urbanSTL

It's not a matter of WANTING to live in the building, it's a matter of AFFORDING to live there. I'm going to guess that the price per square foot will START somewhere around $350 (based on Skyhouse starting at $320 in a less desirable location) and get upwards of $500 easy. That is huge in St. Louis! And yes, St. Louis IS CONSERVATIVE. We don't like change, we rarely think outside the box, and we don't like excess (other than toasted ravioli, we get plenty of that!) Ever wonder why we are 5-10 years behind the coasts in about everything?? Then, throw in the condo fees to pay for a doorman, security, fitness center, spa, pool, clubhouse, business center, etc.



I'm not saying it won't happen. I would LOVE for it to happen. I'm just questioning if the timing is right for the building to be up and going by '09. The Roberts brothers aren't going to be fronting their own cash for this project, and with lenders across the board tightening down on construction loans, I don't see how there is enough demand to get this going by then.



It will happen, I am just questioning the demand to have it up by 2009. With Skyhouse and CitySide, there may be too much supply for too little demand. I suppose time will tell.

Well in response to that, we know that the condos are starting at 350k. Right about even with skyhouse. And I doubt they are going to have any going above skyhouse's penthouses (which go to about 850). So they aren't going to be any more expensive than the other developments going up right now (I believe city side is the most expensive?). Less desireable location? I don't know about that. The opo will be the coolest residential location in the city after the syndicate and arcade fill up, but skyhouse is on Washington Ave. Clearly right in the heart of the action downtown. Plus there is no doubt that skyhouse will give much better downtown views of the skyline from their location. This is by no means any more of a stretch than anything else going in downtown right now. Arcade penthouse for 1.6mil? We'll see about that.



And I don't want to say I told you so about the rumored "sales staff"

The Arcade penthouse is the only one in St. Louis offering an unobstructed view of The Arch, Old Courthouse, Wainwright building and parts of Busch stadium, not to mention it is over 4000 square feet inside and has private rooftop deck, green space outside, courtyard balcony and 3 1/2 sides of windows. Based on my math that puts the price per square foot at $398, well below the upper levels of Roberts or Skyhouse. Considering what you get for the $1.6m, if I had that in my pocket, I wouldn't think twice.



The location for Skyhouse may be "the heart of Washington Ave," but it's hardly the heart of downtown. Washington Avenue in my opinion, is soon to be passed over for what is happening in the OPO. The baby boomer generation that can afford the $300k+ price point doesn't want to hear the noise coming from KYO or RUE 13. I think we've all been down there at midnight on Friday and seen (or been) the drunk patrons stumbling out raising hell. For some that's ideal, for most...I doubt it.



They also want buildings with more history, buildings that they remember going through as children. I think the Alexa, The Arcade, and Syndicate are much more desirable for those middle to upper aged individuals who can afford it. The younger, career oriented buyers will be eating Skyhouse up, but there aren't as many who can afford the starting prices.

If the plaza is set to break ground next Wednesday, it's either a ceremonial gold shovel ground-breaking (most likely) or the Roberts Brothers are ready to start construction as well.

Uh, what other options are there for a groundbreaking?

At the "urban plaza" groundbreaking/press conference today Roberts Tower had a table set up with some info including the floor plans. Only 3 units per floor (there will probably be larger units on high floors). I generally like the plans, although I wonder why they aren't on the website. The master bedroom closet on the largest unit is HUGE - larger than the second bedroom! Dimensions and total square footage are not listed. With so few units to absorb the cost of the building infrastructure, I would imagine these are going to be astronomically expensive.

Floor plans will be available on the website very soon. Efforts have been put in place to support this new construction project to the fullest. While the project is admittedly off to a slow start, changes will become more evident in the immediate future.

Thanks for the update.

RBrosSis wrote:Floor plans will be available on the website very soon. Efforts have been put in place to support this new construction project to the fullest. While the project is admittedly off to a slow start, changes will become more evident in the immediate future.

It is great to hear that, "Efforts have been put in place...".

RBrosSis wrote:Floor plans will be available on the website very soon. Efforts have been put in place to support this new construction project to the fullest. While the project is admittedly off to a slow start, changes will become more evident in the immediate future.

And...how do YOU know that? May I ask?? Just curious like all the others.

Cuz he works there, duh.

Ahh, thanks. I hadn't looked that closely. A sister of the Robert's Brothers. Damn, bet she feels left out. They could have at least called it "Robert's Siblings."

innov8ion wrote:Ahh, thanks. I hadn't looked that closely. A sister of the Robert's Brothers. Damn, bet she feels left out. They could have at least called it "Robert's Siblings."

DUH

Though I have followed along passively for some time now, posting on this forum is new for me. Based on the spirited conversation going back and forth here I felt the need to give full disclosure that I am in fact associated with the Roberts company. No I am not a family member, but I am one example of the "efforts" being put in place.

We certainly appreciate any insight you can provide.

RBrosSis wrote:Though I have followed along passively for some time now, posting on this forum is new for me. Based on the spirited conversation going back and forth here I felt the need to give full disclosure that I am in fact associated with the Roberts company. No I am not a family member, but I am one example of the "efforts" being put in place.

Welcome! We LOVE concrete, on-the-record, information from developers (and those associated with them)!

Someone from my office visited the Mayor's office this week and was told the delay in construction on the Robert's condos was due in part to there being a dispute between the City and the Roberts Bros. over a small parcel of land that the city wanted for their plaza and Roberts Bros. wanted for their condo project.



That has apparently been resolved and we should see construction starting very soon as stated above.

I'm happy to see this moving forward, but I really wish the tower was about 6 floors higher to give it a more prominant position on thedowntown skyline. At its current height it will probably not be easily seen.

2taall wrote:I'm happy to see this moving forward, but I really wish the tower was about 6 floors higher to give it a more prominant position on thedowntown skyline. At its current height it will probably not be easily seen.

Maybe from the West, but this tower would have a damn near impossible time being seen in stl's signature skyline shot unless it rose above the u.s. bank building. We're talking almost 200 more feet there.

^And that would be fine with me.