Washington Avenue Apts. (aka Days Inn) - 1133 Washington Ave

innov8ion · PostSep 23, 2006#1012006-09-23T00:30+00:00

I have this sick feeling that whoever the owner is; they don't have the means to do the property justice and will attempt to sit on it and wait for the land value to rise until they can unload it for what they consider to be a princely sum. Question... When does this property reach the state of blight or is it already there? I know how unpopular eminent domain can be, but is there truly a loser in this case? Curious to see what people think...

Edit-------

PS, I was rereading the threads here and found the following:

"Next door, construction on the Days Inn at Washington and Tucker will begin in January (2007.) The project will be called the Washington Avenue Apartments."

Wonder if this is still the goal....

Alex Ihnen · PostNov 02, 2006#1022006-11-02T14:17+00:00

I drove by the old Days Inn today and noticed that the south facade is actually not flat, each panel of windows slants in or out - as in a wave or zig-zag. OK - this isn't the Century Building but it does have character - more so than nearly all its contemporaries.

markofucity · PostNov 02, 2006#1032006-11-02T15:11+00:00

I agree that its not the century building .....

just kidding - i see your point

debaliviere · PostNov 02, 2006#1042006-11-02T15:28+00:00

Honestly, I think if it were black/gray/etc. instead of orange, most people wouldn't have a problem with it. This renovation cannot come soon enough.

gerwitz · PostNov 04, 2006#1052006-11-04T22:49+00:00

This week I finally noticed some activity at this building. A disposal chute was installed at the back, flagged warning tape was placed at the perimeter of the roof.

Nothing to get excited about, but any movement is better than stagnation.

the central scrutinizer · PostNov 05, 2006#1062006-11-05T05:05+00:00

phobia wrote:This week I finally noticed some activity at this building. A disposal chute was installed at the back, flagged warning tape was placed at the perimeter of the roof.

Nothing to get excited about, but any movement is better than stagnation.

There was activity up on the roof.

debaliviere · PostNov 05, 2006#1072006-11-05T14:29+00:00

We will expect frequent updates from all of you Meridian residents.

foodicles · PostNov 08, 2006#1082006-11-08T02:51+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:We will expect frequent updates from all of you Meridian residents.

The banner sign went up today. no web site or follow up info listed. 95 rental units will be available.

gerwitz · PostNov 08, 2006#1092006-11-08T22:01+00:00

foodicles wrote:The banner sign went up today. no web site or follow up info listed. 95 rental units will be available.

Accompanied by construction fencing (that went up Monday afternoon) and actual demolition activity. Finally some action here!

Anyone have a clue what their plans for the street-level facade are?

the central scrutinizer · PostNov 22, 2006#1102006-11-22T22:11+00:00

They were stripping off that peach colored "siding" today. Nothing behind it but a cinder block wall. I wonder what is going to replace it?

stldtfan · PostNov 23, 2006#1112006-11-23T01:45+00:00

Poetic justice would be rose colored siding

migueltejada · PostNov 23, 2006#1122006-11-23T03:06+00:00

A little bit of me died inside. Now where can I go when I need a cheap place to bang the whore I just picked up?

stldtfan · PostNov 23, 2006#1132006-11-23T03:14+00:00

groan.

I know that Washington Av. was known for the activity. Is that really the "place" that was used?

Actually, I don't think I even want to know.......

PostNov 25, 2006#1142006-11-25T00:42+00:00

Hmmmmm..... They seem to have stopped at tearing down the siding on the corner of Tucker and Washington (facing the Meridian). I hope that is only due to the Thanks Giving holiday and complete the task soon. The "peach" color mixed with the cinder blocks looks pretty bad.

I really do not know how they can make that building look good. I can hope though

publiceye · PostNov 25, 2006#1152006-11-25T17:01+00:00

The nicest place to be in an ugly building is inside it. Do a good inside rehab, charge decent rents, and the place will be a success: look where it is!

innov8ion · PostNov 25, 2006#1162006-11-25T17:10+00:00

publiceye wrote:The nicest place to be in an ugly building is inside it. Do a good inside rehab, charge decent rents, and the place will be a success: look where it is!

Yeah, well maybe only 150 people will live there meanwhile the metro St. Louis population is nearly 3 million. How bout they make it look pretty for both categories of people.

stldtfan · PostNov 25, 2006#1172006-11-25T17:22+00:00

If that building does not look good on the outside, it will be an eyesore for all the other buildings around it.

If I had a loft in the Bogen or Meridian, I would hate to have that as a view. I totally understand the point of the location, but that is a micro view of the people in the building only. I think external appearances are very necessary to have a complete DT revival.

bastiat · PostNov 25, 2006#1182006-11-25T17:52+00:00

I think it could look cool if they give it a sleek glass shell.

publiceye · PostNov 25, 2006#1192006-11-25T18:15+00:00

How bout they make it look pretty for both categories of people.

Agreed, but . . .

Is that possible? Is that possible given the projected rents?

stldtfan · PostNov 25, 2006#1202006-11-25T18:38+00:00

What are the projected rents? I must have missed the sign indicating that.

innov8ion · PostNov 25, 2006#1212006-11-25T20:33+00:00

publiceye wrote:
How bout they make it look pretty for both categories of people.

Agreed, but . . .

Is that possible? Is that possible given the projected rents?

I may not be an architect, but it must be possible given some creativity and/or talent. That and taking pride in your trade.

PostNov 25, 2006#1222006-11-25T20:40+00:00

bsharmastl wrote:What are the projected rents? I must have missed the sign indicating that.

Regarding the Days Inn Apartments, there has been a Missouri limited partnership formed (Washington Avenue Apartments, L.P.) and a plan for redevelopment titled "1133 Washington TIF Redevelopment Plan" dated April 30, 2004. This was only a month after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Developer's vision for Day's Inn is an apartment building on March 30, 2004.

That article reported that developer Bill Bruce was buying the Day's Inn at 1133 Washington Avenue and had proposed to give it a whole new exterior and turn the inside into 126 apartments at a cost of about $12 million. The apartments would range in price from $500 to $700 a month.

stldtfan · PostNov 26, 2006#1232006-11-26T00:10+00:00

That would be affordable for low to middle income families. I think some development like that is needed to draw average income families to STL DT.

the central scrutinizer · PostNov 26, 2006#1242006-11-26T23:33+00:00

Looks like they're putting on a new roof too.

matt · PostNov 27, 2006#1252006-11-27T15:17+00:00

$5-700 a month in a major downtown may mean all studio apartments. Does anyone know if the owners plan for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) using HUD money?

I wonder if a greater mix of price points would help make the development more stable?

Negative stigma is a huge factor in markets.

Washington Avenue Apts. (aka Days Inn) - 1133 Washington Ave

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