I'm a little surprised the Pipefitters are selling, but that's a great piece of land. Should suit the zoo well. I look forward to seeing what they do with it.
Stltoday - 50 years in the garden: Horticulturist reflects on decades working (and living) amid MoBot flowers
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metr ... 3f1e3.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metr ... 3f1e3.html
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Anyone know what the Science Center is building? $3m+ permit issued for new building/foundation.
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^ OMFG. i guarantee that parking lot has never, ever been anywhere close to being full.
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Well it seems maybe it's a mystery... the only things I see regarding capital improvements on their website are the parking lot changes and renovation of the IMAX theater including new projector.
The permit is $3.5M for "Construct Commercial Building (Foundation & Structure) Per Plan," which seems like something else.
The permit is $3.5M for "Construct Commercial Building (Foundation & Structure) Per Plan," which seems like something else.
As god is my witness, I never even knew that lot was back there. I just park along Oakland.
Based on the drawing for the parking lot reconstruction, is it possible their expanding the center into the front plaza/current entrance?
Maybe a 1-2 story all glass expansion?
Maybe a 1-2 story all glass expansion?
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I always enter the Science Center through the Planetarium. I've never used another entrance.
Separate question - do we know how the new north county safari zoo is progressing? Any estimate on an opening date for that?
Separate question - do we know how the new north county safari zoo is progressing? Any estimate on an opening date for that?
I’ve known that the Science Center would expand for some time. Cannon Design is the architect. The plans call for a new entrance area and a bit more exposition space to expand the already recent expansion. This parking lot closure is for that project.
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From the most recent article I could find about it:KansasCitian wrote: ↑Oct 09, 2019Separate question - do we know how the new north county safari zoo is progressing? Any estimate on an opening date for that?
Highlighted pertinent parts. Basically, they're still fairly early in the planning phase, so realistically, I can't imagine a full opening till at least 2023, perhaps not even till 2025 or so. These things do take quite some time, unfortunately. Should be a worthwhile result in the end, though, particularly with the improvements/expansion of the Zoo proper.Neighbors of the Saint Louis Zoo's planned expansion into north St. Louis County have a lot of questions - namely, when will cheetahs start chasing gazelles around?
The public learned at Monday night's County Council meeting there's no firm timeline yet. North campus director Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman said they're starting an 18 month process to identify partners and hear from the public. After that, we'll hear a lot more about specific plans for the breeding ground and safari experience.
What animals will tourists see 'in the wild', once the Zoo completes its planned breeding ground and safari experience in Spanish Lake? Antelopes and gazelles were the first listed by Mogerman.
"We're also looking at, unfortunately, our herps, our amphibians, and our reptiles are in trouble in the world and we have expertise there," she explained. "We're looking at the needs in the conservation world and how we can move the needle on particular species."
While some wanted to know what animals would be roaming the grasslands of north county, others were concerned about traffic impacts.
"We will have to do traffic studies to understand the impact and what adjustments we would need to make sure we are good neighbors," Mogerman said, agreeing that many roads around the site have been underwater.
In response to another question at Monday night's town hall meeting, Zoo President and CEO Jeffrey Bonner said the institution will abide by either the county's or city's minority participation requirements for construction workers -- whichever is more stringent.
Bonner noted this will be the first new Zoo in the country since Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom.
St. Louis County voters approved an eighth-of-a-cent sales tax to fund the expansion. Bonner said the Zoo has already hired 12 people to begin planning.
The Zoo purchased the 425-acre complex, which used to be Emerlad Greens Golf Course and other union-owned facilities, in north St. Louis County for $7.1 million.
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I think this should be a pretty great project for the zoo, and let's be honest, for north county as well.
I figured this was going to take a while. The new primate exhibit at the Zoo won't even be open until 2021. This project is much, much larger.
I figured this was going to take a while. The new primate exhibit at the Zoo won't even be open until 2021. This project is much, much larger.
I guess I've never realized the actual location of the expansion, but it definitely makes the controversial "Lighthouse" development more attractive. Outlets and entertainment at the exit could be a decent sales tax and payroll generator for the city, especially considering the city isn't paying anything for the zoo expansion.
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^I never really thought about that, great point! The zoo location is also close to Columbia Bottoms, Confluence point, and Fort Belle Fontaine. My dream would be for someone to finish Bob Cassily's Cementland up there....would be amazing for the area.
Side question: When is the Zoo going to do something with the lot at the old Forest Park hospital? I think it's time the public starts putting pressure on them to get moving on that.
Side question: When is the Zoo going to do something with the lot at the old Forest Park hospital? I think it's time the public starts putting pressure on them to get moving on that.
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Unless the public pressure includes their Board members, they probably don't feel any need to rush. While we on UrbanSTL are (in general) anxious to see developments happen expeditiously, the reality is that it may be years before anything happens. And even then, there's zero guarantee that it will be the grand conceptual plans previously announced.
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I think the Zoo is going to get around to it, but it seems they're focused far more on the North County venture right now, and I don't have a problem with that.
Do they have money to do anything on the Forest Park Hospital site?
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A post dispatch article from 2016 discussed their 25 year master plan. Sounds like they will need pure donor dollars for the hospital site which could be the reason for the feet dragging, while NoCo gets tax money. That said, the hospital site is 14 acres vs. over 400 for NoCo, so you would think the hospital site is an easier project. They purchased the hospital site 7 years ago. I'm not going to accuse them of SLU level land banking, but 7 years is a long time considering that is prime real estate that could easily be developed into something like apartments. If they are going to continue sitting on it for another decade or so, at the very least they should do something with it...soccer fields for kids, etc. It's a bad look right now.
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Keep in mind that acreage does not correlate to complexity or cost - wide open fields for animals to roam in NoCo is not the same as some large construction project that hasn't been completely hashed out as to it's official use. I hear your point on the land being put to better use - but that same argument can be made for pretty much any open / unused lot or building owned by someone in the city.
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It would be nice for them to get in on the Hotel Vacancy rush (if they do really want a hotel there)... but of course cash must come first, lol.
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Perhaps if the Science Center cut down on the number of food concessions they would have to worry about more exhibition space. I went there last week for the first time in a couple of years and was shocked the number of food places they had. Guess it's a good way for them to increase revenue so they can keep paying their executives so much.
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If it is increasing revenues then that would reason that is something the patrons of the establishment want. So you would prefer to see them cater less to their customers?
With all this talk of population, I’ve gotten latched to the idea that the zoo is really failing the City by land banking the old hospital site. It could be a great mixed-use development that could generate millions annually for the city.
I’ve considered attending the next ZMD meeting or writing a letter to mention it (scary, I know).
Has anyone heard of internal progress or next steps that I should be aware of?
I’ve considered attending the next ZMD meeting or writing a letter to mention it (scary, I know).
Has anyone heard of internal progress or next steps that I should be aware of?
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The city (and other gov agencies) has control of a handful of sites around Forest Park that should be developed. That’s a great one though.addxb2 wrote:With all this talk of population, I’ve gotten latched to the idea that the zoo is really failing the City by land banking the old hospital site. It could be a great mixed-use development that could generate millions annually for the city.
I’ve considered attending the next ZMD meeting or writing a letter to mention it (scary, I know).
Has anyone heard of internal progress or next steps that I should be aware of?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Yeah, agreed. I think about that piece of land and what it should be every time I pass it. The would be education center the zoo has planned can go a myriad other places IMO.