urbanSTL

Brian Hayden, developer of the Alverne downtown, recently purchased this. It will be interesting to see what he has planned for this hulking building.

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... ce=twitter

I've wondered about this building forever! What's his plan?

IMO, I would love to see this building turned into a museum of Native American history.

That or make this a really boutique event space.

Making this residential or a hotel could mean that the exterior would have to be drastically altered.

Yeah, the very nature of the building is gonna make this one really tough.

imran wrote:It seems similar to the Peabody opera house in massing/sparse fenestration. Could probably be done up as a performance venue or event space. Would fit in with the arts district.

As for a hotel, there is a lot a good designer can do with 'soft' elements like outdoor furniture, landscaping, light projections to make an oppressive building seem iconic and inviting without mutilating any historic features. Personally I envision a large lit 'W' hanging off the front of the building ( hey, we are allowed to dream on here) .

If done properly, I think this would be an iconic W hotel.


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Thought we should have an image on this thread for easy reference. It really is a monster of a building.

shadrach wrote: ↑

Nov 24, 2017

Would love to see a 5-6 story complimentary steel and glass addition on the western parking lot. It would break up the masonry heaviness (pun intended) of the block.

That's not a bad idea at all. Maybe even make it an almost separate but connected building. The addition could be the bulk of the hotel or residential space. The historic temple could be primarily events spaces with maybe a few premium spaces on the upper floors. (There are reportedly unfinished spaces at the top: a theatre, some halls.)

Here's the mansion that used to be there:

I would love to get my hands on a set of as-builts for this building and see how many apartments or hotel rooms could be squeezed in. Heck, I would even scrap the top floor theater and turn it into town homes. You could tastefully cut in some tall skinny windows, honoring the more subtle early art deco feel of the building. For the lower floors, some more windows should definitely be cut out of the side and rear walls, matching the existing sizes and layout of course.
As for a neighboring glass building, bring it on. I'd even go taller but still make some references to the Temple with different setbacks in the glass tower.

framer wrote: ↑

Nov 24, 2017

Thought we should have an image on this thread for easy reference. It really is a monster of a building.

This is certainly one of the most unique buildings in town. I'm excited to hear what the developer has in store.

The redevelopment of this building goes before the Preservation Board on May 20th. Conversion to apartments and a parking garage. BrandonViewLLC. 

Really glad this building is protected. Does anyone know if the Preservation Board has any control of the interior spaces or just the exterior? I don't trust Brian Hayden to retain much of the interior detail but then again, he is a fan of event spaces.

The final agenda is up now.  It looks like they primarily want to add a number of windows and openings for recessed balconies to the exterior. From the agenda: "The proposal will retain the primary ceremonial spaces while converting the rest of the building to apartments with interior parking. "

What would they do with the primary ceremonial spaces? I'm not sure I'd want to live inside of an event space, but I'm also not entirely sure what exactly they're trying to do with the building. 

https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d ... 0-2019.pdf

I just went from a Brian Hayden skeptic to a super fan. I think all of the proposed elevations and "renders" look really good and appropriately done. I hope they can work with cultural resources in the future and find a good approach to put windows in the upper tier. There's the beginnings of a theater in the top portion but I'd like to see it gutted and converted to apartments. 

aprice wrote:https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d ... 0-2019.pdf

I just went from a Brian Hayden skeptic to a super fan. I think all of the proposed elevations and "renders" look really good and appropriately done. I hope they can work with cultural resources in the future and find a good approach to put windows in the upper tier. There's the beginnings of a theater in the top portion but I'd like to see it gutted and converted to apartments. 

You can see the recessed balconies here. It’s an odd renovation for sure but more windows were needed. At least it doesn’t look bad but Hayden does shoddy work. The Alverne is a botched job the Mercantile Library hasn’t changed much. I hope retail space is added there. It’s all about profit, but that’s how it should be I guess.

As for the top tier, I say leave it as is. The North wall will already be transformed enough but to add more windows to the top would throw this building off balance.

shadrach wrote: OT: the city’s signage restrictions are draconian, petty, archaic, short-sighted and anti-commerce.

yep. it'd be funny if the city weren't falling apart while they waste time on absurd sh*t like this. and i'm sure the same joyless corpses that tried to stop it from opening will raise hell if any of the signs are 1/8" too large.

My wife would never in a million years okay a move into this building. 

It looks like, even with the improvements, that windows/daylight will be incredibly sparse. 

Aw c'mon! Charles Lindbergh was a member there for a while! Who needs windows when you have history like that?

Anyway . . . the windows don't seem like too much of an intrusion, but Chris's evaluation gives me a little pause. What did they do with the public spaces at the Alverne?

symphonicpoet wrote:Aw c'mon! Charles Lindbergh was a member there for a while! Who needs windows when you have history like that?

Anyway . . . the windows don't seem like too much of an intrusion, but Chris's evaluation gives me a little pause. What did they do with the public spaces at the Alverne?

Go by the Alverne in the evening when there is still light and you can see inside. The building was never given a good clean job. Then, the former retail spaces are simply display cases for trinkets and things. Behind them is parking. Other problems include boarded up windows on the 11th Street side and literal plywood window dividers at the street level. On Locust, the window dividers are metal which means there is mismatching going on. Not to mention the fact that a cross hangs on the 11th street side and remnants of the convent remain visible. Overall, the Alverne was rushed. Brian Hayden means well but he needs to slow down and focus on some details.