urbanSTL

Had some friends in from out of town stay here Friday night.  We did a tour Friday evening and as a former user of the YMCA here 10 years ago, I was shocked by the transformation.  It's really well done and seems like a great space for people to stay at when visiting our fair city.  They really did a great job of retaining the most important features of the historic building while modernizing and opening up everything else.  The bar area was great, the artwork super interesting, and it just had an energy level that is hard to find in STL.  I'd recommend to anyone else coming in to use as a base camp, and looks like a fun night out even if you aren't staying at the hotel!

metzgda wrote:Had some friends in from out of town stay here Friday night.  We did a tour Friday evening and as a former user of the YMCA here 10 years ago, I was shocked by the transformation.  It's really well done and seems like a great space for people to stay at when visiting our fair city.  They really did a great job of retaining the most important features of the historic building while modernizing and opening up everything else.  The bar area was great, the artwork super interesting, and it just had an energy level that is hard to find in STL.  I'd recommend to anyone else coming in to use as a base camp, and looks like a fun night out even if you aren't staying at the hotel!

I recently held some business meetings in the old gym at 21C. We had plenty of out of towners staying in the hotel as well. Reviews of the hotel and meeting rooms were overwhelmingly positive.

They were generally negative about the state of the surrounding blocks. But the hotel itself is a hit.

^The only complaint I had was the valet parking was a bit of a mess when we got there, and the kid who went to retrieve my car didn't know how to drive a stick. Also they apparently parked it in an open lot, not a garage. Had I know that I'd have thrown the top up, but . . . it didn't rain when we were there, so it was all good. (And I'm not really sure how much control the hotel has over the parking, and I almost expect kids don't know how to drive silly antiques anymore anyway. And I really should have asked, so that would have been partially on me even if it had rained. I should know better.) But yeah, it's a great hotel and I think it'll be a nice asset. My wife stayed at the Ritz in Clayton with a friend who was in town for work from out of town. She does think the Ritz was nicer, but . . . I don't think it was by much. And half of that was probably just the size of the room, and we got one of the smallest rooms at 21C. (Glad to take advantage of an in-town "spa" day, but no need to fleece the donor.) 

Well, that open lot info definitely got them into trouble recently with the break in story. They got plenty of negative press from that situation.

^The lot genuinely surprised me. Everything else was great.

Laife Fulk wrote: ↑

Oct 31, 2023

Well, that open lot info definitely got them into trouble recently with the break in story. They got plenty of negative press from that situation.

What happened to the fenced/secured lot board bill? Is it because it wasn't in Downtown proper, it's not needed?

Also, what about the rest of the unsecured lots around the CBD? Or was this just another toothless PR press of legislation?

The hotel is building its own fenced lot on the corner NW of the hotel.      Right now they valet park cars literally just on the street in front of the hotel on that block.   I just can’t believe they didn’t finish the fenced lot before they opened


That bill hasn’t passed yet. Parking lot owners are opposed to it

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

Nov 05, 2023

The hotel is building its own fenced lot on the corner NW of the hotel.      Right now they valet park cars literally just on the street in front of the hotel on that block.   I just can’t believe they didn’t finish the fenced lot before they opened


That bill hasn’t passed yet. Parking lot owners are opposed to it

Forgive my ignorance, but what kind of weight does the opposition of the owners actually have in this case?  Does it have power to stop it, or is it just something they'll pout about?

Really have been wanting to check this place out. I'm always looking for places to tell people to stay when they come into town. At least there will be a more secured lot going forward.

^There are quite a few garages nearby with daily rates where you could self park safely, I think. We passed a couple on the way. The parking issue is annoying, but solvable. Recommend the crap out of the place . . . just with that one little caveat. (Which they'll fix soon enough, no doubt.)

EssTeeEll wrote: ↑

Nov 06, 2023

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

Nov 05, 2023

The hotel is building its own fenced lot on the corner NW of the hotel.      Right now they valet park cars literally just on the street in front of the hotel on that block.   I just can’t believe they didn’t finish the fenced lot before they opened


That bill hasn’t passed yet. Parking lot owners are opposed to it

Forgive my ignorance, but what kind of weight does the opposition of the owners actually have in this case?  Does it have power to stop it, or is it just something they'll pout about?

Really have been wanting to check this place out. I'm always looking for places to tell people to stay when they come into town. At least there will be a more secured lot going forward.

Samesies.

So, toothless, yeah? I'm going to Spencer in the AM.

^ Nice, please let us know if anything comes of that/her response.

EssTeeEll wrote: ↑

Nov 17, 2023

^ Nice, please let us know if anything comes of that/her response.

It's been two unanswered emails in a row, so not holding out that much hope.  And over five months since I first queried on BB44.  I guess I should be reaching out to Ald. Aldridge too.

Got a chance to finally check this place out last week.

Yeah, I've been to a couple of art openings there. It's pretty cool

My wife and I actually stayed there for an in-town spa day sort of deal for her birthday last year. It was fun.