Was looking at a website called BidClerk and the Chemical Building popped up.
It says construction is expected to start in Mid-December. Almost everything that was out to bid has been bid on and contracts have been awarded. IIRC, December 14th was the start date for the project.
Besides the number of new hotel rooms and apartments going into this building, that we all know, it said that the ground floor would be home to a 5000sf restaurant space. When I get home, I’ll try and copy and paste the description and clarify anything I may have said wrong here.
Regardless, it’s good to see that this is moving forward.
Here is the exact quote and information from the BidClerk website...
Status: Pre-Construction/Negotiations
Sector: Private
Estimated Value: $54,000,000
Square Footage: 180,000
Project Type: addition/Renovation
Start Date: December 7th, 2020
Estimated Completion: Middle 2022
Renovation and addition to a mixed-use development in Saint Louis, Missouri. Working plans call for the renovation of a 72-unit multi-residential development; 84-room hospitality development; and for the addition of a 5,000-square-foot, one-story above grade restaurant.
Chemical Building
As of June, 2020 the plans call for an extension of Hotel Saint Louis, with additional 84 hotel rooms, 72 luxury apartments, a ballroom, restaurant and a rooftop bar
A general contractor has been selected. Checkmate Design and Rosemann & Associates are the architects.
NOTE: As of February 12, 2020, construction is anticipated to commence Winter, 2020. The construction completion period is estimated to be 15-20 months.
Whoa. Rosemann helped out on this?? Wise choice but not what I was expecting. Rosemann has been the architect for every proposal from 2007 until Restoration St. Louis started looking at it so they're very familiar with, to say the least.
Very cool news. I do find it surprising that they intend to create such a large restaurant space, let alone another possible rooftop bar. I completely understand creating a rooftop area for guests and residents, but staffing another rooftop bar and ground floor restaurant when you have a connected rooftop bar and restaurant right next door seems like a potential waste of resources. Anyone else have this thought? From my former view from the Laclede Gas building, FORM never seemed very busy. Union 30 appeared moderately successful, but rarely packed from what I could tell.
Also, does "addition" mean anything special regarding the restaurant? Are they building out somewhere? The hotel/apartments are listed as "renovations". All three uses are new to the building, so listing one as an "addition" and the others as "renovations" seems peculiar to me.
Any thoughts on the "addition", as well as on the seemingly redundant amenities?
^I was wondering about the addition aspect of the project. I assume it’s just a typo but I don’t know. Maybe they intend on building on that parking lot along Locust Street, but then that wouldn’t be connected to Chemical Building.
I do remember hearing that they were going to connect the 705 Olive and the Chemical Building so maybe that’s what they mean by addition.
^ I can't speak to Form, but I've been to The Last Hotels rooftop bar a few times and it's been busy. Of course, there are a couple of differences...1) there is a pool and 2) it's mostly open air, where Form only has windows that open (as far as I know). In fact, I'm assuming due to popularity, you now need to buy a $50 ticket to go to the rooftop if you're not staying at the hotel. If Form is indeed lagging in popularity, this development would do well to look at what makes places like The Last Hotel and 360 more buzzing than Form. Either way, looking forward to seeing the progress of this beauty.
Form's rooftop was underwhelming. There were like two small windows that opened up. Take the friggin roof off. If I'm going to a rooftop bar to spend $12 a drink, I prefer open air.
Kind of sounds like the developer before the Gills brought in this firm and the Gills stuck with them after they took control of the building. It’s unfortunate it’s worked out the way it has so far (I think the pandemic plays a large role here)...but not exactly out of the ordinary yet. I still have more faith in the Gills than some of the previous developers.
sc4mayor wrote:Kind of sounds like the developer before the Gills brought in this firm and the Gills stuck with them after they took control of the building. It’s unfortunate it’s worked out the way it has so far (I think the pandemic plays a large role here)...but not exactly out of the ordinary yet. I still have more faith in the Gills than some of the previous developers.
They’ve had their hands full recently with 4440 Manchester and the Warrior Hotel in Sioux City. Throw in the pandemic (as you mentioned), which took revenue away from Restoration STL, then you have problems.
I think they’ll get Chemical up and going. I don’t see them ready to walk away from it yet.
This is the second blow to them though. Joe Roddy denied the Arbor on Arco project.
Several people were walking around on the roof taking pictures this week. It looked like they were possibly assessing the roof itself. Not sure if this is just general maintenance, or the sign of something bigger.
Several people were walking around on the roof taking pictures this week. It looked like they were possibly assessing the roof itself. Not sure if this is just general maintenance, or the sign of something bigger.
Any news is good news. I walked by the Chemical on Saturday. From a visitor impression standpoint, getting this building done is more important than almost any other in my opinion (even 808 Chestnut). That location: on OPOP, directly between the Convention Center and City Garden (and BPV two blocks further), one block from Metrolink, one block from Schnucks, between Hotel St. Louis and Magnolia Hotel. It has to be one of the highest foot traffic intersections DT. Getting it activated and "completing" OPOP can't happen soon enough.
^ agreed. The ground floor of the Railway Exchange is looking pretty rough these days too, but the Chemical Building rehab is obviously way more feasible at this time.
"One of downtown St. Louis' massive and mostly vacant buildings has sold for $5 million.
The Chemical Building, at 777 Olive St., was sold Dec. 22 to 777 Olive St. HTC LLC, an entity with a mailing address matching the headquarters of New Orleans-based architecture firm John T. Campo & Associates, also known as Campo Architects. The seller was an entity affiliated with Morgan Communities, an upstate New York-based commercial real estate firm."
Same architect as the Shell Building rehab.
HA Great and how long has the Shell building project been going on??
Will it EVER open??
Shell construction was announced feb 2020, covid happen and it started in summer of 2020 and completed on time and schedule. All major work is done and now it’s just interior furniture/staging. They probably also aren’t in a hurry to open before spring/summer
"One of downtown St. Louis' massive and mostly vacant buildings has sold for $5 million.
The Chemical Building, at 777 Olive St., was sold Dec. 22 to 777 Olive St. HTC LLC, an entity with a mailing address matching the headquarters of New Orleans-based architecture firm John T. Campo & Associates, also known as Campo Architects. The seller was an entity affiliated with Morgan Communities, an upstate New York-based commercial real estate firm."
Same architect as the Shell Building rehab.
Looks like the architect/buyer is primarily involved in hotel conversions.
