City Foundry

urbanitas · PostApr 08, 2020#8012020-04-08T23:26+00:00

SeattleNative wrote: ↑
Apr 08, 2020
Is this an old rendering? Prospect Yards tweeted about the Element Hotel with this rendering and I was wondering about that apartment building.

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The office and residential towers on the left came from renderings released by the City Foundry developer in 2016, and are no longer part of the plan. I don't recall ever seeing a description of what the new building on the right was supposed to be, but that property is now owned by the City Foundry developer.

The rendering you posted was released by the Element Hotel developer in April 2017. The hotel portion seems pretty much true to what is being built.

And yes, they really have been working on that hotel that long...

framer · PostApr 09, 2020#8022020-04-09T17:10+00:00

Anyone have an accurate image of what the new steel-framed building abutting Forest Park Blvd. will look like from FPB?

urbanitas · PostApr 09, 2020#8032020-04-09T22:17+00:00

framer wrote: ↑
Apr 09, 2020
Anyone have an accurate image of what the new steel-framed building abutting Forest Park Blvd. will look like from FPB?

That's the Alamo Drafthouse. The Forest Park Avenue side is the back of the building, and they've never shown a rendering of that side, at least not publicly.

And since they are "preserving the historically industrial character" of the mass and style of the one-story building that was on that spot previously, as seen from the sidewalk, I wouldn't expect anything interesting. It will probably just be a continuous, solid, metal panel wall with some emergency exits, like the original building, see GoogleStreetView-circa2014.

An outdoor restaurant / bar terrace on the roof of that portion of the new building would have been phenomenal, but oh well.

stlnative · PostApr 23, 2020#8042020-04-23T20:49+00:00

https://www.feastmagazine.com/st-louis/ ... 5480f.html

Drive Thru benefit on Sunday, can get a close up look from your cars. Probably the only time you'll be able to drive through the center section of road as it will normally be closed for pedestrian traffic only.

framer · PostApr 28, 2020#8052020-04-28T21:16+00:00

urbanitas wrote: ↑
Apr 09, 2020
framer wrote: ↑
Apr 09, 2020
Anyone have an accurate image of what the new steel-framed building abutting Forest Park Blvd. will look like from FPB?
That's the Alamo Drafthouse. The Forest Park Avenue side is the back of the building, and they've never shown a rendering of that side, at least not publicly.

And since they are "preserving the historically industrial character" of the mass and style of the one-story building that was on that spot previously, as seen from the sidewalk, I wouldn't expect anything interesting. It will probably just be a continuous, solid, metal panel wall with some emergency exits,

The wall panels are up now, and yes, they're just plain, solid panels, with one small window along FP Blvd.

quincunx · PostMay 10, 2020#8062020-05-10T21:53+00:00

Forest Park Ave is going to be electric!

sc4mayor · PostMay 10, 2020#8072020-05-10T23:02+00:00

^ Seems like the easiest thing at this point would be to have a local artist (or a few) paint a large mural along the whole thing. That would look pretty cool. Like the flood wall.

I don’t care enough about this garage to go digging through the thread, but wasn’t there some stipulation with the historic tax credits that this part had to remain somewhat open to the rest of the old plant buildings? Garage or no garage there wasn’t going to be any new buildings right there anyway if I’m remembering the original plan correctly.

framer · PostMay 11, 2020#8082020-05-11T01:54+00:00

I'm still stupefied by the fact that the City actually approved this.

DTGstl314 · PostMay 11, 2020#8092020-05-11T18:41+00:00

quincunx wrote: ↑
May 10, 2020
Forest Park Ave is going to be electric!

No me gusta!

addxb2 · PostMay 11, 2020#8102020-05-11T21:33+00:00

^ the developer made very clear in his previous interview with STLmag that the goal of this project was to be removed from its urban surroundings in order to eliminate any concerns of security. (translation: we want to make sure Karen doesn’t feel threatened by any working class POC while visiting IKEA)

Drive in, drive out. Chesterfield meets an $8 gourmet taco.

Also, I think the area between the very small sidewalk and street is ROW for brickline greenway. I’d expect they’ll be making artistic and comfort investments.

urbanitas · PostMay 13, 2020#8112020-05-13T01:42+00:00

Traditionally, Smith explains, shopping centers were anchored by department stores, which drove the traffic to the rest of the center or shopping mall. “But that model is changing," he says. "The new model is designed around local, authentic, original food—most of it fast-casual—which attracts the current generation. It’s something you can’t get on the internet and you can’t transact through Amazon.” ...
Safety and security were prime concerns while planning the complex. “The primary access is off Vandeventer, from the same access point as IKEA," Smith says. "We own the street that leads into the development, and we control the 1,000 parking spaces within, all above grade... I compare it to IKEA. There, people know they’ll be on a private lot and that it’s secure and well-lit. In other areas of the city, you typically have to cross a public way to get to your destination. We’ve taken that out of the equation.” - STL Mag - 1/24/18

^You mean this interview?

I can't stand Karen from Chesterfield, but really the way this project is laid out it seems to be about more than just her chromatic sensitivities. It seems more designed like a bunker or something, as if to shield Karen from wayward projectiles...

PostMay 13, 2020#8122020-05-13T02:14+00:00

framer wrote: ↑
May 11, 2020
I'm still stupefied by the fact that the City actually approved this.

I don't think the city had much, if any, say in the aesthetics or layout, beyond minimum parking and traffic flow requirements, much like with Cortex and Iron Hill.

quincunx · PostMay 13, 2020#8132020-05-13T18:30+00:00

KMOV -
City Found STL Taps award-winning chef Gerard Craft's Niche Food Group as culinary director

https://www.kmov.com/news/city-found-st ... 4ed71.html

beer city · PostMay 14, 2020#8142020-05-14T01:56+00:00

quincunx wrote: ↑
May 13, 2020
KMOV -
City Found STL Taps award-winning chef Gerard Craft's Niche Food Group as culinary director

https://www.kmov.com/news/city-found-st ... 4ed71.html

That is great - Now fix the FPP facade

dredger · PostMay 14, 2020#8152020-05-14T05:16+00:00

^ I think the bigger question is what happens in 5 to 10 to 15 years if CORTEX keeps up its pace. The reality is the Foundry's tilt parking garage along FPP becomes prime development property already owned out right by the Lawrence and if I understand correctly any requirements on historic end expires. In short order the demo cost for the garage is a lot cheaper then securing additional property when building out residential, hotel, labs and office.

Another way too put it, the short term success could very well depend on more than a few customers driving in to buy a $8 taco but the long term plan is much more urban in nature because land acquisition costs or next to noting compared. Bridging that gap is tilt up garage for better or worse.

gone corporate · PostMay 14, 2020#8162020-05-14T15:32+00:00

dredger wrote: ↑
May 14, 2020
^ I think the bigger question is what happens in 5 to 10 to 15 years if CORTEX keeps up its pace. The reality is the Foundry's tilt parking garage along FPP becomes prime development property already owned out right by the Lawrence and if I understand correctly any requirements on historic end expires. In short order the demo cost for the garage is a lot cheaper then securing additional property when building out residential, hotel, labs and office.

Another way too put it, the short term success could very well depend on more than a few customers driving in to buy a $8 taco but the long term plan is much more urban in nature because land acquisition costs or next to noting compared. Bridging that gap is tilt up garage for better or worse.

I see exactly this, Dredger; think you nailed it. While the parking garage as it is now kind of sucks, I bet it's temporary and will be totally redone once the historic requirements expire. Also, when considering the potential of automated cars coming into frequent use within the next 10 years, the utility of a garage that cannot be elegantly repurposed drops significantly. After the ten years passes, I bet we'll see it converted to high-rise residential or office space, likely with more retail, and probably with the Choteau Greenway going along FPP right in front of it.

stlnative · PostMay 14, 2020#8172020-05-14T16:37+00:00

probably with the Choteau Greenway going along FPP right in front of it.

This is the intention for the space fronting the garage, and why it looks so bland currently with just rock and a small sidewalk. No point to spend on it as is when it will be all removed and replaced with the Greenway in the near future.

addxb2 · PostMay 14, 2020#8182020-05-14T16:57+00:00

stlnative wrote:
probably with the Choteau Greenway going along FPP right in front of it.
This is the intention for the space fronting the garage, and why it looks so bland currently with just rock and a small sidewalk. No point to spend on it as is when it will be all removed and replaced with the Greenway in the near future.

For those visual learners. I think this is how it maneuvers through along FPP

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urbanitas · PostMay 15, 2020#8192020-05-15T06:38+00:00

^Most of the old rail trestle next to the Foundry is gone. I haven't heard anything about it in awhile. Maybe they are restoring the parts somewhere, or plan on rebuilding it from scratch, but I don't see any evidence of either.

Have they done any work on the portion along the highway?

aprice · PostMay 15, 2020#8202020-05-15T14:10+00:00

urbanitas wrote: ↑
May 15, 2020
^Most of the old rail trestle next to the Foundry is gone. I haven't heard anything about it in awhile. Maybe they are restoring the parts somewhere, or plan on rebuilding it from scratch, but I don't see any evidence of either.

Have they done any work on the portion along the highway?

The concrete pylons are still there, I'm pretty sure they're re-building the deck as it was.

urbanitas · PostMay 28, 2020#8212020-05-28T21:32+00:00

aprice wrote: ↑
May 15, 2020
urbanitas wrote: ↑
May 15, 2020
^Most of the old rail trestle next to the Foundry is gone. I haven't heard anything about it in awhile. Maybe they are restoring the parts somewhere, or plan on rebuilding it from scratch, but I don't see any evidence of either.

Have they done any work on the portion along the highway?
The concrete pylons are still there, I'm pretty sure they're re-building the deck as it was.

Still don't see it. From the renderings, the new trestle had steel supports on concrete pedestals, and crosses over the "street" between the corner of the Foundry and the Alamo Drafthouse.

I don't see any pedestals, or any rebar sticking up, and they have planted some pretty substantial trees where it seems the trestle would be.

I'm thinking it was put off for a possible Phase II, or eliminated entirely. Or perhaps they won't proceed until funds are secured for the whole Brickline greenway...

tztag · PostMay 29, 2020#8222020-05-29T02:38+00:00

Sad that they built a wall along FPP, will likely backfire on them. Security is the justification? Killing me

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sc4mayor · PostMay 29, 2020#8232020-05-29T04:16+00:00

^ Nope, NPS requirements regarding certain views into the complex remain open or else no historic tax credits, which would have killed the project and left us with a giant, vacant, rotting industrial plant instead.

wabash · PostMay 29, 2020#8242020-05-29T04:47+00:00

tztag wrote: ↑
May 29, 2020
Sad that they built a wall along FPP, will likely backfire on them. Security is the justification? Killing me

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Agreed. It's unfortunate.

urbanitas · PostJun 01, 2020#8252020-06-01T22:50+00:00

City Foundry's Instagram page just put up a casting call of sorts for mural artists, because "now we need some help blending the old with the new". It sounds like they are just talking about the pedestrian mall between the Food Hall and the new retail buildings, but maybe it will include the Berlin Wall along Forest Park Avenue as well...

Edit:

City Foundry - Call for Entry

Er ya, nevermind. They are all interior walls:

City Foundry

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