urbanSTL

Earlier this summer at the "Be A Tourist..." day at Kiener Plaza, I had a fairly long conversation with two representatives of Union Station. They were from Jones Lang LaSalle, the management company. Among the topics of conversation:

* The history of Union Station -- they were very knowledgeable and interested in it. It also seems they regret Amtrak's decision to pull out of the station since there was no possibility of a pass-through rail line.

* The future of Union Station (interior) -- they were excited about the redesign featuring meeting space adjacent the main hall/terminal and said they were getting a strong response in bookings. As far as the existing "businesses" in Union Station, they made it seem like these were doing alright (even as we each lamented the loss of the toy store).

* The future of Union Station (exterior) -- there doesn't appear to be any plans to do anything at all with the trainshed. You've all seen my idea on here for the ferris wheel which is, admittedly, a bit grandiose, yes, but it's an idea at least. I'd like to see something done out there. When asked if it were possible we'd ever see the parking lot removed and given over to something more attractive for the space, the answer was a clear, resounding "No." Which is very unfortunate -- there's no need for that space to be a parking lot. It's an historic trainshed, in a neat downtown location, next to the homes of several popular radio stations. Unless the lot is an historic landmark too, I see no reason to have it, especially with amble parking directly to the west of Union Station.

matguy70 wrote:

* The history of Union Station -- they were very knowledgeable and interested in it. It also seems they regret Amtrak's decision to pull out of the station since there was no possibility of a pass-through rail line.

Interesting response simply because Amtrak left Union Station in 1978 - well before the restoration and reopening in the 1980's. ??? Wierd response.

As for the management company of this building - I would like to see the slum lords out. Period.

The problem is who would do any better? What can you put in there that will convince people stop after visiting City Museum, Arch, Busch Stadium and pay a parking fee to boot? even MX/Convention Center is work in progress and a direct competitor (Relatively speaking a lot more day foot traffic on Wash Ave and the MX developer thinks he is several years away from national chains and a fully developed retail)? and who is going to put in retail/mall when the region is already overbuilt with both malls and boxstores? As far as a train station, that train left a long time ago. The only idea that I think is doable is putting an Ikea under the shed, the one shopping destination that might possibly draw people.

I would actually agree with Alex and the fact that the building is still maintained well considering and has very viable hotel probable makes them better then just "poor managers" Better yet, I think it is a wise decision to emphasize more meeting space. I still think at the end of the day, its what can be done with the empty space surrounding Union Station that will determine its future and the fact that the failed 22nd parkway idea did just as much damage as anything else.

I know next to nothing about U.S., but could the mall space be taken over and reconfigured as office space or something? I know there's vacant office space in the buildings behind US, but...?

Could the hotel take over, gut the whole space and use it for events such as wedding, etc.?

Again, don't know much about the space, haven't actually been in Union Station since the mid 90s. If retail isn't working here, could something else? Some sort of transportation museum, maybe this is the spot for the fabled aquarium

Don't forget Landry's has been there a long time. Yes, it is easy to forget because it is such a forgettable restaurant, but the fact that it has done well there for so long means something. Doesn't it?

mattonarsenal wrote:Don't forget Landry's has been there a long time. Yes, it is easy to forget because it is such a forgettable restaurant, but the fact that it has done well there for so long means something. Doesn't it?

Exactly. Landry's is by no means the best seafood place around, but it's a popular one...and a large part of that is due to the environment in which it exists. The koi pond, the bridge, the trainshed in general -- it's a big draw and a point of interest (and significantly more so than the relatively bland and homegenized Union Station interior (Grand Hall excluded).

Now would Landry's lose business if the rest of the trainshed wasn't a sea of parking, or would it flourish if it became a part of a more active and attractive whole with other businesses, attractions, events, shops, etc.? My guess is that it (and whatever new developments were included) would flourish.

The long-coveted, ethereal St. Louis IKEA should go in Union Station.

I'm only half-way kidding.

Doubt it could work in the current space, but if anything can save Union Station it's true destination retail

Since it's on sale I hope whoever does pick it up will see the potential and bring in some quality retailers. How great would it be with the Union Station back to life with the Peabody up and running, gateway mall, and the arch grounds with a new museum entrance. Those are major if's especially with the economy still in flux.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/prin ... -sold.html

Hopefully the new owner focuses on it and puts forth an effort to make it viable again

I still like the vision of the shed as a paid attraction/wonderland, e.g. the ferris wheel or something. The passing of Cassily makes my think "what would Bob do?" with that space. Secret Gardens, skate park, ferris wheel, the ideas are endless and the space is so large it could accomodate a lot. The trick would be to find something that families would pay admission to. Of course, if it were a successful attraction that would also attract and stabilize business in the interior.

I've always thought Union Station should be converted into a world class youth sports facility. If you have ever been to Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, it could be something like that, but without the outdoor sports facilities. The sports complex would be built in the shed, in parts of the mall, and the surrounding vacant parking areas. With the right programming and booking, you could have hockey, basketball, volleyball, and other tournaments there every weekend (and during the week in the summer). We've shown that Union Station doesn't work very well as a mall, and it isn't much of a train station anymore. Maybe it could work as a massive magnet for youth athletic events on the weekends, drawing thousands of families and their disposable dollars to stl. It would also double as a great workout facility for the residents during the week.

No matter what your opinion of IKEA might be, it's one of the few things that could instantly turn Union Station into a legit "place to go".

Can you imagine the profound disappointment of someone showing up to Union Station under the impression that they were going to a "mall"? Ouch. I've seen the faces.

If IKEA were there other business would follow. There's plenty of parking, it's well set up for unloading/loading, etc. If I was in charge I'd approach IKEA and tell them 'here's the keys...put your store designers to work...have at it and enjoy your free rent for the first year'.

Like Alex noted, it is really going to take a rebuilt 22nd street interchange to get the space and direct freeway access that Ikea would desire. They are simply the ultimate box store or at least every one I have ever seen, literally a big box, sea of parking surronding it and always sited within access of a very busy busy freeway or the interchange of busy freeways.

However, will continue to dream that they change their minds. Pick an urban location under a historic train shed and even dare to suggest that the local metrolink tunnel under the parking under the shed be daylighted so the current station next door to the train shed can move a block to the east and under the shed.

In the meantime, love the soccer under the shed idea or a sports complex as realclear suggests. Get Blues practice out of Mills and under the Shed!! Talk about a great place to have some world class batting cages, etc. and these ideas won't take away or compete with other downtown paid attractions and fight right into Clark street with Scottrade and Busch Stadium.

dredger wrote: In the meantime, love the soccer under the shed.

I still contend that the soccer players may object to posts holding up the roof in he field of play.


Union Station in St. Louis by fallbrowneyes, on Flickr

Have to agree Gary, but would certainly add a twist to the game.

Unfortunately, technically you could engineer a solution but the costs of putting in a support structure, keeping the original shed roof intact and also maintaining a necessary height would be prohibitive relative to most of the MLS stadiums out there nor will any owner give up that kind of cash.

train/transportation museum?
was not that idea banded about some 20+ years ago?
refresh my memory for me

hebeter wrote:train/transportation museum?
was not that idea banded about some 20+ years ago?
refresh my memory for me

If nothing else, it make sense to at least bring in a couple of engines/passenger cars/cabooses from the system's hey-day and line them up under the shed. There are people today who have never ridden nor seen the inside of a train. Add in the unique look and feel (and novelty, really) of riding/dining and sleeping on a train and it's something that warrants a tour and a picture.

Interesting article about US in today's paper. The Opera House may help business there. However it would also help in more businesses and reissues were surrounding the station. It's not a very dense part of downtown.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... e092d.html

Too bad Union Station couldn't land the American Doll store...Chesterfield Mall did. Kids (and probably moreso, their parents) go crazy for these head-scratchingly expensive dolls. Having a guaranteed money maker which people will flock to on the weekends would be a big get for Union Station. [Note that I have no reason to believe Union Station was in the running nor was American Doll considering it.]

Post-Dispatch storyhttp://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 0f31a.html

link: http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine ... /index.php