Whatever happened to the proposed Mayfair expansion?
Tower at OPOP (Roberts Tower), 411 North Eighth Street
Tower at OPOP (Roberts Tower), 411 North Eighth Street
The signs are still on the building, so I would assume it will happen eventually. The Robert's probably wanted to finish the Board of Education building first.
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I think they are waiting for plans of the "urban plaza" to be made.
- 10K
And will the plaza not be built until the garage mahal is built? I would guess that the land north of the OPO will be needed as a staging area.
I just saw a report on Chanel 2 news about the Roberts Bros. They were talking about the Mayfair expansion, and showed 3 differant design schemes for the new tower, so it looks like they are still moving forward. They showed the renderings very briefly, so it was hard to judge anything, but at least one of the proposals looked pretty interesting, kind of angular and funky.
Also, they are talking about a theater complex at Euclid and Delmar.
Also, they are talking about a theater complex at Euclid and Delmar.
- 10K
Are these two projects predicated on the completion of the Garage Mahal, or has there been any progress made on either of them recently? It seems like we haven't heard any updates for quite a while.
The guidebook for the Downtown Loft Living Tour this past weekend mentioned that the Roberts are planning a new condo tower on their lot next to the Mayfair. Not much information to go on, but it sounds like maybe their gonna do residential instead of the hotel addition. Sounds smart to me.
That wouldn't be a bad idea for the spot now, considering how most of the other buildings facing the OPO are being converted into residental.
- 10K
If the market for housing around the OPO continues to stay hot, will the city reconsider its plans for the urban plaza, instead choosing to seek out developers for more housing on the site? I can only hope so, but I'm not too optimistic. I guess the Roberts Bros. would have to alter their building somewhat, since I think it's designed to overlook the plaza.
Well in truth the city has already rethought its plans. Orignaly the whole lot was to be an urban plaza. Now its only half the lot. My guess is that the size of the plaza might shrink some, but the city is commited too it, thinking it would be a nice space for gathering and resturants with the theater next door.
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So, the surface parking lot to be converted to an urban plaza (so integral to the redevelopment of OPO) is now to in question and could be site of residential construction? Meanwhile, a parking garage slowly, slowly rises to the immediate southwest, from the rubble of a historic building very suited to residential development?
I swear, the more I think about the OPO and surrounding developments, the kookier the whole thing sounds.
I swear, the more I think about the OPO and surrounding developments, the kookier the whole thing sounds.
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I believe that plaza is is the last part to get built...
The Mayfair addition had residential and hotel rooms from the beginning, I don;t know if they've gone all residential. THe ROberts had said they would have some upscale condos in there...
The Mayfair addition had residential and hotel rooms from the beginning, I don;t know if they've gone all residential. THe ROberts had said they would have some upscale condos in there...
You'd think Lucas Park would show city planners how empty space downtown is used.
This is absolutely sickening. They turn the Century into a pile of rubble while this butt-ugly eyesore of a lot continues to sit creating dead space downtown. What a disaster.
I wouldn't be surprised if Stogel and those fools left without completing the job. If they do finish, it'll probably be another 10 years before they slap down some concrete planters, make a pathway to nowhere, and pat themselves on the back.
Are the Roberts Bros just waiting for the plaza before they build the tower or what?
Hate to be a pessimist, but this whole OPO thing is taking way too long. (And no they can't blame it all on the lawsuit-that's been settled for a year now)
I wouldn't be surprised if Stogel and those fools left without completing the job. If they do finish, it'll probably be another 10 years before they slap down some concrete planters, make a pathway to nowhere, and pat themselves on the back.
Are the Roberts Bros just waiting for the plaza before they build the tower or what?
Hate to be a pessimist, but this whole OPO thing is taking way too long. (And no they can't blame it all on the lawsuit-that's been settled for a year now)
- 1,768
I'm pretty sure this will be completed, as if I am not mistaken, a local philanthropist has offered to pay for the plaza...
Yea, I'm sure the plaza will get built. I bet it will become a favorite meeting place for Orpheum concert-goers and Webster University students.
And jeeze, Jeff, settle down! The OPO area IS developing. The Paul Brown is finished, the Roberts Lofts are finished, the Garage Mahal is rising, and work is underway on the Arcade, the UMB building, and the Old Post Office. Right now, EVERY building that borders the Old Post Office is either finished or under development.
And jeeze, Jeff, settle down! The OPO area IS developing. The Paul Brown is finished, the Roberts Lofts are finished, the Garage Mahal is rising, and work is underway on the Arcade, the UMB building, and the Old Post Office. Right now, EVERY building that borders the Old Post Office is either finished or under development.
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The plaza will become a great battleground for the homeless and the cops. With a library branch (read: Internet access) across the street, the OPO oriented away from the plaza site, and a parking garage creating dead space to the southwest, the plaza is positioned horribly. The best plaza site, if there was going to be a plaza, would be the Century Building site. With the foundation issues arising there, perhaps it's not too late. Doesn't seem that the plaza project is secure yet anyway.
The OPO project itself is taking a long time. Not the wonderful projects around it that smart developers are moving forward -- those are great. It's anything being pushed by the city and the Stogel cabal that is causing problems.
The OPO project itself is taking a long time. Not the wonderful projects around it that smart developers are moving forward -- those are great. It's anything being pushed by the city and the Stogel cabal that is causing problems.
Yeah, I know, framer. I was having a bad day, and thinking about the whole Century Bldg thing really upset me. I hope for the best for the OPO district. The private developers are doing all they can to make it successful, but I still think city hall messed up big on this one.
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What's the news with this one? Is it being built or what are the Roberts Bros up to?
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They showed a new rendering on fox2 during the high-rise boom segment. It will be 20 to 30 stories. There is no timetable (that I know of.)
So far, everyone is playing nice over delay of Mayfair addition
By Martin Van Der Werf
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/24/2005
Construction was supposed to have begun by now on the first new high-rise building in downtown St. Louis in more than 15 years: an 18-story addition to the Roberts Mayfair Hotel that is to have a mix of hotel rooms, ballrooms and condominiums.
But the project has bogged down as Michael and Steve Roberts tussle with city officials about priorities. The Robertses need a staging area for the project. The south half of the block is now covered by a parking lot. But that parking lot has long been eyed by the city for a public plaza. One option would be to close 8th Street, but that is not desirable because 9th Street already is closed a block away for construction of a parking garage.
Downtown Now has assembled all the land for the plaza, says executive director Tom Reeves, and has been looking over plans, though it hasn't raised money to build it.
The Roberts brothers want to build underground parking, and have thought about extending it below the new plaza, which could delay construction of the public space interminably.
Both sides are still talking nice, at least publicly. "It's going to work seamlessly," said Reeves. "We've always been all about cooperation. We can't go against that on our own project." Steve Roberts said, "It's not stalled. We have our own timeline, and we're following it." Of course, it was the Robertses who talked about starting construction this fall.
By Martin Van Der Werf
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/24/2005
Construction was supposed to have begun by now on the first new high-rise building in downtown St. Louis in more than 15 years: an 18-story addition to the Roberts Mayfair Hotel that is to have a mix of hotel rooms, ballrooms and condominiums.
But the project has bogged down as Michael and Steve Roberts tussle with city officials about priorities. The Robertses need a staging area for the project. The south half of the block is now covered by a parking lot. But that parking lot has long been eyed by the city for a public plaza. One option would be to close 8th Street, but that is not desirable because 9th Street already is closed a block away for construction of a parking garage.
Downtown Now has assembled all the land for the plaza, says executive director Tom Reeves, and has been looking over plans, though it hasn't raised money to build it.
The Roberts brothers want to build underground parking, and have thought about extending it below the new plaza, which could delay construction of the public space interminably.
Both sides are still talking nice, at least publicly. "It's going to work seamlessly," said Reeves. "We've always been all about cooperation. We can't go against that on our own project." Steve Roberts said, "It's not stalled. We have our own timeline, and we're following it." Of course, it was the Robertses who talked about starting construction this fall.
Looks like DowntownNow! is holding back another good project. I just don't see much, if any good coming from DowntownNow!.
bummer about the delay. i'm not so crazy about the "plaza" project myself, but i have to admit that it may help show off the facade of the old post office to its best effect. it's also too bad that the OPO faces out on olive - if the main facade were on the north side, it would make that block really stunning.
- 10K
At least if we're going to have the urban plaza forced on us, it's good that the Roberts Bros. are considering putting parking below it. Fountain Square in Cincy has parking below it, and you'd never know it.