Union Station Redevelopment

roger wyoming II · PostJan 08, 2015#1012015-01-08T20:22+00:00

^ not sure about the amusement park in general or just specific elements?

I'm keen on it (assuming it is a quality product) and believe this is probably one of the better uses of an intriguing but challenging spot. And in combination with other attractions, it will help solidify downtown as a tourism/entertainment area.... hard to imagine, but before long families will be able to spend a whole day downtown and have to decide between a variety of options. I would love to know the attendance projections for this and the Blues Museum, btw.

debaliviere · PostJan 08, 2015#1022015-01-08T21:09+00:00

It would be great to see them add a little additional retail as well.

sirshankalot · PostJan 08, 2015#1032015-01-08T21:15+00:00

I wonder if long-term Loughlin is thinking about making this a Great Wolf Lodge type destination....just a hunch

arch city · PostJan 08, 2015#1042015-01-08T21:16+00:00

moorlander wrote:I don't know that I think this is a good idea but it sure is fun. I hope it works!

Honestly, I just want it to be a major train station again. But since that won't happen anytime soon, using it as a mixed-use and entertainment complex is better than it being empty.

A lot of cities such as Houston, Atlanta and of course, Chicago, have Ferris wheels downtown.

Atlanta

Seattle

Chicago

Houston

Detroit

roger wyoming II · PostJan 08, 2015#1052015-01-08T21:40+00:00

Hey arch!

Presbyterian · PostJan 09, 2015#1062015-01-09T02:25+00:00

arch city wrote:A lot of cities such as Houston, Atlanta and of course, Chicago, have Ferris wheels downtown.

Yes. Ours will be 50 feet taller than Chicago's, 25 feet taller than Seattle's and a hundred feet taller than Houston's.

framer · PostJan 09, 2015#1072015-01-09T03:23+00:00

^Cool; but which of ours will be highest above street level - Union Station or City Museum?

roger wyoming II · PostJan 09, 2015#1082015-01-09T03:37+00:00

^ I'm not sure but I think Cassily somehow would have built a zip line between the two if he were alive.

jstriebel · PostJan 09, 2015#1092015-01-09T03:53+00:00

This sounds great. That it's going to have a heated/air conditioned gondolas on the wheel and that there will be a roller coaster make me optimistic.

I was skeptical when I first heard the plan, but it sounds like they'll be making things quality AND making it truly unique for the surrounding area.

Yeah, if you want to spend a day riding roller coasters and other rides, you'll drive down to Eureka. But this won't require a day. It can be PART of a day spent doing the many other great things our city has to offer.

The current feeling of Union Station's niche retail is that it's a crummy mall (because basically that's what it is). This plan will allow for niche retail that makes sense and is part of a cooler experience.

Pretty excited about this.

gary kreie · PostJan 09, 2015#1102015-01-09T15:08+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:^ I'm not sure but I think Cassily somehow would have built a zip line between the two if he were alive.

Or a chair lift.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 09, 2015#1112015-01-09T16:37+00:00

More from the P-D not behind the Wizard of Oz paywall...

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 31944.html

city officials say it could bring a million visitors a year.... assuming this is inflated by half that is still a pretty good deal. The reader comments make me ill though. I just don't understand these people.

sirshankalot · PostJan 09, 2015#1122015-01-09T16:58+00:00

don't read them

DogtownBnR · PostJan 09, 2015#1132015-01-09T17:22+00:00

I know I've brought this up in the past, but does this project also involve beautification of the exterior of the shed, mainly the roof? I've noticed some of the rusty roof panels have been coated with a gray coating, but several are still very rusty and unsightly. They are a very unattractive and rusty welcome sign when passing it on 40. I see that and the Hard Rock sign.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 09, 2015#1142015-01-09T17:29+00:00

^^ I generally don't read comments when I know it is going to be a cesspool but I didn't expect all the haterz for something like this. I guess sane people generally don't post there anymore b/c it's been a swamp full of troglodytes for so long. And then you see comments on cleveland.com articles on development projects and its more like something you'd see here with the reporter even responding to bring further insights.

dweebe · PostJan 09, 2015#1152015-01-09T17:32+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:^^ I generally don't read comments when I know it is going to be a cesspool but I didn't expect all the haterz for something like this. I guess sane people generally don't post there anymore b/c it's been a swamp full of troglodytes for so long. And then you see comments on cleveland.com articles on development projects and its more like something you'd see here with the reporter even responding to bring further insights.

The P-D just does it for site clicks. That's all they want.

PostJan 09, 2015#1162015-01-09T17:50+00:00

They're stealing pretty much right from the Chicago Navy Pier playbook.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 09, 2015#1172015-01-09T18:06+00:00

^ sounds like the next phase is Chouteau Lake and Greenway!

southsidepride · PostJan 09, 2015#1182015-01-09T18:27+00:00

Actually those comments are pretty tame. Wait till Carol Size and the moron in mirrored sunglasses gets there. Then you'll see some real city hatin!

As well as other hatin ( Obama, Democrats, hipsters, etc)

arch city · PostJan 09, 2015#1192015-01-09T18:41+00:00

roger wyoming II wrote:Hey arch!

Sup!

Ebsy · PostJan 10, 2015#1202015-01-10T01:16+00:00

southsidepride wrote:Actually those comments are pretty tame. Wait till Carol Size and the moron in mirrored sunglasses gets there. Then you'll see some real city hatin!

As well as other hatin ( Obama, Democrats, hipsters, etc)

Carol Size makes me ashamed to be a St. Louisan.

erina · PostJan 10, 2015#1212015-01-10T02:13+00:00

She cannot possibly be real. I swear it's a performance art piece running a long game on something.

I went to the carcass of Union Station a couple of weeks ago during a staycation at the Westin for a Blues game. I hadn't been in there in probably ~11 years. Even then it was declining. I remember in high school (92ish) it was a totally happening place, at least for cornfed Central IL tourists like I was. I'd put this up with St Louis Centre and Wesport Plaza for longest protracted slow kicking death from coolness.

I'm glad something is happening with it. I do take Amtrak several times a year and god why can't we just make it a train station again, especially since high speed rail to Chicago is going to become a thing.

ttricamo · PostJan 11, 2015#1222015-01-11T13:20+00:00

^ Yep. I've said it for years in this thread. Make it a Train Station again. Any other " adaptive re-use" ultimately feels weird and then fails. What is that called in architecture?

erina · PostJan 11, 2015#1232015-01-11T16:04+00:00

Adaptive abuse.

roger wyoming II · PostJan 12, 2015#1242015-01-12T13:57+00:00

Saw the renderings on the news this morning as Fox had Otis Williams of Econ. Dev. on.... obviously the roller coaster is going to be much more modest than something you're able to enjoy at Six Flags, but with a plethora of offerings I think this should become a decent attraction involving both the midway and shed. The ferris wheel would be centered in the back lot right in front of the shed. Looks like they are still working on some sizable tenants such as Lego Discovery as well.

edit,.. here is a link to the story
http://fox2now.com/2015/01/12/union-sta ... a-reality/

gary kreie · PostJan 12, 2015#1252015-01-12T15:47+00:00

A 200 foot high Ferris wheel would be 20 feet higher than Colossus at Six Flags. I think CityGarden showed that lots of kids would descend on downtown.

Union Station Redevelopment

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