urbanSTL

Here's a story from NextSTL in 2014, describing the previous proposal. It's got some good renderings and site plans; presumably this new plan would follow some of the same ideas:

https://nextstl.com/2014/11/new-residen ... hool-site/

Previous proposal:

Note the area that showed townhomes and structured parking now hosts the temporary U CIty PD. At the time of the apt/townhome proposal, neighbors wanted to keep it open space. 

It's a shame that never happened. The Loop needs more people nearby. The competition for people who drive to walkable areas is only growing.

Even if it got a 10 year tax abatement, it would be almost half over by now. So much better than the Olive TIF in so many ways.

Such a disappointing proposal. I didn’t think it was possible for a project to highlight so many great qualities of the Home2Suites on South Taylor.

Hopefully U. City realizes that they and the Loop deserve - and can demand - something much better.

Yes, underwhelming.

I wouldn’t hold out hope. U. City has gone backwards as of recent. Seems they’d happily rip down a historic structure and replace with an ugly suburban hotel.

Kingsland elevation:



Sit plan. Current U City library building is off-page below this image (to the South):

That is a really bad plan - Need U-City to step up here

Update from U City:

"Planning Commission/Historic Preservation - Staff discussed with and advised the Plan Commission that they would reach out to the Historic Preservation Commission to coordinate a potential public engagement meeting with the developers of the proposed hotel project at the Delmar/Harvard school site. The intent is to provide an opportunity for the developer to work with the community to achieve a design that is consistent with the University City Civic Complex Historic District." 

Stltoday - University City officials consider locations for upscale hotel

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/uni ... 940ac.html

^If anything, I'd be even more upset about the loss of the Famous Barr than the Harvard School. This simply isn't shaping up well.

I figured they were talking about the parking lot to the east. The Famous Barr building is in Clayton.

^ That definitely sounds like it would be a great spot - specifically due to its immediate proximity to the MetroLink stop. The western edge of the Loop could use some help though (not that a hotel will solve this), but with St. Louis Bread Co., Craft Alliance, and Cicero's all abandoning large retail/restaurant spaces, it definitely makes the area feel less alive than it did just 5 years ago. The epicenter of the action definitely seems to be migrating further and further to the east.

quincunx wrote: ↑

Feb 13, 2020

I figured they were talking about he parking lot to the east. The Famous Barr building is in Clayton.

Ah! Valid point. In that case I'm all in favor of this. Great site. Replace a surface lot. Winning all around! Let's see some proposals!

Tim wrote: ↑

Feb 13, 2020

^ That definitely sounds like it would be a great spot - specifically due to its immediate proximity to the MetroLink stop. The western edge of the Loop could use some help though (not that a hotel will solve this), but with St. Louis Bread Co., Craft Alliance, and Cicero's all abandoning large retail/restaurant spaces, it definitely makes the area feel less alive than it did just 5 years ago. The epicenter of the action definitely seems to be migrating further and further to the east.

That's a very good thing.  Move the nightlife and retail into the city closer to the Metro station over time, and redevelop the west end of the Loop with new low-rise residential.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Feb 13, 2020

quincunx wrote: ↑

Feb 13, 2020

I figured they were talking about he parking lot to the east. The Famous Barr building is in Clayton.

Ah! Valid point. In that case I'm all in favor of this. Great site. Replace a surface lot. Winning all around! Let's see some proposals!

Wasn't there a proposal for this in the Centene plans?

RuskiSTL wrote: ↑

Feb 15, 2020

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Feb 13, 2020

quincunx wrote: ↑

Feb 13, 2020

I figured they were talking about he parking lot to the east. The Famous Barr building is in Clayton.

Ah! Valid point. In that case I'm all in favor of this. Great site. Replace a surface lot. Winning all around! Let's see some proposals!

Wasn't there a proposal for this in the Centene plans?

Part of one of their proposals included having a sort of corporate hotel facility in the eastern-most building on the south side of Forsyth. I don't think the Famous- Barr lot on the Northside was ever in scope for them. 

I figured they were talking about the parking lot to the east. The Famous Barr building is in Clayton.

the article says "in a building that had been used as a Famous-Barr Clayton store," for whatever it's worth.

^Pretty sure that was just a bit of bad editing. 

Much better.

cheapo HALF BRICK

Brief update: U City councilmembers confirmed at a town hall meeting last night that the hotel project is still moving forward.