urbanSTL

Another aspect of the building that sets it apart for other developments is the connection to hotel services at the Mayfair. It was announced last week that the Edison had finally sold out, so future residents might be looking for another building with those types of amenities.

Has anybody else noticed how small the new buildings footprint must be? I am shocked they can build a tower on such a small lot.

southcitygent wrote:It was announced last week that the Edison had finally sold out, so future residents might be looking for another building with those types of amenities.

You are right. Anyone who may have been looking at the Edison condos because of the amenities that the Sheraton provided, now has a similar situation with this development and any amenities that the Mayfair may provide. Not to split hairs, but there was an article in the November 10, 2005 Post-Dispatch regarding all 81 Edison condominiums having been sold, with about two floors still left to build out. Either way, they are all SOLD!

I?ve been away from this site for two weeks and am still trying to catch up with all the new developments!



I really like the rendering and the glass exterior. I think it?s exciting to see new architecture styles downtown.



SMSPlanstu

Please, add pictures or links of/to examples of other notable buildings that this one compares to especially foreign like the South American that was said in order to understand why it is significant architecturally.

SMS, I?ve posted some examples of building in London will glass exterior. I realize they don?t quite look like the Roberts Tower, but at least they give a better idea of the glass exterior look.

If there is a city we should want to be a mirror of it is London. With the great buildings and the historic districts its a wonderful place to live.

I second that, Texan! London really has its act together.

^True! London is a good example for St. Louis in balancing traditional and modern. Traditional red brick and modern glass can live in the same town. And, London has interesting modern development on a gritty waterfront. Mark - thanks for providing good examples.

Agree again,



Those pictures and buildings are supurb and desired!

I realize they don?t quite look like the Roberts Tower, but at least they give a better idea of the glass exterior look.

However, despite their wonderful use of glass they do not present the concrete aspect of the development



Again those pictures and buildings are remarkable!

So I'm confused (which admittedly doesn't take much). It's on-again, off-again, but does anyone know when construction starts?

I don't think anyone knows except the people who run it.



I got to thinking what if with the glass exteriors a tornado hit the building? In the past STL has been tornado prone and it can actually happen easily. I wouldn't want to be in that building.

Really, who would want to be in any building hit by a tornado? Glass is fine.



I think new construction, especially high-rises, should use diverse materials, not limiting ourselves to brick. London and Cleveland are great examples of how old and new work well together. Even locally, look at the new designs for the Central Library. Reminds me somewhat of the tasteful yet striking Louvre renovation.

Gateway Lofts over on Tucker and Washington are starting to pre-sell. If Roberts Bros don't break ground soon they won't be able to lay claim to "the first new residential construction in downtown St. Louis since the 1970s"!

Here come the naysayers.

Gateway Lofts, Port St. Louis, Park Pacific, Ballpark Village Towers, Gateway Village (Bottle District), Roberts Mayfair Plaza...



With so much brand new residential construction planned downtown, how can you even be a naysayer?

JMedwick wrote:All i will say is two things:

1. If the Roberts don't get a move on then their project will the the looser of those listed above, because there will be lots of competition.

I agree that whoever gets out of the gate first will have an advantage. But, I don't agree that Roberts Tower has a built-in disadvantage and will succeed only if it goes first. For some it would be the building of choice. It is within a couple of blocks of two Metro stations, it is centrally located to all of downtown, it is not part of a themed village which might be attractive some people. It appears to be a unique product in downtown St. Louis.

southslider wrote:With so much brand new residential construction planned downtown, how can you even be a naysayer?

If one walks from the lobby of 917 Locust, past the vacant storefronts of the Board of Education Building and then over to the in-need-of-major-repairs American Theater, one can be more than just a naysayer about the tower.



The other projects that you mention seem solid, though.

But, Michael, one could have said that about any of the redevelopment projects downtown within the last five years. With your thinking, City Museum should have been an embarassing failure.



I'm convinced that the OPO "square" is where the future of downtown is. It's in the heart of downtown, equidistant from all the major sites and hotspots downtown. It's also the most aesthetically pleasing and architecturally diverse section of downtown, at least in my opinion. Give it time.

There are only 74 units. If they are sticking with the same concept, certainly they can find 74 people willing to take the plunge, even if downtown is still not perfect. Personally, I think it is a great location, close to lots of good stuff and very well connected. A resident of Roberts Tower will be able to walk a block the Metro station and have an easy commute to Barnes/Jewish, Wash U, Clayton, airport, etc.

Why aren't they pre-selling these? Seems like the logical step to getting almost any condo tower built. If they are having financing trouble most banks want a 50% pre-sell rate anyway. I wouldn't think it would be hard to sell 40 units.

steve wrote:With your thinking, City Museum should have been an embarassing failure.

No, the people behind the City Museum know how to create a successful urban development.

Consumer and investor confidence is a very delicate state-of-mind. Visit the current products to see what affect it has on your confidence.

ecoabsence wrote:

steve wrote:With your thinking, City Museum should have been an embarassing failure.

No, the people behind the City Museum know how to create a successful urban development.

Precisely my point. It explains why abandoned storefronts and deteriorating structures didn't keep people away. I see no evidence that the Roberts tower will be any different.