urbanSTL

The Midtown Strategic Development Plan found on the City's Planning website allocates for a Metrolink station on Sarah and two blocks south of Forest Park Parkway to be built in the future; it will hinge on the success of Cortex and the buildup of what the City anticipates to be a science & technology area to be called Technopolis (page22-23 of Exec. summary).



Furthermore, an area north of Forest Park Prkwy. would be redeveloped into an urban village with two blocks of highrises of residential and multi or mixed-use called West Pine Village (Page 22/28 of Exec. summary). This area would be a walk of several blocks but worth it.



http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/planning/midtown/

Such a walk along Sarah would be no more than that now along Euclid from the CWE station to Lindell. But of course, walkability is largely enabled through perception. Folks will move their cars to shop within a small strip-mall, but walk a larger indoor mall. And of course, many walk the several blocks of Euclid, since the storefronts and street trees make the walk more friendly.



The costs of building the original MetroLink line under Lindell were too cost prohibitive, just as building Cross County west of Brentwood to more directly reach the Galleria. Still, because of Boulevard St. Louis, more folks might now walk to the Galleria from the Richmond Heights station. Likewise, if the CORTEX area sees walkable density in its development, especially along Sarah, the greater CWE/Midtown/FPSE area will benefit. Already, infill/rehab has happened north of Forest Park Avenue, it's really only between Forest Park and the potential station that now desperately needs attention.



Ultimately, I'd like to see Lindell Marketplace become more pedestrian-friendly with a more urban redevelopment of this fairly auto-oriented strip-mall. As a former SLU student, I can remember often cutting across these parking lots, and thinking what a lost opportunity. Hopefully, the growing apartments will make redevelopment or at least some retrofitting of Lindell Marketplace all the more attractive.

I used to think the same thing when visiting that Schnuck's back when I was a student too. It's amazing how much different (better) the neighborhood is now than when I was in college, so making improvements to that shopping center is a lot more feasible now. At the very least, the eastern portion of the shopping center could/should be torn down and redeveloped.

Well there should be changes coming to the property. I know Schnucks will be redoing their store (something that desperatly needed to be done) so it is possible that the site owner could be looking to make some over all changes with the site since Schnucks is locking itslef in as a long term tenant.

I hope they improve Lindell Marketplace. I remember when they built it. That area was totaly neglected and a mess. In some ways, it seemed like an improvement. However, even then I was disappointed they didn't use a more urban design. I always thought this would be torn down and replaced with a better design, or completely redone. Lindell is one of best streets and deserve much better. And I think it would be good business for Schnucks and other stores (including fast food stores) to be in a well designed setting.

I hope they improve Lindell Marketplace. I remember when they built it. That area was totaly neglected and a mess. In some ways, it seemed like an improvement. However, even then I was disappointed they didn't use a more urban design. I always thought this would be torn down and replaced with a better design, or completely redone. Lindell is one of best streets and deserve much better. And I think it would be good business for Schnucks and other stores (including fast food stores) to be in a well designed setting.

Do you remember what was there before? I've always wondered what used to be on those lots. I think I remember reading that there was a historic building near where the Blockbuster currently stands that was originally supposed to be saved as part of the development, but it was too far gone.

Sorry, I don't remember exactly. There was a hodge podge of small closed fast food buildings and empty lots as I recall. I think it had already been ruined with ugly fast food buildings by the time Lindell Marketplace came along. No doubt they tore down one or two historic buildings, but I think most of the damage had already been done.



Marmar, do you have a better memory of what was before Lindell Marketplace? Or even earlier when the area was still intact?

Expat, try as I might...I can't remember exactly what was there. There was a Perkins Pancake house, but I can't remember if it was one of the structures torn down for LMP. It went out of business way before LMP was built, I'm almost sure of that. It seems there were small businesses and shops, some located in typical CWE old homes. I do remember when the LMP was built, I though to myself this is so wrong to put a suburban shopping center in the middle of the city. I really thought this could bring the downfall of the CWE...glad I was wrong!

I thought it was wrong, too. There was definitely a closed chain pancake restaurant. There were plenty of empty lots. And a few businesses in old CWE style houses. But, it was pretty much a mess and ruined long before LMP came along. That is probably why we don't remember much about it. Whenever I rode the bus down Lindell, I always looked on the other side of the street becaue it was more intact and easier to take.



Maybe all this new development on Lindell will encourage them to redesign LMP or at least improve it.

You're right about why we don't remember what was there, Expat...simply because there probably wasn't much there to begin with (at least in our memory)! Surely at one time there were fine homes there, most gone by the time you or I came around.



I'm with ya...improvements to the LMP are definately needed. Actually, I wish they'd tear the LMP down and build something appropriate to an urban neighborhood such as this. (Just wondering...was the CWE Association sleeping when this thing came about, or what?)

^ The CWE Association wasn't sleeping. But, they thought it would be OK if they used brick and put a wrought iron fence around it. I don't know, but I have no doubt there were plenty of quarrels around the project. And maybe there were some unsavory businesses they were eager to replace. I don't know, just speculating......



I guess there was a time when they thought ANY kind of development was better than none. I don't think we have to stand for that any more. If they can build a pretty "Main Street" in Brentwood, NewTown, or Richland, we should expect the same or better in the Central West End. It doesn't take a genius to know that storefronts should front the street.



Sorry folks, I think the Salad Bowl thread has taken a life of its own. Maybe they will announce their plans and give us some renderings so we can get back to discussing the Salad Bowl. Now I wonder, will the new develpment be called, "The Salad Bowl Apts". I love the way names stick on buildings in St. Louis, long after they have changed names or uses.

The building that stood where Lindell Marketplace is was the WINDSOR HOTEL. I've seen some old pictures of it, and it looked very similar to the Fremont and Leonardo apartments across the street. It was probably a floozy hotel, but it's a lot better than its replacement.

I wonder if that was the hotel we called "the dollar hotel". If so, it was a floozy, but worth saving. I don't know, I think "the dollar hotel" building might still be there. It must be called the "ten dollar hotel" by now. Darn, I hate not being able to go by these places to see what is going on.



Actually, I think the Windsor was already gone by the time I was a Central West Ender. It's empty lot probably contributed to the emptiness I recall.

Now that I think of it, it does seem there was a mid rise along there somewhere...it's been awhile. Other than (real) structural instability, there is no reason to tear down buildings as they can always be rehabbed.

I think the Windsor Hotel was located where the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge is at, not Lindell Market Place.

Citylover, thanks for the great pic. What a pity this building was destroyed for what stands there now.

Yes, thanks for this great picture. I am pretty sure that is the hotel we called the dollar hotel because it was so run down and cheap. It was not a regular hotel when I knew it. It could & should have been rehabbed as a nice apt. building. And I think it was just to the west of the current Lindell Marketplace. But, like I said before, my memory is hazy on this section of Lindell. I do know for sure there was a pancake house type of building, because they tried to open a more upscale restaurant in it that didn't work out. I tried the restaurant, which lasted about two weeks. And I vaguely recall going to a really good jazz club that had an entrance in the back. The other side of Lindell was always more interesting to me because of the Playboy Club and then the Krishna restaurant and other things. I hate the drug store with the big parking lot they put on the other side of Lindell. Pity. And to be honest, we were rather happy to have a big new grocery store in the neigbhorhood. When the grocery store was new, we thought it was nice. & we were pleased to see the Leonardo rehabbed. I think they should tear down Lindell Marketplace, put in a really nice grocery store with a high rise apt. building above. And hide the parking.

Expat wrote: I think they should tear down Lindell Marketplace, put in a really nice grocery store with a high rise apt. building above. And hide the parking.

"If wishes were horses..."

FYI - The owner of the Salad Bowl restaurant hopes to relocate in Midtown. I found a tiny blurb about it on Sauce Magazine's website.

He ought to move downtown - close to the HQ of their biggest customer, the St. Louis Public Schools.

I notices the Salad Bowl has been closed an shuttered... when is this place coming down for condos?

matguy70 wrote:I notices the Salad Bowl has been closed an shuttered... when is this place coming down for condos?

I haven't heard many updates on this development, but I still haven't heard, other than in STLgasm's eariler post, that these are going to be condos. The St. Louis Business Journal even mentioned late last year that there were going to be 197 apartment units to be named the "Villas of St. Louis". Martin Van Der Werf of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch also commented on the apartments in his column on 12/20/05.



As for the Salad Bowl, according to Sauce Magazine, they closed on Friday, December 23rd, 2005 with plans to move the restaurant to a midtown location (as mentioned above).

I drove by yesterday and the building was 80% demolished. Does anyone have anymore info?