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PostMay 29, 2018#26

Has there been any movement on this project? Haven't passed by the building in a while.

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PostMay 29, 2018#27

An interior demo permit was issued a few weeks ago.

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PostJul 02, 2019#28

Has anybody heard anything about this recently? Not seen any much movement since they put up the signs on the side.

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PostJul 02, 2019#29

^ been wondering that myself... seems like Garcia Development has been busy with everything else -- including infill multifamily projects -- except this.

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PostJul 08, 2019#30

Tweeted at them about it a while back but they did not respond.

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PostJul 09, 2019#31

I asked one of the Garcia owners about it just a week ago.  Sounds like the tax credit application is held up by the state.  They submitted it a year ago but the state hasn't even reviewed it yet.  They are pretty stuck until the state approves it.

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PostJul 10, 2019#32

^Unfortunately, not a unique problem.

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PostJul 13, 2019#33

Our state doesn't have time to review such trivial things, our representatives are much too busy with more important tasks like Viking Funerals and motorcycle helmets. The distressed neighborhoods need to know their place in the grand scheme.

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PostAug 25, 2019#34

Went to an open house at Southside Tower today. I got to go up on the rooftop, pretty neat view. I took these pictures of the Grandview Arcade/Melba Theater. The Garcia rep at the open house didn't know much about the status of the renovation other than he knows that it is in the works. As seen in other posts, the state is holding this one up. I would hope construction would start soon since this will do wonders to that intersection. I think it would be great if the City did some work on the sidewalks in this area. They would benefit from street trees. Grand should also be repaved. I would also like for the old Farmer's and Merchants building to get decent ground floor tenants other than Patricia's and Metro PCS.
Grandview1.jpg (1.07MiB)
Grandview2.jpg (1.35MiB)

PostAug 26, 2019#35

I'm surprised I've never shared these photos on this thread before. These come from Ivan Garcia's Instagram. These were taken last year. Definitely will be a wonderful renovation. 

Arcade...
Arcade1.jpg (153.12KiB)
Arcade2.jpg (140.78KiB)


Hallway on upper floor...
Arcade3.jpg (135.33KiB)


View inside one of the arcade spaces...
Arcade4.jpg (123.1KiB)
Arcade7.jpg (112.37KiB)


Upper floor...
Arcade5.jpg (155.62KiB)


Details...
Arcade6.jpg (105.22KiB)
Arcade8.jpg (157.62KiB)


Old door...
Arcade9.jpg (70.03KiB)

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PostAug 26, 2019#36

^Great tour. That will be a neat property when it's fixed and it should really help to transform that stretch of Grand. (And Gravois.)

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PostAug 26, 2019#37

^^ Great pics, it's almost like a mini-Arcade building.

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PostAug 29, 2019#38

sc4mayor wrote:^^ Great pics, it's almost like a mini-Arcade building.
That's what I was thinking (and I am sure others). I would love to see old photos back when it was open. Can't wait to see how the Arcade area turns out.

Here is a rendering from the 2007 redevelopment plan of the building. I expect the current redevelopment to end up looking similar (even though this is a drawing). The new windows and cleaned facade will give this building a shiny look, something this area needs. 
grandviewrendering_orig.jpg (181.11KiB)

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PostAug 29, 2019#39

Cinema Treasures is a great resource for info on old/defunct movie theaters.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4313/photos


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PostAug 29, 2019#40

It isn't surprising that the state hasn't acted on this.  Little actions like this help to slow down redevelopment and tarnish the city's image.  The GOP wants nothing more than to maintain its grip on state power.  A growing city of STL means more Democratic representation and power. 

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PostAug 29, 2019#41

The state of Missouri is the worst thing that ever happened to St. Louis, or Kansas City for that matter. 

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PostSep 03, 2020#42

Ivan Garcia announced on Instagram that the project is approved. I contacted him and he said the State approved of the Historic Tax Credits. They don't have a cost estimate on construction yet. As for a timeline, he said they just got the green light for HTCs so they're going to work on finalizing some other things. If all goes well, late this year we could see some work start on the building. 

This is great news!

These pictures are from today. I still think a repaved Grand, with some bike lanes and street trees, and new sidewalks would make this stretch a bit better.






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PostSep 03, 2020#43

Fantastic

PostSep 03, 2020#44

The apt building behind this is . . . interesting.

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PostSep 03, 2020#45

quincunx wrote:The apt building behind this is . . . interesting.
Demo that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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PostSep 04, 2020#46

^ Why on Earth would you demo that?

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PostSep 04, 2020#47

STLrainbow wrote:
Sep 04, 2020
^ Why on Earth would you demo that?
It doesn't look very nice. If not demo, it needs a good cleaning. 

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PostSep 04, 2020#48

^  perhaps it can use a cleaning but just the thought of demolishing housing for lower income Saint Louisans gets me a little riled up.

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PostSep 04, 2020#49

STLrainbow wrote:
Sep 04, 2020
^  perhaps it can use a cleaning but just the thought of demolishing housing for lower income Saint Louisans gets me a little riled up.
I know its housing for lower income people, so I'm not opposed to it staying.

I looked up the property and it's called "The Diplomat Apartments". The units are being renovated and look nice, so that's good. They just need to renovate the outside and it will look like new again. How to renovate the outside? My idea was to put new windows in and fix up the facade a bit. Power washing may do the trick or putting a new coat of paint on the building, but not gray, would do the trick in making it look cleaner. Maybe white with the dark lines being painted black? The parking lot area and first floor could also use some help. And also putting in new AC units would work.
a125cce2073a7cf99ef5836c5af19870.jpg (397.44KiB)


http://diplomatapartments.us 

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PostSep 04, 2020#50

Man, the space and awkwardness of the parking. And the extra cost burden of cars and driving on low-income folks. Hope the Grand bus and others are serving them adequately.

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