Why can't we turn some of that monstrosity into a data center? Or one of these vacant Walgreens? Why not one of the multiple vacant stores at South County Mall? Or on one of their parking lots? Why not build a data center on some of that hellscape land north of the Dome? Or maybe the northeast corner of Tucker and Cass? Or the urban woods just south of the NGA headquarters? Or what about the old NGA headquarters?
Just so many better options for a data center than right in a prime TOD area. Or on a business strip.
City should require as a part of their requirements that SLDC be allowed to run a development RFP with the developer to confirm there are no other proposals.
Plan is to turn the Armory and the parking lot both into a data center, developer says it will raise $20 million per year in new tax revenue and create 45 permanent jobs paying $130,000 per year.
It will be the first project to go through the new regulations under Mayor Spencer's executive order on data center development in the city.
These people are full of sh*t and we absolutely should not believe a word they say about anything, tax revenue and employment projections least of all.
If GRG and Bi-State had backbones they would also be penning letters to city officials. Completely devalues their work.
Greater STL can support data centers and simultaneously not support a data center at this location. If GSTL supports this development then their own lack of consistent vision invalidates their organization.
Why can't we turn some of that monstrosity into a data center? Or one of these vacant Walgreens? Why not one of the multiple vacant stores at South County Mall? Or on one of their parking lots? Why not build a data center on some of that hellscape land north of the Dome? Or maybe the northeast corner of Tucker and Cass? Or the urban woods just south of the NGA headquarters? Or what about the old NGA headquarters?
Just so many better options for a data center than right in a prime TOD area. Or on a business strip.
I am not an expert but if I had to make an informed guess the Armory location is appealing to the developer because of its immediate access to the adjacent electrical substation. I know of a few data center projects in more remote locations that ended up falling apart because bring the needed electrical was not possible. No matter the cost.
Greater STL can support data centers and simultaneously not support a data center at this location. If GSTL supports this development then their own lack of consistent vision invalidates their organization.
Greater STL is pathetic and has been a huge letdown from the potential it had when it was formed. They’ve yet to achieve anything of significance and have proven themselves incapable of creating the turnaround cities like Detroit and Cleveland are seeing. If they can’t get this data center project moved to an industrial north riverfront site, they have no business being taken seriously as a civic organization.
Why can't we turn some of that monstrosity into a data center? Or one of these vacant Walgreens? Why not one of the multiple vacant stores at South County Mall? Or on one of their parking lots? Why not build a data center on some of that hellscape land north of the Dome? Or maybe the northeast corner of Tucker and Cass? Or the urban woods just south of the NGA headquarters? Or what about the old NGA headquarters?
Just so many better options for a data center than right in a prime TOD area. Or on a business strip.
I am not an expert but if I had to make an informed guess the Armory location is appealing to the developer because of its immediate access to the adjacent electrical substation. I know of a few data center projects in more remote locations that ended up falling apart because bring the needed electrical was not possible. No matter the cost.
Greater STL can support data centers and simultaneously not support a data center at this location. If GSTL supports this development then their own lack of consistent vision invalidates their organization.
Greater STL is pathetic and has been a huge letdown from the potential it had when it was formed. They’ve yet to achieve anything of significance and have proven themselves incapable of creating the turnaround cities like Detroit and Cleveland are seeing. If they can’t get this data center project moved to an industrial north riverfront site, they have no business being taken seriously as a civic organization.
I think this is a little harsh, I'm not sure I'd go this far. To achieve what those cities have downtown, Steward, Kavanaugh, etc. would have to be the primary driver. (Not to mention a Jack Dorsey or Sam Altman, that's not happening) Dan Gilbert has almost single handedly delivered for Detroit, along with a stronger corporate presence, from what I can tell. That said, I wish GSL could be more forceful in driving that real corporate investment rather than just engagement. But that's above my pay grade - I'm not sure how a civic org can force that
But to the greater point, I'd be disappointed to see them advocate for this specific project. This corridor could really be great with some vision and this project ain't it.
Greater STL can support data centers and simultaneously not support a data center at this location. If GSTL supports this development then their own lack of consistent vision invalidates their organization.
Greater STL is pathetic and has been a huge letdown from the potential it had when it was formed. They’ve yet to achieve anything of significance and have proven themselves incapable of creating the turnaround cities like Detroit and Cleveland are seeing. If they can’t get this data center project moved to an industrial north riverfront site, they have no business being taken seriously as a civic organization.
I think this is a little harsh, I'm not sure I'd go this far. To achieve what those cities have downtown, Steward, Kavanaugh, etc. would have to be the primary driver. (Not to mention a Jack Dorsey or Sam Altman, that's not happening) Dan Gilbert has almost single handedly delivered for Detroit, along with a stronger corporate presence, from what I can tell. That said, I wish GSL could be more forceful in driving that real corporate investment rather than just engagement. But that's above my pay grade - I'm not sure how a civic org can force that
But to the greater point, I'd be disappointed to see them advocate for this specific project. This corridor could really be great with some vision and this project ain't it.
True. Downtown could be completely fixed within a few years of our corporations cared but they don't, and there's not much GSL can do about that.
With that being said, they should absolutely not be in support of this albatross.
The Armory building itself, fully restored and renewed, adds to its potential as a data center more than its geographic location. The seller certainly is motivated to unload it, and I don't know of any other viable prospective buyers ready to drop $25MM on it. And let's all be honest: directly abutting a double-stack highway is not ideal for prospective residential real estate -- especially when it also backs up to energy transformers and a freight rail yard. There's no reasonable doubt that data centers are being recognized as core infrastructure to the national economy. Hell, filling that whole side of "Market" from Grand to Vandeventer with data center operations could at least give that area purpose, as well as one that generates new tax revenues for the City...
That all said, I'm not sold on this. Multiple substitute site locations are available around the City that'd be preferable. Data centers on this site would be opposed to the long-term planning conducted for the area, on top of what proximate neighbors are seeking for it - most especially the group behind The Foundry STL. It also would disrupt both the Brickline Greenway and MoDOT's still-emerging plans for redoing 64/40 from Kingshighway to Jefferson. Framing the argument against it really should be centered on what a data center is: Heavy Industry. Large buildings full of output requiring giant machines while taking in large amounts of electricity. The only difference is that its output leaves via fiber optic cables, not a warehouse door.
The City would be wise to put together a proactive marketing strategy for data center development. As I think of it as Heavy Industry, I say it should focus on the industrial riverfront corridors where old warehouses stand today. Just like what was done in the Globe Building, we can see historic manufacturing & warehousing sites revitalized to welcome this new industry. The North Broadway Industrial Area would be ideal. Plenty of prospective sites exist from north of Laclede's Landing up to and alongside Produce Row, none of which are abutting residential or heavy pedestrian thoroughfares. Plus, there's so much excess electrical capacity in the immediate area. Go north of there, and you'll find giant warehouses sitting empty, waiting for an impetus to a new purpose. Turn these sites into data centers first.
Just, please, don't let any of them run primarily on diesel turbines like the xAI data center near Memphis does.
Greater STL is pathetic and has been a huge letdown from the potential it had when it was formed. They’ve yet to achieve anything of significance and have proven themselves incapable of creating the turnaround cities like Detroit and Cleveland are seeing. If they can’t get this data center project moved to an industrial north riverfront site, they have no business being taken seriously as a civic organization.
I think this is a little harsh, I'm not sure I'd go this far. To achieve what those cities have downtown, Steward, Kavanaugh, etc. would have to be the primary driver. (Not to mention a Jack Dorsey or Sam Altman, that's not happening) Dan Gilbert has almost single handedly delivered for Detroit, along with a stronger corporate presence, from what I can tell. That said, I wish GSL could be more forceful in driving that real corporate investment rather than just engagement. But that's above my pay grade - I'm not sure how a civic org can force that
But to the greater point, I'd be disappointed to see them advocate for this specific project. This corridor could really be great with some vision and this project ain't it.
True. Downtown could be completely fixed within a few years of our corporations cared but they don't, and there's not much GSL can do about that.
With that being said, they should absolutely not be in support of this albatross.
C’mon, the Taylors could move their HQ downtown. An Enterprise Mobility commitment to 909 would get that building redeveloped
I am more willing to allow the Armory become a data center than I am the land around the Armory. Armory is burdened by debt and can be transferred to a different use later.
I am more willing to allow the Armory become a data center than I am the land around the Armory. Armory is burdened by debt and can be transferred to a different use later.
This is where I am at. Green Street took their shot at creating a unique and viable use within The Armory (two actually, before WeWork blew up). It didn't work and no one has come into pick up what by visitor numbers seemed to be pretty popular. But, my hope would be that if The Armory is sacrificed for a data center, it would at least free up the parking lot for some kind of dense TOD multi-family project. The original Green Street concept for the site was pretty cool, I think it is on this thread somewhere from a few years back.
Unfortunately, I think SLU + Midtown are too greedy to turn this down and they will negotiate incentives for it also. Just a massive policy failure dating back to the creation of the Midtown Development Corporation.
Would be nice to have someone like Tina Pihl and Tishuara still in city hall demanding that this developer make a hefty donation to housing fund before getting approval.
But we have Cara who was put in power specifically for the purpose of letting big business continue to rape and pillage the city.
