The buildings aren't dilapidated. They are structurally fine. Every other building in Benton Park West that has been redeveloped the last couple of years was missing at least one wall and in much worse shape. Dilapidated is the AHM narrative.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 19, 20257-11 was sold for over $1.4M in 2020 and 7-11 signed a very long term lease. Let's stop acting like that's a real option and let's stop acting like 3 vacant and dilapidated buildings are preferable to 36 apartments.
Then you go buy them and put up the money to renovate them. Nothing's stopping you.STLAPTS wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025The buildings aren't dilapidated. They are structurally fine. Every other building in Benton Park West that has been redeveloped the last couple of years was missing at least one wall and in much worse shape. Dilapidated is the AHM narrative.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 19, 20257-11 was sold for over $1.4M in 2020 and 7-11 signed a very long term lease. Let's stop acting like that's a real option and let's stop acting like 3 vacant and dilapidated buildings are preferable to 36 apartments.
Have you gotten a tour of the inside? Have you ran the numbers as to how much it would cost to renovate these buildings? How about what the profit margin would be? These are all things AHM has done, wouldn't bet you have.
And in the end, you'd be forgoing 36 new housing units in favor of a few commercial spaces in a commercial district starving for more patrons to patronize the existing establishments.
They overpaid assuming they would be granted a demo permit. That is why they don't pencil. I have rehabbed burned down buildings. Buildings without walls. One that was condemned because of a meth explosion. I don't need to tour the buildings to know they are structurally fine. If you paid attention, you would know that AHM has used "not structurally sound" as a reason for demo on more than this project. Their building in The Grove being another example.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025Then you go buy them and put up the money to renovate them. Nothing's stopping you.STLAPTS wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025The buildings aren't dilapidated. They are structurally fine. Every other building in Benton Park West that has been redeveloped the last couple of years was missing at least one wall and in much worse shape. Dilapidated is the AHM narrative.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 19, 20257-11 was sold for over $1.4M in 2020 and 7-11 signed a very long term lease. Let's stop acting like that's a real option and let's stop acting like 3 vacant and dilapidated buildings are preferable to 36 apartments.
Have you gotten a tour of the inside? Have you ran the numbers as to how much it would cost to renovate these buildings? How about what the profit margin would be? These are all things AHM has done, wouldn't bet you have.
And in the end, you'd be forgoing 36 new housing units in favor of a few commercial spaces in a commercial district starving for more patrons to patronize the existing establishments.
Then why don't you make an offer to buy them and rehab? Again, nothing is stopping you.STLAPTS wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025They overpaid assuming they would be granted a demo permit. That is why they don't pencil. I have rehabbed burned down buildings. Buildings without walls. One that was condemned because of a meth explosion. I don't need to tour the buildings to know they are structurally fine. If you paid attention, you would know that AHM has used "not structurally sound" as a reason for demo on more than this project. Their building in The Grove being another example.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025Then you go buy them and put up the money to renovate them. Nothing's stopping you.STLAPTS wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025The buildings aren't dilapidated. They are structurally fine. Every other building in Benton Park West that has been redeveloped the last couple of years was missing at least one wall and in much worse shape. Dilapidated is the AHM narrative.
Have you gotten a tour of the inside? Have you ran the numbers as to how much it would cost to renovate these buildings? How about what the profit margin would be? These are all things AHM has done, wouldn't bet you have.
And in the end, you'd be forgoing 36 new housing units in favor of a few commercial spaces in a commercial district starving for more patrons to patronize the existing establishments.
"Nothing is stopping you." LOL like maybe that AHM is hell bent on demolishing them for their project? AHM is not selling bro! Take that line of argument out of your toolbox it literally makes no sense.
What makes no sense is preferring 3 dilapidated buildings over 36 new housing units in a neighborhood starving for new residents.
They are not dilapidated. Intentionally neglected to achieve AHM's goal of demo and development.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025What makes no sense is preferring 3 dilapidated buildings over 36 new housing units in a neighborhood starving for new residents.PeterXCV wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025"Nothing is stopping you." LOL like maybe that AHM is hell bent on demolishing them for their project? AHM is not selling bro! Take that line of argument out of your toolbox it literally makes no sense.
The funniest part is that even if they weren't dilapidated, 36 new housing units is still a much better option.STLAPTS wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025They are not dilapidated. Intentionally neglected to achieve AHM's goal of demo and development.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025What makes no sense is preferring 3 dilapidated buildings over 36 new housing units in a neighborhood starving for new residents.PeterXCV wrote: ↑Mar 20, 2025"Nothing is stopping you." LOL like maybe that AHM is hell bent on demolishing them for their project? AHM is not selling bro! Take that line of argument out of your toolbox it literally makes no sense.
How is it not a real option? Money talks and the lot is a blight.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 19, 20257-11 was sold for over $1.4M in 2020 and 7-11 signed a very long term lease. Let's stop acting like that's a real option and let's stop acting like 3 vacant and dilapidated buildings are preferable to 36 apartments.
Can you build something big enough or fancy enough to justify the acquisition costs?
I doubt the neighbors would allow it. NIMBYism is on the rise in the City.
Because $1.4M is incredibly steep for a structure that you're just going to tear down and the 7-11 signed a long term (pretty sure something like 20 year) lease that will make it way more than $1.4M to purchase that lot.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Mar 21, 2025How is it not a real option? Money talks and the lot is a blight.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 19, 20257-11 was sold for over $1.4M in 2020 and 7-11 signed a very long term lease. Let's stop acting like that's a real option and let's stop acting like 3 vacant and dilapidated buildings are preferable to 36 apartments.
Money wise, the 7-11 is not a blight. The 3 decapitated buildings are.
It looks like more sh*t than those buildings that are being left to rot by the developer.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 21, 2025Because $1.4M is incredibly steep for a structure that you're just going to tear down and the 7-11 signed a long term (pretty sure something like 20 year) lease that will make it way more than $1.4M to purchase that lot.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Mar 21, 2025How is it not a real option? Money talks and the lot is a blight.Auggie wrote: ↑Mar 19, 20257-11 was sold for over $1.4M in 2020 and 7-11 signed a very long term lease. Let's stop acting like that's a real option and let's stop acting like 3 vacant and dilapidated buildings are preferable to 36 apartments.
Money wise, the 7-11 is not a blight. The 3 decapitated buildings are.
Look I get I'm an idealist here but 1.4m is not very much for someone throwing around hundreds of millions in downtown west
New renderings of options for proposed Morgan Ford and Juniata AHM proposal. This will be presented at the Planning Commission meeting today.
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So all that's changed is their choice(s) of material for the wall of their parking garage? Still no retail space or ground level activation? Am I missing something?
And they've extended their renders to confirm at least the tattoo space next door will be spared from demolition and still exists! There's no retail in our building but at least there's some next door!
I am still in favor of this getting built, but this makes it look like they barely put any effort into changing their plans. Maybe that's enough for the Planning Commission. I hope so.
And they've extended their renders to confirm at least the tattoo space next door will be spared from demolition and still exists! There's no retail in our building but at least there's some next door!
I am still in favor of this getting built, but this makes it look like they barely put any effort into changing their plans. Maybe that's enough for the Planning Commission. I hope so.
Looks like it was enough for the Commission. Demolition has been approved, with the condition that a building permit first be issued. Happy to see this one finally start to move forward.