urbanSTL

^This. As with every development, there are certainly finishing touches that wont happen until right before it opens. 

Any adjacent residential components - whether by Lawrence Group or otherwise - can't come soon enough. Once there's a bike/ped trail to Cortex, Spring Ave pedestrian bridge to Grand Metrolink and student life has normalized, I'd think they could easily fill apartment projects on the scale of what's going on in the Grove (Chroma, Hue, 4400 Manchester, etc...).

Some videos I took yesterday from different angles (heading east down Foundry Way, coming out from the parking garage entrance in the middle, 2nd floor view by Alamo, and 2nd floor view down by Spring). 

I'm betting they are going to have a lot of mobile-container planting done, and if it isn't open to the public there's no reason to bring those down and pay someone to upkeep, water, weed them until its open. 

Yeah, it's summer in St. Louis. A lot of my established plants are struggling. Even if they plan to get everything planted and landscaped before it's open it would make a lot more sense to plant the trees in the fall when things cool down. 

Went back down to the site this afternoon but this time, was on the Western side of the project. I didn't go all the way in because I've seen that portion already. 

I will say that when the trestle is extended, this side will be a bit better than what it currently is. Still, the plants help make it more colorful.

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Aug 31, 2020

Thank you for all the photos and video, Chris.

Top photo: Note the sign supports for the Alamo Drafthouse signage on the Forest Park Ave. facade, near the corner. The rest of the facade will look pretty similar to the building that was demolished.

Bottom photo: Note the covered holes in the street for removable bollards, so they can close off the "street". I'm sure there are more on the other end of Foundry Way, after the Alamo Drafthouse garage entrance, of course.

urbanitas wrote:

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Aug 31, 2020

Thank you for all the photos and video, Chris.

Top photo: Note the sign supports for the Alamo Drafthouse signage on the Forest Park Ave. facade, near the corner. The rest of the facade will look pretty similar to the building that was demolished.

Bottom photo: Note the covered holes in the street for removable bollards, so they can close off the "street". I'm sure there are more on the other end of Foundry Way, after the Alamo Drafthouse garage entrance, of course.

You’re welcome.

There are more of those holes in the ground at the other end. It appeared to me like someone could hook something onto them and pull the poles out. We will see though

As always, thank you sir. Great to see the photos and videos. This really is a cool project and it's turning out well.

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Sep 11, 2020

There are more of those holes in the ground at the other end. It appeared to me like someone could hook something onto them and pull the poles out. We will see though.

Oh yeah, here they are, in one of your recent photos, running across the photo in the foreground:

Building permits applied for earlier this month...

$2.5 Million permit for a supermarket (I assume this is for the grocery store) - has yet to be issued.
$200,000 work in permits (2 permits) for a bar in Suite 156 (I assume this is Fassler Hall) - have yet to be issued.
A building permit for iSeeInnovation's office.

^ Thanks for pic Chris

I hope they can break ground on some decent phase II infill whether it be commercial, maybe labs and or even some mixed use residential sooner than later.  I understand they were working on financing but would be interested to know if they have an interest on tenant side.  It will really fill in the area on bottom of pic and undoublty be a big add to the Vande corridor.   I also can't help to think that the garage will get replaced in time if CORTEX & City can keep growing 

When is something going to open  there??

Other than some of the offices that have opened up?  Probably not until COVID is under control.  Zero reason to open any major restaurant or entertainment space right now with so many struggling to stay open as is.

Thanks, Chris.  What land is available for Phase 2 besides that dirt patch on bottom of your drone pic?  Is Crescent Electric scheduled to move elsewhere?  I know there's a small lot on the far east side by the interstate.  Is that scheduled to remain a lot?  And I think (I had a few pints...) Twisted Roots told me months ago their building had been purchased, but I can't remember if it was to become part of Foundry (or if I'm misremembering the whole thing ).

Crescent Electric is not currently scheduled to relocate.  There have been conversations regarding them selling if / when demand leads to future phases, but nothing imminent or in the works.

^ Thanks, fellas.  I'm just stoked to get something going here.

We really need some infill on the IKEA lots along Forest Park, much like the Element hotel; that would do wonders for stitching the CWE - Midtown corridor. The Cortex seems a little disconnected, in my opinion.

^ the IKEA parking lot? i don't see how that's ever going to happen.

^ Agreed.  I know they have a garage, but I'd imagine the chances of a development along FPP (even just some of their lot near the street) is about 0%.  It would be nice to have something there, though.

^ and the fact that their parking lot precludes any development here for the foreseeable future was a primary point of opposition. it was apparently determined that the advantages of having a "city" IKEA outweighed the disadvantages of yet another permanent swath of dead concrete in the center of the city.

I'm a big dreamer. Anything is possible if the price is right: the Cortex has one of the strongest office markets in the region, those lots are sandwiched between two major universities, and everything is accessible by public transit. Of course, nothing will even be considered in the next two decades, but it's not entirely out of the question.