urbanSTL

^Eh, fair. But darn it, the shoe fits. I was all "heal the grid" and now I'm not. It's all good. I think the drive behind the movement is very much a good one, and I do think it's reasonable to have some concerns with how and why they close the street.

What we really need to prevent is repeating the mistake of allowing private companies get streets and completely fence them off from public access. IE what the casino did to 1st Street in the Landing. Unforgivable mistake by whomever allowed it to happen.

Yep, the targets of 'heal the grid', at least here in St. Louis, were those neighborhoods that used to be connected to the rest of the city but intentionally walled themselves away like a suburban subdivision. It wasn't at all about prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle access, it was that certain neighborhoods didn't want certain people driving in cars past their house so they blocked streets so they're the ones driving in cars to their house. It was (and still largely is) the worst of both worlds.

I'm potentially okay to close the street to vehicles as a part of the redevelopment of this building, but as others have said only if with a codicil requiring permanent pedestrian and/or bicycle public access via other means and development of something there to encourage its non-vehicular public use - retail, amenities, etc.

-RBB

We don't need any more street vacations, just like we dont need any more green space. Traffic calming, sure, but not giving it to a private developer. Giving up Chestnut is a "no" for me.

Yeah, it's car brained, but the one-way streets and existing closures (9th) already require more traffic miles driven than would otherwise be necessary. You often have to drive several blocks out of the way to work your way around, which means crossing more intersections, creating more conflict points with pedestrians.

I'd be more ok with closing streets to cars if we had more two-way streets downtown.

10 of the tallest abandoned skyscrapers around the world
909 Chestnut Street, St. Louis (588 feet)
https://www.businessinsider.com/tallest-abandoned-skyscrapers-around-the-world-photos

^Hey, on the positive side, ours appears to be the largest one that was actually finished and could be reused.

whitherSTL wrote: ↑

Feb 06, 2025

Wait a minute..if the state legislature and the Kehoe administration come through with this enormous tax credit package to allow this project to proceed, will the anti-Jefferson City/"they're a bunch of fascists"/"Jeff City hates STL" faction, here on this site, change their tune at all?

I assure you, Mike Kehoe (born and raised in north STL), has been through much more personally in his life than 95% of the posters here.  He loves STL.  

But because he's white and made his fortune through hard work, he'll never get a fair shake here....

Welp

StlToday - Senate Republican, citing concerns about ‘globalist’ plots, delays bill to help downtown St. Louis

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 026c9.html

quincunx wrote: ↑

Mar 11, 2025

whitherSTL wrote: ↑

Feb 06, 2025

Wait a minute..if the state legislature and the Kehoe administration come through with this enormous tax credit package to allow this project to proceed, will the anti-Jefferson City/"they're a bunch of fascists"/"Jeff City hates STL" faction, here on this site, change their tune at all?

I assure you, Mike Kehoe (born and raised in north STL), has been through much more personally in his life than 95% of the posters here.  He loves STL.  

But because he's white and made his fortune through hard work, he'll never get a fair shake here....

Welp

StlToday - Senate Republican, citing concerns about ‘globalist’ plots, delays bill to help downtown St. Louis

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 026c9.html

Article says after a few hours the senator stood down and the legislation passed.  Did I miss something ?  

The story was updated.

quincunx wrote: ↑

Mar 11, 2025

The story was updated.

Great news.  Since it is perfected the senate needs to approve one last time then it goes to the house? Not exactly sure on the legislative process.  

In normal countries, clowns like him would be put in a mental facility. Here, we send them to the state legislature.

Anyone know why "AT&T Tower Developer is alarmed" according to the STL Biz Journal? 

DogtownBnR wrote: ↑

May 06, 2025

Anyone know why "AT&T Tower Developer is alarmed" according to the STL Biz Journal? 

Probably has to do with the stalled tax credit bill in the moleg. 

The one that MO GOP doesn't want to move forward with unless sick time is repealed? 

The developer says that the redevelopment plan won't go forward without the tax credit being passed. The fascists say they won't approve the tax credit without first rescinding paid sick leave and removing the inflation aspect of the minimum wage increase. The measure that nearly 60% of Missourians voted for.

It was inevitable that this building was going to hit another snag in the development process.

Increased minimum wage indexed to inflation and paid sick leave is far far far more important for St. Louis than this building.

week ago Goldman gave a tour to some state reps where he told them that this project isnt contingent on SB35 passing. I assume its a nice like to have and this is part of putting some pressure on the legislature 

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

May 07, 2025

week ago Goldman gave a tour to some state reps where he told them that this project isnt contingent on SB35 passing. I assume its a nice like to have and this is part of putting some pressure on the legislature 

Sounds like Goldman is guilty of not thinking before he speaks.  The project hasn't penciled for much more experienced and deep pocketed investors that have had the same incentives that Goldman presently does.  What is his magic sauce without this additional subsidy in a much higher interest rate environment where raising capital is much more difficult.  

Remember when that one Trumper thought this was some big "gotcha" that we'd have to thank our fascist overlords for? Looks like he fell for it again.

Tire kickers yes but there is nothing of substance going on with this building

STLAPTS wrote: ↑

May 07, 2025

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

May 07, 2025

week ago Goldman gave a tour to some state reps where he told them that this project isnt contingent on SB35 passing. I assume its a nice like to have and this is part of putting some pressure on the legislature 

Sounds like Goldman is guilty of not thinking before he speaks.  The project hasn't penciled for much more experienced and deep pocketed investors that have had the same incentives that Goldman presently does.  What is his magic sauce without this additional subsidy in a much higher interest rate environment where raising capital is much more difficult.  

Yes, I have heard the opposite. Maybe he has a backup plan for the funds, but I think it is dependent on another incentive source.  Also, tax abatement and tax credits should be used to get a project over the line, not "nice to have".  Giving "nice to have" incentives is what the city has been criticized for in the past.  Also see opponents in the State Leg, saying "Even the key developer saying he would benefit from the tax credit said he doesn't need it."