on the building’s eighth floor, a spokesperson said. Serving clients in injury cases, class action and business dispute cases throughout Missouri and the Midwest, Gray Ritter Graham began operation 75 years ago and first moved to Peabody Plaza in 1989 from a previous location at 900 Locust St. It has 13 total licensed attorneys, according to Business Journal research.
The lease was renewed until 2027, with an option to renew until 2031, the spokesperson said. Terms weren't disclosed. The average asking lease rate for downtown office space was $19.16 per square foot as of the third quarter, compared with $22.86 for the entire St. Louis metro, according to research from commercial real estate firm CBRE. Peabody Plaza, totaling 400,000 square feet and more than 15 stories, is one of the largest office buildings in St. Louis. New York-based real estate investment management company Briar Meads Capital bought the building in 2020 for $35 million.
Besides anchor tenant Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU), which said last year it would also renew its long-term lease, the building houses numerous law firms and architecture firm Arcturis.
All the attorney offices inside the Gray Ritter Graham space have floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view to the east of Kiener Plaza, the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch, and, to the west, urban park Citygarden and the three downtown courthouses, the firm said.
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Anyone know whats going on with the Midas redo of OYO?
Saw this and was wondering if really an issue:
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/bus ... ir%20mural.
Saw this and was wondering if really an issue:
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/bus ... ir%20mural.
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SO had an opportunity to go downtown this weekend. This is anecdotal and I know February is probably a pretty slow time of year in general but if Saturday night was in anyway representative downtown needs a shot of atropine straight to the artery.
Wash ave. was fairly dead, but a least it was decently lit. Sugarfire seemed like it was doing a decent business but it didn't translate to many people walking about.
Ballpark village was similar. Katies Pizza was reasonably busy but not a lot of people outside.
The walk between the two was bleak. Not sure any otherway to put it. Uncomfortably dark and almost nobody walking around. I say all this not because i enjoy dogging on downtown. I have heard plenty of rhetoric regarding downtown and i generally ignore it because I usually have a good experience down there. Maybe on a different time of yeah or day of the week the impression would be different but this night made me more concerned for downtown than i have been for sometime.
To me the solution is simple to say, and hard to implement. Get REX done ASAP, and with it a plan for the block south of it.
You get both of those down and i think rigt the ship in the downtown.
Wash ave. was fairly dead, but a least it was decently lit. Sugarfire seemed like it was doing a decent business but it didn't translate to many people walking about.
Ballpark village was similar. Katies Pizza was reasonably busy but not a lot of people outside.
The walk between the two was bleak. Not sure any otherway to put it. Uncomfortably dark and almost nobody walking around. I say all this not because i enjoy dogging on downtown. I have heard plenty of rhetoric regarding downtown and i generally ignore it because I usually have a good experience down there. Maybe on a different time of yeah or day of the week the impression would be different but this night made me more concerned for downtown than i have been for sometime.
To me the solution is simple to say, and hard to implement. Get REX done ASAP, and with it a plan for the block south of it.
You get both of those down and i think rigt the ship in the downtown.
Sorry to be glib but like yeah, Downtown is like that unless there's some kind of convention or sports game to bring people there. I'm not sure how long it's been that way but for at least the last several years it has been. I feel like these posts come up often enough here or in Reddit where everyone is in a continual state of shock about how dead the foot traffic is Downtown.
There was some kind of event at America's Center, possibly another youth volleyball tournament. Lots of parents and kids out somewhat late Saturday in that part of town.
I watched two Chargers blow through the red light on Washington between the dome and the Marriott on Saturday night where lots of folks were crossing. Luckily nobody was present at the exact time except the crossing guard.
I watched two Chargers blow through the red light on Washington between the dome and the Marriott on Saturday night where lots of folks were crossing. Luckily nobody was present at the exact time except the crossing guard.
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...and most of those volleyball families from around the country will probably go home with a bleak view on STL. Why? Because they probably spent their whole visit in our subpar downtown. Unfortunately most visitors to STL won't likely explore our interesting neighborhoods, see how shiny and fancy Clayton is, or even check out our awesome parks (outside of the museums in Forest Park) The state of our Downtown is a direct correlation to how favorably people think about the entire city and region.
Wish the region would come together to support downtown, but of course we are STL. The rope has to be pulled in 12 different directions. I'm sure downtown Chesterfield will totally help move the region forward
Wish the region would come together to support downtown, but of course we are STL. The rope has to be pulled in 12 different directions. I'm sure downtown Chesterfield will totally help move the region forward
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I work in downtown tues thru thurs. Streets are deserted on weekdays - pandemic has changed it for worse, unfortunately.
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I'm just as guilty as anyone not getting downtown enough. Last several times I had been close was to Union Station area so my impression was downtown is doing decent. New stadium, Union station entertainment thing still reasonably busy etc.
I had also heard about the road racers in downtown but sort of discounted it as not THAT big of a deal. Saw first hand a couple 4 wheelers screaming down Wash. Ave. and thinking how the hell do you get away with that.
East of Tucker needs some serious love. I do think if the REX was redeveloped in would be an extreme shot in the arm. to that area.
I had also heard about the road racers in downtown but sort of discounted it as not THAT big of a deal. Saw first hand a couple 4 wheelers screaming down Wash. Ave. and thinking how the hell do you get away with that.
East of Tucker needs some serious love. I do think if the REX was redeveloped in would be an extreme shot in the arm. to that area.
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Visitors love downtown and I talk to 2 dozen each week. You have to be pretty boring or lame person not to find something to do between the Arch grounds, Union Station, casino, concerts, comedy shows, sports, city museum, blues museum, clubs at and around ballpark village and 90 restaurantsGoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024...and most of those volleyball families from around the country will probably go home with a bleak view on STL. Why? Because they probably spent their whole visit in our subpar downtown. Unfortunately most visitors to STL won't likely explore our interesting neighborhoods, see how shiny and fancy Clayton is, or even check out our awesome parks (outside of the museums in Forest Park) The state of our Downtown is a direct correlation to how favorably people think about the entire city and region.
Wish the region would come together to support downtown, but of course we are STL. The rope has to be pulled in 12 different directions. I'm sure downtown Chesterfield will totally help move the region forward
GSL recently commissioned the study on downtown cell data and it’s at about 85% of 2019. They did this to counter the downtown recovery project data which includes just 1/4th of downtown its recovery rankings
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I do appreciate your unrelenting optimism, though I would point out that downtown being at 85% of traffic vs 2019 actually is a pretty impactful decline, particularly since it wasn’t bustling with activity in 2019 in the first place.
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Not really, Clayton is down -40% (issue with being a one trick pony of office work only). And 2019 was a very good year in downtown for activity. It’s not unrelenting optimism, it’s being down here 24-7 and see it all and than see the data like spending and than having constant contact with hotel and restaurant operators and hearing how well they’re doing. Union station did $35,000,000 in 2019 and $76,000,000 in 2023Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024I do appreciate your unrelenting optimism, though I would point out that downtown being at 85% of traffic vs 2019 actually is a pretty impactful decline, particularly since it wasn’t bustling with activity in 2019 in the first place.
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Clayton is also very dead at street level, and has been decimated with Centene no longer being a presence. I don’t think anyone disputes that.dbInSouthCity wrote:Not really, Clayton is down -40% (issue with being a one trick pony of office work only). And 2019 was a very good year in downtown for activity. It’s not unrelenting optimism, it’s being down here 24-7 and see it all and than see the data like spending and than having constant contact with hotel and restaurant operators and hearing how well they’re doing. Union station did $35,000,000 in 2019 and $76,000,000 in 2023Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024I do appreciate your unrelenting optimism, though I would point out that downtown being at 85% of traffic vs 2019 actually is a pretty impactful decline, particularly since it wasn’t bustling with activity in 2019 in the first place.
Union Station is just one example and that has to be driven mostly by the Soccer Stadium, correct? I think the point still stands that DT is dead outside of a game day.
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And there are things in motion to keep building on/ gls will role out a 4 category plan for retail restaurants to focus on national brands, regional, local and pop ups with a partnership with landlords
I got GSL, cardinals, blues, City SC, union station, sports commission to meet and discuss a joint project on Clark, we’re meeting Feb 12th
I got GSL, cardinals, blues, City SC, union station, sports commission to meet and discuss a joint project on Clark, we’re meeting Feb 12th
My experience as well. I'm in the office Monday-Friday (Monday and Friday are optional and most of the people who live in the County prefer not to come).stlurbanist wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024I work in downtown tues thru thurs. Streets are deserted on weekdays - pandemic has changed it for worse, unfortunately.
One particularly annoying thing that I have probably already complained about is that there were plenty of business/work-friendly food options pre-COVID that are completely gone. They were either not replaced by anything (several empty storefronts that used to be active on Locust and Olive St for example) or they were replaced by stuff that is probably nice for tourists and visitors but not really a place where you want to eat at everyday (Hi Pointe is a good example). As a result, we used to go out for lunch quite often but rarely do so anymore.
That's kind of my complaint, also.
They say there are 90 restaurants, but how many are only open for lunch M-F? How many are in hotels? How many are in the BPV Union Station tourist compounds? Restaurants in hotels and tourist compounds are generally mediocre and overpriced. They're not required to be competitive on price or quality.
Nearly all of the bodegas that were open past 7pm are no more, also. I think only James Henry is left.
I had an inkling for a cocktail at Trust, but that place is open 18 hours per week and not on Saturdays.
They say there are 90 restaurants, but how many are only open for lunch M-F? How many are in hotels? How many are in the BPV Union Station tourist compounds? Restaurants in hotels and tourist compounds are generally mediocre and overpriced. They're not required to be competitive on price or quality.
Nearly all of the bodegas that were open past 7pm are no more, also. I think only James Henry is left.
I had an inkling for a cocktail at Trust, but that place is open 18 hours per week and not on Saturdays.
"Visitors love downtown" is sadly not the picture I get based on numerous conversations I have with out of town visitors who come into our shop (and we have A LOT of out-of-town visitors practically daily). I can't even count how many times tourists ask me on a regular basis where are all the people, where are the shops, where are all the art galleries, and why is downtown so boring. Often times, they are relieved to have ventured out of downtown, because their impression of the city totally changed once they did. Just last week, a cool hip couple from Seattle stopped in our shop- they said every year they pick a different city to explore, and St. Louis was their pick this year. They stayed at Hotel Saint Louis based on a friend's recommendation who had stayed there last year for a wedding. They love to explore cities on foot and fell in love with the the architecture downtown, and of course they checked out the Arch, City Museum and Union Station, but they admitted that they felt a bit uncomfortable walking around because it was so utterly desolate, and hardly any cars (save for a wild gang of speeding motorcycles that blew through the intersection when they had a walk signal and they were sure they would've been run over had they not been paying attention). They actually asked me if anyone actually works in the office buildings because block after block felt almost completely devoid of life. And these are city people who came with no preconceived notions. They wanted to love St. Louis! They came to our shop the day before they flew home, and they said Forest Park is the best urban park they've been to, they were impressed with the CWE and area around Wash U, and they especially loved parts of South City that they saw on the way to our store. They only wish they had discovered these places before their last full day in town.dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024Visitors love downtown and I talk to 2 dozen each week. You have to be pretty boring or lame person not to find something to do between the Arch grounds, Union Station, casino, concerts, comedy shows, sports, city museum, blues museum, clubs at and around ballpark village and 90 restaurants
GSL recently commissioned the study on downtown cell data and it’s at about 85% of 2019. They did this to counter the downtown recovery project data which includes just 1/4th of downtown its recovery rankings:
Any way you slice it, downtown St. Louis lags far behind just about every peer metro in the country in terms of vitality and amenities. Yeah, its great that our sports venues and concert venues are concentrated downtown (more than our little brother to the west, Kansas City can say), but there's no question downtown KC has more buzz than downtown STL. I hate admitting that because I think St. Louis runs circles around KC, but it's true. Name one 2 million+ metro that has a deader downtown than St. Louis. ??? For all the bad press that San Francisco has been getting lately, downtown SF on a Sunday night feels like Times Square at rush hour compared to downtown St. Louis on a weekday afternoon (nevermind the weekends, unless there's a sporting event, concert or convention).
While turning the lights back on at One Bell Center and the Railway Exchange is imperative, there are little things we can do now that would go a long way to improving the safety and perception of downtown. PUBLIC ART. Why isn't EVERY parking garage adorned with murals????? We don't need focus groups and community forums and consultants to make these things happen- JUST DO IT. Hire local artists and designers to stage window displays in the empty storefronts. And where are the infill townhouse and rowhouse developments to fill in the empty lots surrounding the CBD? Instead of dense, walkable, vibrant neighborhoods that are common on the periphery of other cities' downtowns, we have a depressing mess of parking lots, concrete highways and gas stations. This is humiliating. We need to fill in the gaps and reconnect downtown to the rest of the city. And speaking of new developments, why does St. Louis, the preeminent river city of America, turn its back on the Mississippi River that we owe our very existence to? River views would be prime real estate in other cities, but for some reason it hasn't caught on here. The downtown riverfront- in the shadow of our world-famous monument- is utterly sad and pathetic, and anyone with eyes can't deny it.
As most of you know, I'm ride or die with St. Louis, and I will always love downtown even though it objectively sucks in its current condition and in my opinion doesn't even crack the top 5 most impressive urban neighborhoods in STL. However, I have high hopes that with effective leadership and a bold vision for the future, it will bounce back stronger than ever. It won't be quick, but St. Louisans don't stick around because things happen quickly here. We have nowhere to go but up.
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we are at about 40 new restaurants since covid vs 29 closed.kipfilet wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024My experience as well. I'm in the office Monday-Friday (Monday and Friday are optional and most of the people who live in the County prefer not to come).stlurbanist wrote: ↑Feb 05, 2024I work in downtown tues thru thurs. Streets are deserted on weekdays - pandemic has changed it for worse, unfortunately.
One particularly annoying thing that I have probably already complained about is that there were plenty of business/work-friendly food options pre-COVID that are completely gone. They were either not replaced by anything (several empty storefronts that used to be active on Locust and Olive St for example) or they were replaced by stuff that is probably nice for tourists and visitors but not really a place where you want to eat at everyday (Hi Pointe is a good example). As a result, we used to go out for lunch quite often but rarely do so anymore.