urbanSTL

Alex Ihnen wrote:

DowntownNick wrote:

Alex Ihnen wrote:
Yes.

Do you know something that hasn't been released yet? Will this information be released soon?

Yes. Yes.

But how soon? When will then be now?

we're like dying mice being played with by a mischievous cat with a ouiji board.

Alex Ihnen wrote:

Glad you got my reference.

Finally... some news... potentially....

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... j=75358302

^ it'll be good to finally get some more news on this... I think the "major family attraction" was supposed to be announced in the Spring. And Ihnen seems to be suggesting there'll be more than just entertainment plans in play as well... maybe we'll get some more on that soon, too.

edit... reliable sources say its a TIF Museum

Aquarium planned for Union Station in downtown St. Louis

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 72dca.html


A rope bridge suspended over a shark tank is among features of a $45 million aquarium a developer plans to open in late 2018 at Union Station in downtown St. Louis.

Construction of the St. Louis Aquarium in what had been Union Station’s shopping mall will begin this fall, said officials of Lodging Hospitality Management, owner of the downtown landmark. The project’s formal announcement is scheduled for Tuesday.

I can see this working out alright. The hotel rooms in the clock tower should be sweet.

I see no mention of how this might affect the present or future World Aquarium.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metr ... cdbcd.html

After nearly six months closed, the World Aquarium has found a new home.

Its enigmatic owner, Leonard Sonnenschein, has down-sized, for sure.
...
The new space, next to Nelly’s Extreme Institute and Morgan Street Brewery in Laclede’s Landing, is just 2,200-square feet. And it’s crammed with Sonnenschein’s giant fish tanks, taxidermy and ephemera.
...
But Sonnenschein has a bigger idea up his sleeve:

He says he’s in the final stages of buying land in Chouteau’s Landing, south of the Arch grounds, and has plans to build a $25 million, two-story, 70,000-square-foot aquarium by the summer of 2017.

He has drawings that include two forest atriums and a large ocean tank, with sharks, “giant creatures” and a reef, plus more than 50 smaller tanks upstairs.

I wondered what the big attraction would be in all of this. I knew a ferris wheel wouldn't cut it for very long. I think this should do the job. It is similar in size to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, which is actually two seperate ones. I have been there and I enjoyed it a lot. If it is done right, which I would think it would be, that can be a really good anchor to go along with everything else. I think it also gives it a way to expand the reach outside the region and to get people downtown.

This is awesome! Finally, STL will have an aquarium. I would have liked to see this near the Landing, anchoring a North Riverfront development, but Union Station will really benefit from the added foot traffic. This will be a big tourist draw. From doing some basic google research, this aquarium will be the same size (one-million gallons) as Denver, bigger than Dallas (600K) I think, way bigger than KC (260K), close to Minneapolis (1.2 million) and way smaller than Shedd (5 million gal). I think that is a nice size. I just hope they can build it with expansion in mind. This attraction could finally put Union Station on the map as a major STL tourist attraction. I hope they keep the aquarium reasonably priced for families. The ferris wheel will also be a big draw, since the aquarium will generate a lot of foot traffic. Lots of schools, tour groups and fans in town for the Cards & Blues games. Love the idea!

And now we just need to convert the downtown trolley to a permanent trolley. Aquarium, Ferris Wheel, Busch Stadium, Arch, Convention Center, MLS stadium and City Museum. That would be an enjoyable loop.

Clock tower hotel rooms great idea.

^^ Or better yet, a Downtown streetcar from Downtown, to the CWE, to the History Museum, then connecting to the Loop Trolley.

whitherSTL wrote:Clock tower hotel rooms great idea.

I think this by far the best idea, believe 55 rooms bringing room count to 571, along with PD article noting some 3.5 million will spent to expand conference area.

Not so big on the train park idea with light show, hammock and containers??? They would be fine if they just keep up the train excursions going or a add a few departure as well as add a dinner train.

Streetcar connecting loop trolley to downtown attractions would be so cool, maybe we will see it happen in the future. Maybe we will even see a streetcar connecting the zoo and science museum to them too! They are still doing a cross highway tram between north and south zoo campuses right?


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^That is in their "grand vision". They own the land where the old FP Hospital was. It is a matter of funding. I'm not sure how much they have set aside for this massive project and how much they will need, but it is quite ambitious. I have no idea if they get it done, but it has been proposed. It would be amazing. I just hope they start the project soon. I am getting a little sick of looking at that large field at a major intersection of the City.

It looks like LHM has done its legwork, research-wise, in redeveloping this property as an entertainment district akin to Navy Pier.

With this as its western terminus, Clark Street should see increased foot traffic -- I only hope the City plans appropriately to piggyback the increased interest. Long term, my dream is that the Metrolink will be entirely buried between Civic Center and Union Station, with new mixed-use development pursued directly above it.

DogtownBnR wrote:This is awesome! Finally, STL will have an aquarium. I would have liked to see this near the Landing, anchoring a North Riverfront development, but Union Station will really benefit from the added foot traffic.

Isn't there one on the Landing coming already?

http://www.worldaquarium.org/

Any coordination at all with this development?

shadrach wrote:Exciting development! Not what I expected or hoped for but I can get my head around it.
Coupled with an MLS stadium next door hopefully this will generate some dense infill in the empty swathes surrounding the area.

Wasn't expecting the aquarium and was thinking that it was going to be full steam ahead on the Ferris Wheel. Anyone with some idea on where LHM might be in the Ferris Wheel?

Still believe a water park under the shed would compliment the hotel as well as draw people. Oh well, maybe Drury can do hotel/waterpark on the landing

I'm still of the believe that a big, bold aquarium on the Landing tied to Zoo would still be the better option. But the reality is LHM can put together the financial end for a respectable aquarium and outside of the landing this is a great spot

^^ I believe so, but that one will not be on the grand scale (1 million gallons) of Union Station. The one in Union Station will rival in size, most of the better aquariums in the country, minus outliers like Shedd and Atlanta's aquarium. I hope there will be some coordination, so both can coexist. When referring to the landing, an aquarium would have been a great anchor to get North Riverfront going. It will be fascinating to see how the aquarium is incorporated into the train shed. I would love to see a Rainforest Café as part of that development. If you want to attract families and kids, that is the type of place that can keep them there all day, for lunch or dinner.

On another note, now that an aquarium is going in, the Zoo can focus on other things in the future. (Not saying they had plans, maybe dreams) Hopefully, there will be some cooperation with the Zoo and aquarium, to avoid overlap, keep the attractions unique.

bprop wrote:

DogtownBnR wrote:This is awesome! Finally, STL will have and aquarium. I would have liked to see this near the Landing, anchoring a North Riverfront development, but Union Station will really benefit from the added foot traffic.

Isn't there one on the Landing coming already?

http://www.worldaquarium.org/

Any coordination at all with this development?

My assumption he has a big vision and a dream which is great but in reality has no money and won't give up the control even though somehow he expects $25 million to be given to him with no strings attached. However, the idea of the aquarium on the landing near the big muddy feels better. Especially If you go with some huge catfish. Sharks are everywhere. Get some monster Cats for people to see and they might not stick their toes in big muddy again