urbanSTL

addxb2 wrote: ↑

Sep 16, 2020

Are these fields going to be open to the public?

Are there any examples of them being occupied for other purposes when they’re not using them?

In one of the early announcments, the team spokesperson stated that one of the advantages of having the training facility downtown was being able to hold high school playoffs, youth academies, soccer camps, etc., "in the shadow of the new stadium". And I believe that is something MLS is really pushing as well, especially in the inner cities.

Another note: look closely at the north side of the training facility in the new video, it looks like there are bleachers or stands sloping down from the east side of the building, facing the practice pitch...

I would bet if the practice fields are turf they might be open to the public for pick up games (for a while until somebody sets one on fire or something and they lock them down).

I certainly hope they have the sense to block-off the practice fields. It would only a matter of time before the ATV gangs discover it and tear it up. 

urbanitas wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

addxb2 wrote: ↑

Sep 16, 2020

Are these fields going to be open to the public?

Are there any examples of them being occupied for other purposes when they’re not using them?

Another note: look closely at the north side of the training facility in the new video, it looks like there are bleachers or stands sloping down from the east side of the building, facing the practice pitch...

Make sense to have some sort of amenities in place if you host youth sport events.   Certainly would be a great opportunity to make use of quality fields, bring people downtown and promote the team and league as a whole.   In addition, you literally got two hotels on each side of the practice fields.  

So they've value-engineered out the parking beneath the practice fields and that's why they want to demolish 1900 Olive?

Where did you see that?  I haven't seen anything that suggests value-engineering out the parking.  And even if that has occurred, there's little chance that it would have played into their decision on 1900 Olive.  We're talking about a difference of thousands of potential parking spots being replaced with an extra like 70. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a strong correlation between the two.

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

Where did you see that?  I haven't seen anything that suggests value-engineering out the parking.  And even if that has occurred, there's little chance that it would have played into their decision on 1900 Olive.  We're talking about a difference of thousands of potential parking spots being replaced with an extra like 70. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a strong correlation between the two.

You're sure there's no plan to build a garage on top of where the 1900 Olive is to accommodate 100s or 1000s of parking spots? 

wabash wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

Where did you see that?  I haven't seen anything that suggests value-engineering out the parking.  And even if that has occurred, there's little chance that it would have played into their decision on 1900 Olive.  We're talking about a difference of thousands of potential parking spots being replaced with an extra like 70. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a strong correlation between the two.

You're sure there's no plan to build a garage on top of where the 1900 Olive is to accommodate 100s or 1000s of parking spots? 

Personally, a plan is what I want to see before they tear it down. If there is a plan other than a surface lot than I might be able to get on board but right now there is no plan that has been shared. 

wabash wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

Where did you see that?  I haven't seen anything that suggests value-engineering out the parking.  And even if that has occurred, there's little chance that it would have played into their decision on 1900 Olive.  We're talking about a difference of thousands of potential parking spots being replaced with an extra like 70. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a strong correlation between the two.

You're sure there's no plan to build a garage on top of where the 1900 Olive is to accommodate 100s or 1000s of parking spots? 

Maybe there is?  Maybe there isn't?  My point was that unless there's something that supports the practice fields were already value-engineered, then it's not really worth trying to connect dots that really have no true correlation.

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

Where did you see that?  I haven't seen anything that suggests value-engineering out the parking.  And even if that has occurred, there's little chance that it would have played into their decision on 1900 Olive.  We're talking about a difference of thousands of potential parking spots being replaced with an extra like 70. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a strong correlation between the two.

The site plan for the whole area south of Market is marked "Not in Contract" and therefore preliminary, but...there are no garage access curb cuts shown on the drawings.  

There are a few dozen parking spaces indicated west of the team HQ, next to the service tunnel, but I can't tell if they are covered, or if it's just a below-grade surface lot.

That driveway on the left that gets really close to the practice field looks like a ramp that goes under the driveway / pedestrian way that connects 21st to the parking lot.  Again, we have no idea if this has been value engineered or not at this point, and this simple drawing looks like there's at least a driveway or ramp that goes under at the north end of the site anyways.

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Sep 17, 2020

That driveway on the left that gets really close to the practice field looks like a ramp that goes under the driveway / pedestrian way that connects 21st to the parking lot.  Again, we have no idea if this has been value engineered or not at this point, and this simple drawing looks like there's at least a driveway or ramp that goes under at the north end of the site anyways.

Yes, there is a tunnel that passes under Market Street, between the HQ building and the parking area. The tunnel leads to a stadium loading dock and service access area under the stadium plaza. The driveway ramp slopes down to about 40' below grade (the elevation of the stadium pitch) where it enters the tunnel.

The heavy dark lines along the ramp, parking lot, and practice fields indicate retaining walls, i.e. a significant elevation change between the two areas. There are no curb cuts or ramps leading to the area under the fields.

It is possible that team owners are still working on funding an underground public garage here, but these documents don't indicate one.

^Yeah, that's where I was coming from. The early conceptual renderings showed a garage with practice fields on top. Some of the middle stage renderings showed what looked to be ramps and curb cuts leading under the practice fields, including an orthagonal view that showed what appeared to be a ramp leading under the practice fields on one side. And if you were ever going to build an underground garage that would be the site for it, since the area is already excavated and requires a great deal of fill just to make it level. I think there was even a signalized intersection in one of the renderings. I have no special inside information. Not a member of SLDC.

At one time there was supposed to be a ramp from west from 20th that went under the stadium and turned south under Market (basically where the existing Chestnut at 20th ramp was). That was removed from the plan but I don't know if it was because the state money contribution was lower than expected, there were issues acquiring the Anthem lot or there were other construction issues.

Looking at the Structural drawing on that link you can see what tunnel remains (the drawing labels on the first sheet are swapped, the tunnel will extend from the southwest corner of the stadium).

^Never saw that. You mean a vehicle ramp, or a pedestrian ramp?

German soccer team thrashed 37-0 after socially distancing from opponent
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ger ... 55wss.html

EssTeeEll wrote: ↑

Sep 16, 2020

^ Maybe I've just somehow glossed over it, but I had NO idea there was a third practice pitch near 64 and that Clark would be reconnected there.

Great news about Clark....Union Station has always felt like a dead end to me, same with the old Harry's bar. Damn I wish that stupid Fairfield hadn't knocked it down....would've been a great pre/post match experience

Nice pickup EssTeeEll, 

I really think St. Louis is in a position to market Clark with MLB, NHL and soon to have MLS presence as the Great American Sports Avenue or something cheesy like that.   Heck, somehow if the city could land an NBA team playing at Enterprise Center.   Some will hate it and some will not but the idea is to recognition just as Dallas Cowboys push themselves as Americas team

I can hear it now ...” tonight in prime time on ESPN, the New York Knicks visit the Americans sports avenue, Clark Street to take on the Saint Louis Dunkin Arch’s at Enterprise Center”

RuskiSTL wrote: ↑

Sep 20, 2020

EssTeeEll wrote: ↑

Sep 16, 2020

^ Maybe I've just somehow glossed over it, but I had NO idea there was a third practice pitch near 64 and that Clark would be reconnected there.

Great news about Clark....Union Station has always felt like a dead end to me, same with the old Harry's bar. Damn I wish that stupid Fairfield hadn't knocked it down....would've been a great pre/post match experience

There is an old stadium and training facility rendering looking northwest from above I-64, that seems to show the rebuilt Clark curving south to connect to Spruce St., as a public street through what is currently the Union Station parking lot entrance.

I know, "it's just a rendering", but I wonder if there's any chance this will happen, perhaps as part of the larger TDD district? Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but I'm sure it's been discussed.

Edit: Found it, it's a large, high resolution rendering (quite zoomable). Speaking of which, what the heck is up with the 20' chain-link fence along the south side of that street...?