Hopefully they follow through with their initial plans and build a free pedestrian bridge for those who would rather not ride the gondola. For me, the more gondolas the better.
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So interesting tidbit i learned at the one public session i was able to attend. Apparently Gondolas are relatively cheap. Apparently a lot of people (myself included) thought it would be better to extend the zoo train to the south campus instead of the gondola which to me seemed gimmicky, but it turns out that the cost to build and operate the gondola is significantly less and a lot fewer ROW issues/coordination with other institutions like MDOT, Forest Park, STL City etc. etc.Does St Louis own a stake in a gondola company or something? I'm not anti-gondola, but why are they showing up in everything now?
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I don't know that extending the railroad would be a good idea anyway. It's a ride, not a transit system; it would be weird to have multiple lines and such.
Forget light rail - I say let's run a North-South Gondola through the city! It could be our version of the El.STLEnginerd wrote:So interesting tidbit i learned at the one public session i was able to attend. Apparently Gondolas are relatively cheap. Apparently a lot of people (myself included) thought it would be better to extend the zoo train to the south campus instead of the gondola which to me seemed gimmicky, but it turns out that the cost to build and operate the gondola is significantly less and a lot fewer ROW issues/coordination with other institutions like MDOT, Forest Park, STL City etc. etc.Does St Louis own a stake in a gondola company or something? I'm not anti-gondola, but why are they showing up in everything now?
-RBB
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From the NBC News piece titled:
Skip the subway, take a ski lift to work instead
"Construction costs for gondolas range between $3 million and $12 million per mile compared to $35 million per mile for surface rail, $132 million per mile for elevated rail and $400 million per mile for subways, according to Frog’s calculations."
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/skip- ... -1B7872322
Skip the subway, take a ski lift to work instead
"Construction costs for gondolas range between $3 million and $12 million per mile compared to $35 million per mile for surface rail, $132 million per mile for elevated rail and $400 million per mile for subways, according to Frog’s calculations."
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/skip- ... -1B7872322
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Demo of the glass building on the east side of the hospital property is in full swing. It will be fun to watch this progress!
Hmmm...I thought they were going to keep that one and use it for office space.
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Looks like demo of the largest buildings is now way underway.
A lot of large scale demolition after driving past Barnes as well. I definitely hope the new construction starts soon after.
A lot of large scale demolition after driving past Barnes as well. I definitely hope the new construction starts soon after.
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I'm confident the hospital will move quickly. I'm less sure about the zoo -- they still seemed to be trying to figure out exactly what they wanted to do last I had heard.
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Isn't this expansion supposed to be like a 30 year thing? What is supposed to be the first actual exhibit here?
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The long-term plan is mostly parking and offices, right? Essentially moving the zoo's south parking lot to the other side of the highway to make space in Forest Park proper.
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So the actual expansion of the exhibits will be in the park where all offices and lots are now?
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Sort of, but more than that. Framework includes boutique hotel, tram and a major new exhibit on the south side, too.
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^ I don't know if the cost is worth it, but I'd love to get something that compares to what they have in Atlanta with the Georgia Aquarium. Chicago has the Shedd Aquarium, which is nice enough, but Atlanta's is on a different level. Would be great to be able to claim the best Aquarium in the midwest and have it as a part of the best zoo in the midwest and the best free zoo in the country (if not the world).
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Man, Forest Park Hospital is quickly coming down and Mercedes quickly going up... a lot of change in that area.
The Zoo is rushing to get things cleared out so they can get surface parking in by Fair Saint Louis and open up the cash register. I can't even imagine how crazy the Fair will be the next few summers.
The Zoo is rushing to get things cleared out so they can get surface parking in by Fair Saint Louis and open up the cash register. I can't even imagine how crazy the Fair will be the next few summers.
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^ are they moving it from downtown to the park this year?
^ yes, due to the arch grounds renovations during the next 2 summers
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Was at Turtle Park this afternoon and did impromptu Earth Day litter clean-up. Wasn't really too familiar with the eastern portion, and I really look forward to seeing what happens with it as part of the Zoo's south campus development and bike lane going in. With a bit more activation/landscaping, this will be really awesome.
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I spoke with a Zoo employee Sunday. Maybe this isn't new info, but I was told that the newly demo'd FP Hospital site, will be turned into a park while the project is being planned. I'm glad they are taking their time and doing it right, but let's hope this does not turn into another BP Village site for years. Once completely cleared and graded, they will plant grass and add other features to the "temporary park". I was hoping that the site would be prepped for construction in phases, immediately. I admit, I have not followed this project that closely since it was announced, but this to me is disappointing. At least when I asked about the gondola, I was told that it is still on the table and there has been a lot of feasibility research done regarding this.
I feel like this will end up (more than likely) being a great project. I guess I'm a bit weary of the whole "temporary park" thing.
I feel like this will end up (more than likely) being a great project. I guess I'm a bit weary of the whole "temporary park" thing.
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^ I believe the relocation of the north offices will begin relatively soon but, yeah, this will be a long-term project. I wonder how Vegas books the gondola race b/w the zoo and Arch. Can't wait to see how it all turns out.
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Plus new zip-lines in various parks. Touching the ground is for lesser cities.roger wyoming II wrote:^ I believe the relocation of the north offices will begin relatively soon but, yeah, this will be a long-term project. I wonder how Vegas books the gondola race b/w the zoo and Arch. Can't wait to see how it all turns out.
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The Zoo put up an attractive sign/marker for the expansion site.... it's the SW corner of Oakland and Hampton but I don't know if they put up any others. The landscaping looks quite nice as well. Hopefully they're coming up with a great plan that will ensure an amazing future.
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The only part about that new nicely landscaped lot that bugs me is that homeless people are using it as a sleeping area. The bushes and benches hide people at night, and it's near the interchange where people beg.