ST. LOUIS | Project Rundown [Archive] - Page 4

Arch City

Dec 12, 2011, 8:56 PM

A major infill project is under development in St. Louis' North Central Corridor.
__________________________

North Sarah, a multi-family, mixed-use development, consists of 120 mixed-income rental units in garden apartments, townhouses, three mixed-use buildings (approx. 7,000 SF of commercial/retail space) and a fourth mixed-use building that includes management/community space (approx. 4,900 SF). This development represents a critical component of the North Central Redevelopment Plan that was developed over several years and completed in 2000 by the City of St. Louis, community stakeholders and residents.

Located in the North Central area of North St. Louis City, North Sarah is anchored by key St. Louis neighborhood assets on its edges, including Grand Center to the east, the Central West End to the west, and nearby Saint Louis University to the south and east. In the community’s core, a number of new civic, educational, commercial and residential developments have created nodes of reinvestment.

http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/success/images/simms5.jpg

http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/success/images/simms4.jpg

http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/success/images/simms2.jpg

http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/success/images/simms3.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6202/6148698723_38303ddc6b_b.jpg
(Source (http://stlexplorer.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/north-sarah-project-is-a-good-role-model/))

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6083557663_1c030ed4ae_b.jpg
(Source (http://stlexplorer.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/north-sarah-project-is-a-good-role-model/))

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6090/6083554961_018d313544_b.jpg
(Source (http://stlexplorer.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/north-sarah-project-is-a-good-role-model/))

goat314

Dec 13, 2011, 12:18 AM

This should definitely be the model for community redevelopment in St. Louis. I was impressed by this and the ONSL redevelopment. We should rebuild neighborhoods that have become urban prairies in this fashion, while redevelop blighted historic areas that can be saved using the ONSL model. St. Louis has so much potential its ridiculous. Imagine how many neighborhood redevelopment projects like this could happen if we ever get that N-S Metrolink line built. Awesome!

Arch City

Jan 2, 2012, 10:25 PM

Below is a compilation video Washington University in St. Louis Medical Center has put out of inspiring plans from three different architectural planning teams for its planned campus expansion. The cost of the expansion is in the neighborhood of $1.2-billion.

In 2013, a new $23-million entry interchange gateway (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2011/05/06/bjc-modot-team-on-23-million.html?page=all) to the medical center, from the I-64 "Healthcare Highway" (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2011/10/14/health-care-highway.html?page=all), is set to begin construction (http://www.gatewaystreets.org/2011/09/modot-set-to-build-tower-grovei-64.html) (rendering). The new interchange is in the final stages of planning by MoDot.

Also, Shriners Hospitals has decided to downsize its planned hospital in St. Louis (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/shriners-scraps-plans-for-new-hospital-in-st-louis/article_01f77149-56fc-5217-9374-9d6279585f53.html), which was to be built at the medical center.

78im5keSHYc

Arch City

Jan 11, 2012, 7:32 PM

St. Louis' Central Library in downtown St. Louis, Missouri is undergoing a major $79-million renovation. The renovation will feature a second park side view from a newly added atrium. A new Locust Street Atrium added to the back of the building leading to the new Center for the Reader, are focal points in opening up Central Library and its collection to the public. The new entrance is one block south of Washington Avenue.

Also coming are a doubling of the amount of space for public use, and new children's and teen sections. The building, which was designed by Cass Gilbert and opened in 1912, will receive a full retrofit of its mechanical and HVAC systems, seismic upgrades, a new 250-seat auditorium, a new cafe, a Center for Readers, an expanded computer facility, an outdoor waterfall as well as major restoration and cleaning. All of this is currently underway with completion expected by the end of 2012.

Check out the progress video.

N5At3e1dMNg

Arch City

Jan 11, 2012, 10:55 PM

Good or bad, depending on one's perspective, St. Louis University (http://www.slu.edu/index.xml) has been an instrumental force (and partner) in the growth of Midtown St. Louis over the years.

A review offered by Countondowntown.com (http://countondowntown.com/2012/01/midtown-st-louis-new-bright-lights/) gives some insight on Midtown Alley's (http://www.midtownalley.com/) happenings. Below, is a photo taken by Countondowntown.com of Midtown buildings recently trimmed in blue neon. Most of the buildings are owned by St. Louis University. The school's colors are blue and white.

http://countondowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Midtownsmall.jpg

I would even suggest that the Midtown Alley (http://www.midtownalley.com/) area of St. Louis wouldn't be taking off if it were not for St. Louis University.

FYI, the Midtown Alley area of Midtown St. Louis traverses along Locust St. from Jefferson Avenue (on the east) to Josephine Baker St. (on the west). In recent years, Midtown Alley has really taken off. And the melding of Midtown Alley (http://www.midtownalley.com/) and Grand Center (also in Midtown and is St. Louis' official theater district) is transforming Midtown St. Louis into hub of new restaurants, lofts, hotels, businesses, club, bars, theaters, media outlets and new residential.

Countondowntown.com (http://countondowntown.com/2012/01/midtown-st-louis-new-bright-lights/) also has a "birds eye" view of some establishments that have popped up in the last few years in the neighborhood.

http://countondowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Midtown-birds-eye.jpg

Arch City

Jan 22, 2012, 11:13 PM

This $10-million modern three-story, 27,000-square-foot building, which is to be home to KWMU (University of Missouri-St. Louis) radio, broke ground last year in the Midtown/Grand Center Arts District. The building is scheduled to be completed this year. The new facility will include work offices, a studio and a small theater for live concert and lecture broadcasts.

In addition to housing the radio station's studios, there will UMSL classroom space and meeting space for community events in the new building.

5Udj-Ojr6xk

8zBKcGCVmFk

http://getfile0.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-06/cvlwCCoaqwlqfixfFgBEeJagmlillExgzsqtChdGbtysxDmfolpxduClxbqj/UMSL_at_Grand_Center_Graphics_Page_2.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-06/xbtDgcdyBlbucngfmaIGwHbkzeaHzleqHaceyzeajvcInGbDgAHsAxzFbheG/UMSL_at_Grand_Center_Graphics_Page_4.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-06/IjfpxuwhykDfDmzBqgedjavkEEHvdEwujrFFrEebEnceedFIJskvvksfoGAG/UMSL_at_Grand_Center_Graphics_Page_5.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

http://getfile6.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-06/jblGscFpwxbtAmbbIgChCkFEqmphbezmetcICFCjidAeFhmDmgABJJFvHnCG/UMSL_at_Grand_Center_Graphics_Page_7.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-04-06/yieEpsyyhGCiffqGADngIFFIvzDGnIJFnEiximoodlrGlabqFixhHHgqhHii/UMSL_at_Grand_Center_Graphics_Page_8.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

IWant2BeInSTL

Jan 23, 2012, 9:42 PM

^ this is a ridiculously awesome project. one question though: what is a "multi-purpose hallway"? how many purposes can a hallway have?

Arch City

Jan 23, 2012, 9:47 PM

^ this is a ridiculously awesome project. one question though: what is a "multi-purpose hallway"? how many purposes can a hallway have?
I don't know, but I think it probably should be multi-purpose "hall".

Arch City

Jan 23, 2012, 10:21 PM

A $25-million historic renovation of this building, which was built in 1912 and is listed on the National register of Historic Places was recently completed. It has 50 affordable loft apartment units for artists and cultural workers.

You can have a painting/drawing studio overlooking Locust Street, which leads to to burgeoning Midtown Alley just west of downtown and Washington Avenue one block north.

F4HvZSqxs0M

http://countondowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CIMG3981-800x600.jpg
Photo, countondowntown.com

http://thumbs.forrent.com/imgs/fr/propertyFiles/782/064/1000/resized/02_132337074404426400800060075000020.jpg

http://thumbs.forrent.com/imgs/fr/propertyFiles/782/064/1000/resized/02_132337139407991940800060075000020.jpg

http://thumbs.forrent.com/imgs/fr/propertyFiles/782/064/1000/resized/08_131316022207993420800060075000020.jpg

http://thumbs.forrent.com/imgs/fr/propertyFiles/782/064/1000/resized/08_131316022209682240800060075000020.jpg

Arch City

Jan 24, 2012, 10:13 PM

SLU is moving its 1,100 student and faculty Law School to downtown St. Louis. This is sure to add more vibrancy in this part of downtown and create a need for more support services and retail. Read more below.

_5x7a-p6NQ0

From KMOV,

"The 11-story, 260,000-square-foot building is in excellent structural condition and features a main lobby, ground-floor auditorium, a secured, enclosed, three-story parking garage and seven large, occupiable floors.

"The interior is essentially a blank canvas, which means that we can develop the flexible, multipurpose, technology-centric spaces we need to support how legal education is being taught today," Clark said. "The needs of our students are always our first priority, and we are confident that this project will have an immediate impact on their education."

The University has engaged the design services of the Lawrence Group Architects and construction services of Clayco Inc. for the project. The target completion date is early August 2012, in time to welcome students for the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year.

“The move of our Law School to downtown St. Louis will be a major highlight of my nearly 25-year tenure as president,” Biondi said. “This is truly a momentous day for Saint Louis University and our School of Law.”

The model of off-campus law schools is found at many of the nation’s finest universities, including Boston College, Fordham University, Georgetown University, Loyola Marymount, Loyola University Chicago and the University of Detroit-Mercy.

Source, KMOV/CBS (http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/01/24/slu-law-school-plans-move-to-downtown-st-louis/)

Arch City

Jan 25, 2012, 4:19 AM

10 recommendations for SLU's new Law School curb appeal:

1. Clean the façade.
2. Add a few vertical LED strips of blue neon trim around the façade for
nighttime enhancement.
3. Blue awnings at street level splashed with alternating Billiken mascot and
"Saint Louis University" identifiers.
4. Lightbox signs with combination SLU LAW/Fleur de Lis symbol on each side
of the building.
5. Light and beautify base level windows.
6. Add ground-in sidewalk trees and planters at street level.
7. "SLU Law" banners on the light poles surrounding the building.
8. Coffee/cafe shop, bookstore visible from the street.
9. Replace entryway canopy and doors.
10. Upgrade sidewalk.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6636523059_9440cf645f_b.jpg
photo, NextSTL.com

Below is an example of an illuminated light box.

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1062/5119112860_e320c916ec_z.jpg

photoLith

Jan 25, 2012, 5:13 AM

IWant2BeInSTL

Jan 25, 2012, 5:30 PM

^
I thought SLU was all anti urban and trying to create a suburban campus downtown or some crap like that. Im confused then, are they trying to create a suburban campus or enhance the city and make it more urban?

SLU's main campus is in Midtown, while the law school is moving downtown. no, they're not intentionally anti-urban (although they have indeed pitched the pastoralness of their campus in at least one commercial that i've seen). as Arch City mentioned in another thread, SLU is an institution working to ensure its future growth and success, and part of that is trying to lure suburban prospectives. in the process they've saved and renovated a good number of historic buildings, but they also have a penchant for razing buildings and land-banking (especially on prominent corners, which they then dress up with grass and fountains), as well as building some very anti-urban new construction with large setbacks and poor siting that prevents anything else from being built nearby. they are not anti-urban, but they are not necessarily operating with an urban sensibility either.

JClarke

Jan 26, 2012, 12:06 PM

So, whats the outlook for downtown? I read that there's tons of vacant office space. Are developers looking to fill that space 1st before we start seeing some skyscrapers built? Is St.Louis studying other major cities with flourishing downtowns, hoping to follow suit? I once read something about a developer named Mcgowan(?) wanting to build a 1000 ft skyscraper, but was waiting for the economy to improve?

photoLith

Jan 26, 2012, 4:30 PM

^
I wouldnt get your hopes up for any new major skyscrapers anytime soon for STL.

stlien

Jan 26, 2012, 5:28 PM

10 recommendations for SLU's new Law School curb appeal:

1. Clean the façade.

By "clean the facade" do you mean "remove the cladding?"

mhays

Jan 27, 2012, 9:03 PM

The law school should think about whether the building's aesthetics and learning/teaching environment should be "ok," or be a real advantage.

I don't have a window fetish, but in this case bigger windows would make the place a lot more livable. That would obviously mean new cladding. But maybe they could do that affordably in zones only, around elevators, central common areas, the library, etc., perhaps in a column or two.

Otherwise, trees. Big ones.

The adjacent parking garage (is this what they're referring to?) might be way too much for a law school. If so, the top level might be converted into a plaza for students, with a lot of planted boxes and a pavilion or two, providing students a variety of open air and covered (or even heated) places to study.

IWant2BeInSTL

Jan 28, 2012, 12:02 AM

^
I wouldnt get your hopes up for any new major skyscrapers anytime soon for STL.

not soon, but there are only a couple of big buildings left to be rehabbed, and so far the residential rehabs have been filling up about as quickly as they come online. office space is another matter, but as the DT population continues to grow i think we'll see new residential construction and a related filling of office space. recently, Teach for America announced plans (financing already secured) to rehab and occupy one of DT's largest buildings, the Jefferson Arms (see earlier in this thread). now SLU law is occupying another big one. it all bodes well for DT.

Arch City

Feb 5, 2012, 9:37 AM

Jefferson Arms may become home for teachers (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/jefferson-arms-may-become-home-for-teachers/article_0cadf24b-93dc-53d9-9631-ad26922f04c5.html#ixzz1lUxxip4S)
By Tim Bryant • November 27, 2011 12:30 am

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6821787509_b3636e3cbb_b.jpg

If all goes as planned, the long-vacant Jefferson Arms will pulse with activity after a $106 million transformation that will convert it to a home for hundreds of young educators and a regional headquarters of Teach for America.

Work could begin next summer if McGowan Brothers Development meets its timetable for getting federal new markets tax credits and other public incentives as part of the financing to renovate what is among downtown's largest empty buildings. Construction would take about 18 months, said Tim McGowan, who runs the company with brothers Bill, Seamus and Sean.

"The plan for the building is pretty much to bring it back to its original form," McGowan said.
Removal of exterior panels installed in the 1950s on the two lower floors and replication of the terra cotta beneath is part of the plan, he said. McGowan Development also plans to restore the two-level lobby atrium, damaged from a leaky roof, and install a rooftop pool.

Key to the project is the agreement by Teach for America to move its St. Louis operation to the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Scott Baier, the organization's executive director in St. Louis, said Teach for America had agreed to occupy 5,000 square feet of space at the rehabbed Jefferson Arms. The agreement includes plans to later increase the space by an additional 6,000 square feet. Baier said Teach for America was outgrowing its current office at 1204 Washington Avenue.

Read more: (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/jefferson-arms-may-become-home-for-teachers/article_0cadf24b-93dc-53d9-9631-ad26922f04c5.html)

Arch City

Feb 5, 2012, 10:11 AM

Progress on the University of Missouri-St. Louis' KWMU media center in the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment district. This $10-million modern three-story, 27,000-square-foot building is scheduled to be completed this year.

The new facility will include work offices, a studio and a small theater for live concert and lecture broadcasts.

In addition to housing the radio station's studios, there will UMSL classroom space and meeting space for community events in the new building.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6751418281_b249cf2fd5_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6751412445_1cfa469c3d_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6751416573_4cb316743a_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6751410687_d43387fdff_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

Arch City

Feb 5, 2012, 11:24 AM

THE METROPOLITAN BUILDING (http://www.metropolitanartistlofts.com) is a 100,000 SF mixed-use historical redevelopment that will feature 72 apartments and work-space oriented towards the Saint Louis artist community. Currently under redevelopment, with an anticipated opening of August 2012.

On the Corner of Grand & Olive, facing Saint Louis University with over 16,000 students, faculty, and staff. This also serves as the entrance to Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District, averaging 1.3 to 1.5 million annual visitors to the many venues like Fox Theater, Powell Symphony Hall, and the Black Repertory Theater.

The Metropolitan Building, 500 N. Grand Blvd., will be similar in that it will be "affordable housing for artists," Huggett said. "This is a complete, gut-rehab," Huggett said. "It's a 100 year-old office building so every single square-inch will get touched."

Plans call for new plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems and masonry restoration on every elevation of the building. The Metropolitan will have underground parking, studio space for various artists, including a dance studio, a painting studio, a number of sound recording studios, a clay studio, an exercise room and a community space.

"There are over 500 windows in this building and we're taking advantage of every single one of them," Huggett said. "We're thrilled about that fact."

Read more: here (http://www.westendword.com/Articles-Area-News-c-2011-11-15-177823.114137-Artists-Lofts-Planned-For-Metropolitan-Building.html), here (http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/article_93910a70-acdb-11e0-88e9-0019bb30f31a.html) and here (http://www.schlaflycorporation.com/properties/metropolitian-building.html).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6751422143_616c325503_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6115/6342573287_0e1eae9a94_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6182/6046930839_8dcc3f1142_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6194/6046929965_747be8558b_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6087/6067051819_438413331f_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6751414521_5446db7ee8_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

Arch City

Feb 5, 2012, 12:37 PM

The 27-story Council Tower in Midtown - including its unique exterior sculpture - are undergoing a $40-million renovation with new windows, HVAC, appliances, fixtures, carpeting etc, etc. Window A/C units are no longer and the building has a shinier glimmer with the new windows minus the a/c units (http://stlouispatina.blogspot.com/2012/01/council-tower-brick-mural-nearing.html). The east-facing brick facade and sculpture have been fully replaced, and the sculpture will be lit with special lighting designed by H.O.K. The building has 225 apartments for seniors.
________________________________________

Craftsmen recreate crumbling sculpture (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/craftsmen-recreate-crumbling-sculpture/article_8b61dcc2-4230-11e1-93d4-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1lVVNzKgi)
BY TIM BRYANT •
St. Louis Post-Dispatch| Friday, January 20, 2012 12:00 am

For years, motorists streaming west on Interstate 64 watched the slow disintegration of a huge sculpture carved into the brick facade of the Council Tower in midtown St. Louis.

Bricks began falling off the east side the building in 2007. Decay of the bricks' anchors was so severe that workers later had to remove the entire facade, exposing the concrete beneath.

Now, craftsmen are nearly done with a painstaking recreation of the sculpture on the building at Interstate 64 and Forest Park Avenue west of downtown. The work is part of a $40 million renovation of the low-income senior housing facility.

Where more than 40 years ago workers used hammers and chisels, craftsmen now are employing the latest battery-powered grinders and drills to replicate the 260-foot sculpture.

Read more (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/craftsmen-recreate-crumbling-sculpture/article_8b61dcc2-4230-11e1-93d4-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1lVVNzKgi)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6822364361_890f5cee4a_b.jpg

goat314

Feb 5, 2012, 7:23 PM

IWant2BeInSTL

Feb 5, 2012, 7:32 PM

I just got chills!

"Work could begin next summer if McGowan Brothers Development meets its timetable for getting federal new markets tax credits and other public incentives..."

I thought I read somewhere that the financing had been worked out already... oh, well. hopefully everything will stay on schedule.

Arch City

Feb 6, 2012, 4:41 PM

New blue signage markers as well as new sidewalks being installed around Grand Center.

_______________________________

From Grand Center, Inc. (http://www.grandcenter.org/)
News: We're Black & Blue All Over (http://www.grandcenter.org/news/grand-center-news/2011/11/01/art-and-life-november-2011/)

"Another big step in the process to unify the look of the district comes this November/December. Each of the existing green street signs will be replaced with signs that incorporate our signature black and blue colors branded with the words "Grand Center." The funding for this project came through the AARA federal funds that were awarded last year which also are providing the new sidewalks along Grand Blvd."

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6751431887_d7b509958f_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6751378171_26891ba7a0_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6751378807_c4f61d01d5_b.jpg
photo by pasa, flickr.com

Arch City

Feb 6, 2012, 5:17 PM

So many awesome projects going on in the Central Corridor of St. Louis City. It looks like we are almost done rehabbing the most prominent, big buildings. How much longer before we see some infill development? The spaces between Downtown and Midtown need to be filled.
Hopefully, new infill will start again as soon as the economy improves. There are tell-tale signs the economy is moving in the right direction. In St. Louis, where once stalled projects like the Jefferson Arms and Chemical buildings had big renovation plans prior to the recession, those buildings are now seeing new redevelopment plans.

Many once stalled projects are starting again and new ones are being planned across the country.

photoLith

Feb 6, 2012, 5:23 PM

goat314

Feb 6, 2012, 11:34 PM

Wow, tons of restorations going on for DT STL. I wish the same was happening here in Houston for our downtown. There are a lot of vacant early 20th century buildings in downtown Houston and each one has had plans for restorations, but they always seem to fall through at the last second.

I think what helped St. Louis is the state historic tax credits. A lot of these buildings would have been bulldozed or sitting empty if we didn't have it. St. Louis has some incredible Early 20th Century and Late 19th Century warehouses in the urban core that have made great loft and apartment converts. Sometimes I'm glad St. Louis hasn't experienced the population growth a city like Houston has, because a lot of these beautiful brick buildings would have been razed for generic glass towers. Although I must admit that St. Louis could use some glass towers on the empty lots downtown. I think St. Louis could see a mini hi-rise boom this decade when the remaining buildings downtown get rehabbed.

Arch City

Feb 7, 2012, 3:58 AM

St. Louis tries new approach in museum expansion (http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-us-art-stlouistre8151ft-20120206,0,5191191.story)
Bruce Olson
Reuters
10:53 a.m. CST, February 6, 2012

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - The St. Louis Art Museum is rearranging galleries by theme rather than time period, seeking to make them more accessible to visitors as part of a $162 million expansion.

Galleries that once covered the 18th Century, for example, now focus on "The Modern Body" with nudes from different eras, or "The American Scene."

It's an approach already in use at the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum and the Cincinnati Art Museum, as more museums try to connect art to visitors' personal experience, said Robin Cembalest, executive editor of ARTnews.

"Themes like food and eating or similar approaches are a way to get into other cultures or past culture so we see the commonalities with our own daily lives," Cembalest said.

So far, 18 galleries with 275 works have been installed with three more to go at the St. Louis Art Museum, which has one of the most comprehensive collections in the U.S. Midwest.

The redesign started in November and will be completed in March. A similar thematic approach will be followed in a new building, which will be completed next year and feature art produced after 1950.

"We have created some thought-provoking juxtapositions in the museum, bringing a real coherence to the displays that should be make them more accessible," curator Simon Kelly said.

"People are happy with the new way," Kelly said. "This is a work in progress and we will continue this approach throughout the new building."

One gallery in the original building is now devoted entirely to the works of German artist Max Beckmann. With 430 paintings, prints and drawings, the St. Louis Art Museum claims the largest Beckmann collection in the world.

Source: Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-us-art-stlouistre8151ft-20120206,0,5191191.story)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Below are images of progress the St. Louis Art Museum is making.

http://www.slam.org/images/expansion/indexBanner.jpg
This rendering shows the new expansion in the rear of original museum. The new expansion essentially wraps around the original Gilbert Cass structure.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6522697951_a7168212e4_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6689988047_53fcf63ae6_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6689970271_0c6f52f336_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6522691857_d55062e126_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6689974177_a81e5d169b_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6522696609_95c8ca53e4_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6522686629_108e5d6ddd_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6522710097_368d0f3c9d_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6522682907_3bcf610760_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6689967257_05615c76c3_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6689964393_e5f8fd45df_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6689960753_2e54fd953b_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6689959621_4250db7383_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6689955007_67188e6cc8_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6522710097_368d0f3c9d_b.jpg

Arch City

Feb 13, 2012, 7:45 AM

Another rehab for Downtown West.

_____________________________

Locust Street building to get a redo (http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/article_79833bb4-775f-11e0-bf76-001a4bcf6878.html)
BY TIM BRYANT | Posted: Thursday, May 5, 2011 4:31 pm
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

http://www.postlets.com/create/photos/20110627/143644_2200_Locust_Main.jpghttp://www.postlets.com/create/photos/20110627/143645_2200_Locust_Angle.jpg
2200 Locust, West Downtown St. Louis

The five-story building at 2200 Locust Street is about to get a makeover.

Paramount Property Development, the new owner, plans to restore the building's 1916 street view by taking down the panels that block the ground-floor windows. It's part of the project to return the building to a mixture of retail and office tenants.

Realty Exchange Commercial Group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Uq7OtX9Ig&feature=youtu.be) handled the purchase for Paramount Property and will market the building, which is just west of the Schlafly Tap Room near the western edge of downtown St. Louis. For now, the building is only 40 percent occupied.

Perfume maker Lacassian Laboratories was the building's first occupant. National Chair and Furniture Co. was in the building for three decades. City records show that DeWoskin Properties Corp. owned the building before Paramount Property.

Building Information (http://www.postlets.com/rts/5793644)

IWant2BeInSTL

Feb 14, 2012, 2:39 AM

is this rehab finished? in progress? the article is from May of last year... and the "building information" link advertises $0/month. just wondering if you know.

Arch City

Feb 18, 2012, 12:06 AM

Recent articles about the National Blues Museum.

Chicago Tribune: Blues museum planned for St. Louis riverfront (http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-us-blues-museumtre81c120-20120213,0,3149155.story)

Toronto Sun: St. Louis riverfront getting a bit more blue (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/13/st-louis-riverfront-getting-a-bit-more-blue)

The Huffington Post: First National Blues Museum Set To Open In St. Louis (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/first-national-blues-museum_n_1280081.html)

Sound Spike: National Blues Museum takes shape in St. Louis (http://www.soundspike.com/story/3819/national-blues-museum-takes-shape-in-st-louis/)

Arch City

Feb 26, 2012, 10:49 PM

A suburban St. Louis Fiat dealership (http://fiat.fusz.com/) is planning to open a Fiat showroom in downtown St. Louis. While it's not a full dealership, hopefully this Fiat showroom storefront will help to increase pedestrian activity along Locust Street. This is the first car sales presence in downtown St. Louis in over a decade.

Read about the Fiat showroom's plans for this building here (http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/a-fiat-showroom-to-open-downtown/article_b8861ce8-3c83-11e1-a713-001a4bcf6878.html) and here (http://www.nextstl.com/downtown/fiat-to-open-dealership-in-downtown-st-louis).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6786629428_276a82071f_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7049/6932745609_df034cabfa_b.jpg

Arch City

Feb 27, 2012, 12:14 AM

Another old and empty building is renovated and brought back to life in downtown St. Louis.

The old Stix, Baer and Fuller department store building (last operated as a Dillard's) opened in downtown St. Louis on Washington Avenue last October 2011. It is a part of the newly formed Mercantile Exchange District (MX) (http://www.mxstl.com/), which anchors Washington Avenue. A new 212-room Embassy Suites and The Laurel Apartments, with 205-units are located in the building. The opening of the National Blues Museum is planned for the building in 2013 or 2014.

Read more and see more photos here (http://countondowntown.com/2011/10/embassy-suites-opens-on-washington/).

New retail such as a movie theater, an upscale Pi Pizzeria (http://www.restaurantpi.com/)(see rendering (http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6227/6264195898_81f90c4543_b.jpg)) and a wine bar are already committed for the MX District. More retail is certain to come. Recently, St. Louis held one of its Soulard Mardi Gras parades on Washington Avenue - it is the only nighttime parade in downtown St. Louis.

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100232/Embassy%20Suites%20St%20Louis%20Grand%20Opening%20148/web.jpg?ver=13179232750001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100232/Embassy%20Suites%20St%20Louis%20Grand%20Opening%20149/web.jpg?ver=13179233040001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100232/Embassy%20Suites%20St%20Louis%20Grand%20Opening%20151/web.jpg?ver=13179233740001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0308/web.jpg?ver=13299334270001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0307/web.jpg?ver=13299334180001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0320/web.jpg?ver=13299334030001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0302/web.jpg?ver=13299334090001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0310/web.jpg?ver=13299333490001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0311/web.jpg?ver=13299333630001

http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley/100295/IMG_0312/web.jpg?ver=13299333760001

Photo Source (http://gallery.me.com/mack.bradley#gallery)

goat314

Feb 27, 2012, 12:35 AM

Wow! This building looks great. Cannot wait until other projects break ground. Mainly the Jefferson Arms and Chemical Building.

Arch City

Mar 2, 2012, 3:16 AM

u1fwlQJ1b4I

Above time lapse video is from December 2011.

After nearly two years of Brownfield cleanup and restoration into new industrial and office uses, Chouteau Crossing, a $22 million redevelopment located on Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis' central industrial valley, is nearly complete. The former big behemoth eyesore has been renovated resulting in the alleviation of a big dead zone as well as a big stretch of decay on one of St. Louis' major east/west arteries. There are two buildings in the 130,000 square-foot industrial/office complex, which were the former homes to Missouri Boiler and Nooter Corporation. The project received help from Missouri Brownfield and Business Energy Investment tax credits. The site had been vacant for the last 13 years.

The developer, Green Street Properties (http://www.greenstreetstl.com/developments.cfm?id=2) of Clayton, Missouri, included environmentally friendly features in the development.

-Roof rain water collection/irrigation cistern system
-Solar voltaic panels
-Wind turbines,
-Geothermal systems
-Solar domestic hot water systems

Dyna Labs, Inc. (http://dynalabs.us), a fast growing (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/05/10/story10.html?page=all) St. Louis-based biotech firm, will occupy 23,696 square feet of the 33,445 square foot Building #1 and Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 will occupy the full 96,023 square feet of Building #2. Dyna Labs, Inc.'s space is LEED Registered, tracking for Certified while the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 building is LEED Registered, tracking for Platinum.

Read & See More:
Groundbreaking ceremony photos (http://www.sheetmetal36.org/EnewsGroundbreakingCeremony.html)
Source #1 (http://stlresociety.com/2589/chouteau-crossing/)
Source #2 (http://www.jetsongreen.com/2009/03/st-louis-chouteau-crossing-tracking-leed-platinum-overhaul.html)
Inc. 5000: Dyna Labs, Inc. (http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/dynalabs)

What a transformation! Here's how the site looked before the clean-up and redevelopment.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6799129914_e6975a9a52_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6945241445_5f67028539_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6945241419_f1e93f6270_b.jpg

Arch City

Mar 2, 2012, 8:09 PM

There are urban farms all around St. Louis City, but this has be the most diversified urban farm concept to date - probably in the country.

FarmWorks-St. Louis (http://farmworksstl.com/), a $14-million urban farm, aquaponics facility and residential housing, is under construction on the North Riverfront Industrial area - just south of the New Mississippi River Bridge, which is also under construction.

FarmWorks-St. Louis is one of the latest urban farms to rise in inner city areas across America. The difference with this concept is the fish farm (aquaponics facility) and residential housing that will be a part of the project.

From the FarmWorks website:

"The urban farm component is modeled on innovative and successful urban agricultural programs in other cities. The farm at FarmWorks, which includes indoor and outdoor growing space, will provide a sustainable, highly efficient process for producing greenhouse-grown produce and tank-grown fish for commercial sale. A portion of the old warehouse will be transformed into a large greenhouse, featuring aquaponics, vertical growing, and vermiculture."

Other Reading
Source #1 (http://uicstl.com/?p=165)
Source #2 (http://growworks.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/exploded.jpg)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The Stamping Lofts (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/wind-damages-old-factory-under-renovation-as-apartments/article_7d370900-63ec-11e1-80c3-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1nzVZGJnM)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Five questions with Dorothée Imbert (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/five-questions-with-doroth-e-imbert/article_7c91388e-51a1-11e1-a105-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1lzXc8f2k)
St. Louis Business Journal: Work begins on $9.8 million Stamping Lofts project (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2012/03/01/work-begins-on-98-million-stamping.html)

http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/November-2011/More-from-St-Louis-Best-and-Brightest/heller-2.jpg

http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/November-2011/More-from-St-Louis-Best-and-Brightest/heller-1.jpg

http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/November-2011/More-from-St-Louis-Best-and-Brightest/heller-3.jpg

http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/November-2011/More-from-St-Louis-Best-and-Brightest/heller-4.jpg

Arch City

Mar 3, 2012, 6:16 AM

CORTEX embarks on growth project (http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/cortex-embarks-on-growth-projects/article_17e6f3aa-4d29-11e1-844d-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1o1Jx8YfI)s
BY TIM BRYANT
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Friday, February 3, 2012

CORTEX (http://www.cortexstl.com/) life-sciences campus' big expansion in the Central West End will include a public plaza and perhaps a new MetroLink station.

Final agreements on projects totaling $140 million should be reached by March with construction soon afterward, said Dennis Lower, president of CORTEX. The projects will double its office and lab space to about 800,000 square feet.

"It's all coming along in nice fashion," he said.

The work will represent the second phase of development at CORTEX, which stands for the Center of Research, Technology and Entrepreneurial Exchange. It is a nonprofit venture by area universities, BJC HealthCare (http://www.bjc.org/) and the Missouri Botanical Garden. The long-range goal is to turn 240 acres of small factories and warehouses into a bustling hub for medical research.

Its first phase, which includes a lab building on Forest Park Avenue and the headquarters of plant science firm Solae Corp., is almost fully occupied. CORTEX plans to develop labs and offices in a rehabbed industrial building and a new 200,000-square-foot building. Most of the space is already committed to BJC and Wexford Science and Technology (http://wexfordequities.com/) - a Baltimore-based developer of science labs.

Wexford will rehab for 10 to 15 tenants a plant Western Electric built on Duncan Avenue in 1947 to produce telephones. BJC is designing a 200,000-square-foot building to be built at Boyle and Clayton avenues. June Fowler, BJC's vice president of communication, said construction will begin this year.
Lower said completion of the BJC building is scheduled for the summer of 2013 with the Wexford project to be ready that fall.

Read more: Source (http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/cortex-embarks-on-growth-projects/article_17e6f3aa-4d29-11e1-844d-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1o1Jx8YfI)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6821591755_c11d2c2ee0_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6821591843_f79e322569_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6821591953_1cf8ec29ed_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6821592397_0321c69ed3_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6821592129_b85f1e86ac_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6821592275_e41d137784_b.jpg

Arch City

Mar 11, 2012, 12:24 PM

Here are a couple of videos pertaining to the MX (Mercantile Exchange District) that will anchor the eastern end of Washington Avenue along with LaClede's Landing (kind of sorta). Read a snippet here (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2012/03/09/mx-project-reboots-once-vacant.html) about the $250-million dollar project, which will include a 150-seat performance hall for the 6th Street Theater (http://www.mxstl.com/about-the-mx/entertainment/6th-street-theater), three movie theaters, wine bar etc.

The build-out of the flagship Pi Pizzeria is under way.

nWUaaqbD8Ss

And here's a video street tour - prepared by the MX District - via Google Street View, of the MX District's potential identifier signage area.

zh9MAyKub8Y

Arch City

Mar 12, 2012, 3:41 PM

Kingsland Walk (http://www.metropolitan-development.com/KingslandWalk.php) is a $35-million mixed-use (residential / live-work / retail / commercial) development planned to break ground in 2012 and is adjacent to Metcalfe Park in suburban University City- in the Delmar Loop area. The project will feature abundant "green-screened" on-site parking, a community pool, and fitness center.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6830082502_1cafda927f_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6830082574_2094184609_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6830187716_d21cdc8141_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6976207611_277c21046e_b.jpg

Arch City

Mar 13, 2012, 11:45 PM

Barnes-Jewish touts new outpatient center
BY BLYTHE BERNHARD
Thursday, March 8, 2012 12:05 am

Several outpatient clinics at Barnes-Jewish Hospital are set to open Tuesday along with administrative office space in a new 12-story building at Forest Park and Euclid avenues.

Construction on the $98.5 million Barnes-Jewish Center for Outpatient Health started in 2009.

Three of the floors will house the hospital's primary care, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, wound care and specialty care clinics, which were previously situated in older buildings on the Washington University medical school campus.

Specialists seeing patients in the building will include dermatologists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, urologists, and ear, nose and throat doctors. Patients can receive biopsies and other minor surgical procedures and have X-rays taken in the new clinic space.

Most of the patients expected to visit the clinics will qualify for Medicaid, a government health insurance program for people who meet low-income requirements. The hospital's clinics host more than 90,000 such patient visits in an average year. (Source (http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/fitness/barnes-jewish-touts-new-outpatient-center/article_82448b63-daa5-5dea-920a-04e7efa3edb1.html#ixzz1p2lNbiXP))

hKJssjB3wGk

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/e4/5e4477cb-3b35-517a-8693-1ebaa55ebbfb/4f5697100d692.image.jpg

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/stlamerican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/db/edb219a4-6897-11e1-9d9b-0019bb2963f4/4f57cbd399ebe.image.jpg

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/stlamerican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/bc/3bcce2ea-6898-11e1-9059-0019bb2963f4/4f57cc2e0c6ba.image.jpg

IWant2BeInSTL

Mar 14, 2012, 12:45 AM

^ i just wish it weren't so ugly. their color "palette" (i.e. tan or beige or whatever that is) is pretty abominable.

Arch City

Mar 14, 2012, 5:18 AM

^ i just wish it weren't so ugly. their color "palette" (i.e. tan or beige or whatever that is) is pretty abominable.
I don't think the color is bad at all. I feel that St. Louis needs brighter colors and a higher percentage of glass on its new buildings to offset all of the red brick.

I personally think design might be a little too simple and flat; and unfortunately it seeks to be uniform with all of the other newer buildings at the medical center......so in that respect....it is getting old. New, but uninteresting. New, but utilitarian. But as you see in the video.....all of the "older" people are very satisfied with it. I give it a "C".

However, if you look at Washington University's Danforth campus....it too is uniform with all of the new collegiate gothic architecture mixing with the old collegiate gothic. I guess Washington University likes to be consistent. I hope The Loop development is a lot more modern and avant-garde.

IWant2BeInSTL

Mar 14, 2012, 5:22 PM

I don't think the color is bad at all. I feel that St. Louis needs brighter colors and a higher percentage of glass on its new buildings to offset all of the red brick.

I personally think design might be a little too simple and flat; and unfortunately it seeks to be uniform with all of the other newer buildings at the medical center......so in that respect....it is getting old. New, but uninteresting. New, but utilitarian. But as you see in the video.....all of the "older" people are very satisfied with it. I give it a "C".

However, if you look at Washington University's Danforth campus....it too is uniform with all of the new collegiate gothic architecture mixing with the old collegiate gothic. I guess Washington University likes to be consistent. I hope The Loop development is a lot more modern and avant-garde.

yeah, i do agree that STL could use some brighter colors. i guess i just don't like the particular color they've chosen to run with. i do like glass as well, but i like a balance between flat surfaces and decorated ones. too many modern buildings, IMHO, are comprised of large, flat, featureless surfaces that lack texture and detail, making them uninteresting (to me, anyway). so, agreed about the "simple and flat" part. at least the ground-level retail section is an improvement over that of the Ettrick building in terms of function (although i still think the Ettrick was a far cry more attractive). I don't mind uniform architecture (a la Wash. U.) so long as it's quality, and Wash. U's new construction recreates the materials, textures, details and decorations on the older gothic buildings quite convincingly i think.

Arch City

Mar 16, 2012, 8:56 PM

(See perspectives below)

Washington University investing $80 million to develop apartment complex on the Loop (http://www.studlife.com/news/facilities-and-construction/2012/03/08/washington-university-investing-80-million-to-develop-apartment-complex-on-the-loop/)
March 8, 2012
Michelle Merlin | Editor-in-Chief | Student Life

Washington University is proposing an $80 million plan to build apartments with storefronts on the Delmar Loop and Eastgate Avenue.

The project is a culmination of years of research with Loop businesses indicating that the area could support more retail and residential development.

Members of Residential Life hope that the added apartments—expected to house around 550 students by the time the project is finished—will help congestion in the housing system, as well as create a new space for students to spend time.

“As undergraduate enrollment has increased slightly and is predicted to continue to do so, we’re trying to get ahead. This development is trying to meet the needs we’ll have in a couple years for students,” Associate Vice Chancellor for Students and Dean of Students Justin Carroll said.

There will be three new apartment buildings of 200 units, all a mix of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom spaces. Tentative plans for an underground parking garage are included, although the administration hopes that students choosing to live there will bike or walk to campus.

The first phase of the project is slated to start in January 2013, with occupancy starting in August 2014.

The plan is based on the results of two neighborhood studies, the Parkview Gardens Sustainability Plan and the Delmar Loop Area Retail Plan & Development Strategy, as well as an extensive Residential Life survey sent out a year ago.

The University also hopes to create a living space for students in which they can be more integrated into the community.

“We want to create a vibrant residential community for upperclassmen students that’s exciting, a destination and a place people want to go, so all the amenities need to be there to encourage that to take place” Carroll said.

The location is currently owned by Washington University and includes the U Terrace apartments—another off-campus housing complex owned by Residential Life that holds 56 students—and an adjacent empty lot.

“That site became very positive because we know that City wants more density in their neighborhoods, and a retail study indicated that corner on is an important tooth to fill in on the pedestrian street,” Cheryl Adelstein, the University’s director of community relations and local government affairs, said.

The tentative plans include at least 20,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The University hired HR&A Advisors to start recruiting businesses to the area, including a grocery store, pharmacy and others.

([U]Source (http://www.studlife.com/news/facilities-and-construction/2012/03/08/washington-university-investing-80-million-to-develop-apartment-complex-on-the-loop/))

Other Reading:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Washington University plans $80 million Loop project (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/washington-university-plans-million-loop-project/article_71474350-5f0d-11e1-ad6c-0019bb30f31a.html)
St. Louis Business Journal: Washington University plans $80 million Loop rehab project (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2012/02/washington-university-plans-80.html)
Student Housing Business: Washington University Plans $80 Million Loop Project (http://www.studenthousingbusiness.com/latest-news/1923-washington-university-plans-80-million-loop-plan-student-housing.html)

_______________________________________________

Here are different perspectives, but not the final renderings.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6830286680_c50320af72_z.jpg
Before

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6830286758_e4ef0ee4d0_z.jpg
After

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6830286520_8dd3f78735_z.jpg
Before

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6830286598_8705686c47_z.jpg
After

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6830286368_9a55975086_z.jpg
Before

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6976410867_9995f7d15f_z.jpg
After

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/6830286220_ea4ae646f7_z.jpg
Before

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6830286288_0127b80b7d_z.jpg
After

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6976410623_3697997642_z.jpg

Arch City

Mar 18, 2012, 6:17 PM

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6847531786_1ba629ef15_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6993608425_3f2b2522bd_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6847486034_af2c56a90f_z.jpg

Drury Hotels have the green light from the Chesterfield planning commission to start construction of an eight-story 145-room Hyatt Place hotel, next to the existing Drury Plaza hotel.

Zoning passed in 2011 amended the requirements for the number of hotel rooms, and landscape requirements. Monday night, the planning commission unanimously passed the site plan.

According to the approved site plan, traffic will enter the new hotel off Chesterfield Center East. Parking for the two hotels and the restaurant will be shared. An expansion of the parking lot is planned.

Of the 24 existing trees, 11 of the larger ones will be moved or relocated. No other changes will be made to the landscaping. This meets all of Chesterfield's requirements.

There are two more approvals yet to do, according to Chesterfield senior planner Shawn Seymour. Both are at the staff level. One is improvement plans, which is grading, and the other one will be municipal zoning approval, which will allow them to get building permits.

Seymour said he doesn't know when they plan on breaking ground.

According to a St. Louis Business Business Journal article, the 1.05-acre site is valued at $1 million. It is owned by Drury, and was part of the plan when the initial 274-room Drury Plaza Hotel was built.

Read more here (http://chesterfield.patch.com/articles/hyatt-place-given-thumbs-up) and here (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2011/09/02/hyatt-place-hotel-to-be-built-in.html).

Arch City

Mar 31, 2012, 4:48 AM

$6.5-million project, at 400 Washington Avenue called Gallery 400 Apartments, will include 78 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in an historic building near the MX District, which is under construction in phases. Read more here (http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/new-owner-putting-apartments-in-former-roberts-building/article_915c6bc0-785d-11e1-812c-001a4bcf6878.html).

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/427397_353817187985404_222793931087731_1131970_1916834904_n.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7031076509_b8bb46b9f0_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6884978982_70b152f6ec_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7031076549_248e5206f0_b.jpg

IWant2BeInSTL

Mar 31, 2012, 5:25 PM

awesome. the more people living downtown the better. hopefully the other two soon-to-be-or-maybe-already-foreclosed-upon roberts-owned buildings on locust will follow shortly.

Arch City

Mar 31, 2012, 10:23 PM

awesome. the more people living downtown the better. hopefully the other two soon-to-be-or-maybe-already-foreclosed-upon roberts-owned buildings on locust will follow shortly.
That's odd. I think you might be jumping the gun a bit. There are no foreclosures that are even imminent yet.

On top of that, they sold that building on Washington Avenue to the current developer. Additionally, they are trying to sell a few of their buildings on Locust St. where a new Hotel Indigo was supposed to go until the economy tanked. Those buildings are up for sale now. Read about it here (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2011/09/06/roberts-selling-3-downtown-st-louis.html).

Liens - for nonpayment of taxes - have been placed on hotels they own by the State of Missouri - but they have a while before foreclosure. All they owe is $212,000 on those, so I doubt foreclosure will take place. Missouri will shut them down temporarily until they pay though. Nonetheless, they are paying down tax debts according to recent articles.

Read here (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2011/12/30/despite-back-taxes-roberts-seeks-37.html) and here (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2012/03/despite-payments-roberts-brothers.html).

They owe the city taxes too, but I don't know if the city has even placed liens on the properties yet. The Roberts Brothers own too much real estate -especially hotels and broadcast entities - that they could sell off before foreclosures would happen.

IWant2BeInSTL

Mar 31, 2012, 11:42 PM

ah, thanks for the correction and links. i was pretty much talking out of my butt - i thought i had skimmed something somewhere that mentioned some Roberts real estate in foreclosure. i've got nothing against them. it seems they're in over their heads lately, but i think they've been good for the city.

RBB

Apr 4, 2012, 6:40 PM

The Roberts Brothers seem to suffer from some sort of developer version of ADD - they're all like 'ooh, let's run a hotel downtown'. Then 'ooh, let's refurb a theater'. Then 'ooh ooh, new modern tower downtown, let's do that!'

In the meantime whatever they were working on before, finished or not, is left to rot and employees may or not be paid as they focus on the next shiny thing.

-RBB

RBB

Apr 4, 2012, 8:07 PM

Also: Bank of America Sues Roberts Brothers for $34M (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/bank-of-america-sues-roberts-brothers-for-million/article_e302fc6e-7e61-11e1-968e-0019bb30f31a.html)

The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges the Roberts brothers owe Bank of America $34.28 million in principal and $376,049 in interest on a loan made in 2007 connected to hotels in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Shreveport, La., Spartanburg, S.C. and Tampa.

-RBB

Arch City

Apr 4, 2012, 9:06 PM

I agree, their holdings portfolio is schizophrenic. It's all over the place. I think they bit off more than they could chew. The economy also hit the hotel industry hard. I also believe they haven't had the level of support expertise (advisors, accountants etc.) in place to help manage all of their business ventures. Family and friends don't always cut it.

I guarantee you, there was no one in place to tell them, "No". And if there was someone......they obviously didn't listen.

It's so unfortunate.

Anyway, I believe they could fetch/recoup all of what they owe off their real estate portfolio.

Roberts Tower alone has to be worth at least $35-50-million. They should sell it and the Mayfair, I think.

stlien

Apr 6, 2012, 5:04 AM

Depending on the markets their other hotels are in, they could probably make more if they were to sell those instead of the St. Louis hotels.

Arch City

Apr 9, 2012, 8:43 AM

The historic Missouri Pacific Railroad building in downtown St. Louis has been converted into a $135-million mixed-use development. Renamed Park-Pacific (http://www.liveparkpacific.com/), it has been renovated into the largest single apartment building in downtown St. Louis with 230 apartments, commercial space, and a private garage with retail space.

It is in walking distance of the new Citygarden sculpture park, Peabody Opera House, Washington Avenue, Metrolink stations and the soon-to-be opened later this year, renovated St. Louis Central Public Library.

Between May 2011 and March 2012, there was a 600% increase in the number of leases signed for the Park-Pacific project. At the grand opening in 2011, only 20 leases had been signed. Today, more than 140 leases have been signed, which amounts to an average of 12-signed leases a month over a 10-month period. The 230-unit building is the largest single apartment building in downtown St. Louis.

Marketing and communications firm Creative Producers Group + Companies (CPG + Cos) moved in early this year, taking 23,000 square feet on the second floor of the building, located at Olive Street and Tucker Boulevard. Michael Taylor, CPG’s marketing and business development manager, said the company outgrew its 13,600-square-foot offices in the Central West End, where it was based for 25 years. The new space has a TV/production studio, three editing suites, a photo studio and an audio production suite.

Source #1 (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2011/05/steve-smith-park-pacific-hasnt-been.html)
Source #2 (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2012/03/09/park-pacific-building-lands-first.html)
Source #3 (http://assets.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/parkpacificpool.jpg?v=1)
Source #4 (http://assets.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/parkpacificlivingroom.jpg?v=1)
Source #5 (http://assets.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/parkpacificopening5.jpg?v=1)

http://dlnstl.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Park-Pacific.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5583780969_5b0ece7f7e_z.jpg
photo from nextstl.com

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5584370838_fd8cca7818_z.jpg
photo from nextstl.com

Austinlee

Apr 9, 2012, 8:04 PM

Arch City

Apr 10, 2012, 5:08 AM

A premium outlet mall war is going on in St. Louis (Chesterfield). I say the loser should build over in the Metro East (Illinois suburbs). Depending on the store mix, I think the Metro area could support two premium outlet malls that would draw people from metro Cape Giraudeau, Springfield (Illinois), Columbia (Missouri), Decatur, Illinois and possibly the Quad Cities.

_____________________________________

The battle for St Louis - Taubman Breaks Ground, Simon Signs Saks (http://factoryoutletinsiders.blogspot.com/2012/04/battle-for-st-louis-taubman-breaks.html)
By Robert Carr - GlobeSt.com
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

CHESTERFIELD, MO-Both Simon Property Group and Taubman Centers are competing to see which company can build an outlet mall here first. Simon had the first cohesive statement by announcing Tuesday that it has signed anchor Saks OFF 5th to St. Louis Premium Outlets and Taubman countered Thursday by breaking ground on its project Prestige Outlets Chesterfield.

Indianapolis-based $85 million Simon’s project, a venture with Woodmont Outlets and EWB Development, is part of the mixed-use Chesterfield Blue Valley development at Interstate 64 and US Highway 40. The first phase will have 350,000 square feet. The Saks would be the first store by the brand in Missouri.

Taubman’s site is across from the current Chesterfield Mall, and is set to include about 100 stores in 450,000 square feet. Nico Schultz, development manager for the Bloomfield Hills, MI-based Taubman, tells GlobeSt.com that the firm is the first to gain all city approvals to develop its outlet center. “We have the clear time advantage, we’ve been working to put together our site for more than a year,” he says. “They have a ways to go. We have firm commitments from retailers.”

However, he says can’t reveal the names of the tenants. “We typically announce tenants after our ceremonial groundbreaking, which we’re targeting for June,” Schultz says. He says he also can’t reveal the cost of the project, which is a venture between the REIT and OutletPartners LLC.

(Read More (http://factoryoutletinsiders.blogspot.com/2012/04/battle-for-st-louis-taubman-breaks.html))

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/67/16790f5c-8065-11e1-9296-001a4bcf6878/4f7fba562810a.image.jpg

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/05/d057d671-621d-5cac-928d-c43277dc1030/4f82d9d0d2b98.image.jpg
St. Louis Premium Outlets (Woodmont Outlets & Simon Properties Group)

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/4b/d4b6aa71-7ce0-52c4-ab02-5c6ab245c6c7/4f82d9ce81684.image.jpg
Chesterfield Prestige Outlets (Taubman Centers)

http://www.cpexecutive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/040612-Taubman-Prestige-Outlets-Chesterfield-Groundbreaking.jpg
Site for Chesterfield Prestige Outlets, Taubman Centers

More Reading
Chesterfield outlet mall race still up for grabs (http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/chesterfield-outlet-mall-race-still-up-for-grabs/article_181406b0-801e-11e1-be0a-0019bb30f31a.html)
Taubman Breaks Ground on Luxury 450 KSF Open-Air Mall near St. Louis (http://www.cpexecutive.com/regions/midwest/taubman-breaks-ground-on-luxury-450-ksf-open-air-mall-near-st-louis/)
Taubman Centers approved for outlet center in St. Louis (http://www.freep.com/article/C4/20120405/BUSINESS06/120405010/Taubman-Centers-approved-for-outlet-center-in-St-Louis?odyssey=nav%7Chead)

Arch City

Apr 19, 2012, 4:05 AM

The University of Missouri-St. Louis (http://www.umsl.edu/) will soon unveil plans a new hotel and retail district near its campus (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2012/04/umsl-announces-retail-hotel.html), which has seen an increase in enrollment in recent years. It is the largest university in the St. Louis region (17,000) and the state's third largest public or private university behind Missouri-Columbia and Missouri State University.

Also, the university has multi-million dollar plans for a campus expansion that includes new buildings for the College of Optometry and College of Nursing, College of Business Administration and Science complex addition.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5271/7092175221_db961cff1d_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5463/7092175039_be0401919f_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6946107994_251cc29c7b_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7092174907_28c3aaf5e6_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7059/6946108118_d7a657544e_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7092174761_dba3d43a6a_b.jpg

Arch City

Apr 21, 2012, 8:06 PM

The Center for Family History

The St. Louis County Library (http://www.slcl.org/) is building an $18-million genealogical library with a 350-seat auditorium. It is scheduled to break ground this year.

The St. Louis County Library has an extensive collection of genealogical resources that include over 100 rare Yizkor books memorializing destroyed Jewish communities in Europe with a list of Holocaust victims, the Julius K. Hunter African American Research Collection, the St. Louis Genealogy collection and more. It also houses The National Genealogical Society Book Loan Collection (NGS) (http://http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/library_book_loan_collection).

The collection, which is regularly recognized for its excellence, was previously housed at St. Louis County Library headquarters but it has recently outgrown the space.

The Center for Family History, a 57,000 sq. ft. facility when completed, will be one of only two facilities of its kind in the United States. It will incorporate a large meeting/auditorium space and a pre-function area for special events, weddings and family reunions. It will also house the "Hall of Families", which will capture the spirit and legend of companies and individuals throughout the Midwest. There are plans to break ground on the Center in 2012.

The St. Louis County Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, which generates and is funded exclusively by private gifts and donations. The Center for Family History is a project of the Foundation, entirely funded by private contributions.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/314947_191897280885731_114162888659171_422793_955679903_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/319996_191897330885726_114162888659171_422794_16369735_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/312292_191897364219056_114162888659171_422795_804207014_n.jpg

Arch City

Apr 24, 2012, 11:14 PM

An $8.1 billion plan calls for new homes, businesses, sidewalks and streets to give a new look to many neighborhoods with run-down and vacant buildings. Much of the 1,500 acres of north St. Louis city that is targeted by the project falls in the city's 5th ward.

Plans for the Northside Regeneration Project (http://www.northsideregeneration.com/) surfaced back in 2009. The project has been slowed by the recession in addition to court battles that have ensued over the size and scope of the project, as well as the TIF amount requested ($390-million).

Links:
Northside Regeneration Project (http://www.northsideregeneration.com/)
Northside Regeneration Landscape Architecture (http://dg2design.com/northside-regeneration/)
Northside Regeneration project progresses with land sale (http://stlresociety.com/3226/paul-mckee-northside-development/) (02/14/12)
Developer to discuss NorthSide Regeneration | UMSL Daily (http://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2012/01/30/mckee/) (01/30/12)
Video: Northside Regeneration Milestone (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/308540/3/A-milestone-for-the-Northside-Regeneration-Project) (03/07/12)

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/northside.jpg
View northward from 22nd Street @ I-64/U.S. 40. I-64/U.S. 40 leads out to suburban Chesterfield and St. Charles County

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7110925449_c174536bac_b.jpg
An idea of what the area might look like around St. Louis Union Station.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/7110925589_52ab07e2d0_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/7110925239_345eca9250_b.jpg
Outline not exact, but still includes the parameters.

Arch City

May 22, 2012, 3:10 PM

http://www.steelellc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/castle-park-021.jpg

Castle Park Apartments reopened its doors yesterday following a $27.3 million renovation.

"Community Housing Concepts, a Denver based nonprofit, acquired the 209-unit complex in 2007 and hired Steele Properties to complete the historic redevelopment. The property was purchased as part of a pool of seven affordable properties."

CHC partnered with U.S. Bank, the Missouri Housing Development Commission, St. Louis County and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to finance the acquisition and redevelopment of the property.

Castle Park Apartments is a 209-unit, Section 8 family property that also serves elderly and disabled residents.

The property has had significant improvements, including: improved unit kitchens, appliances, bathrooms, heating, cooling, hot water, flooring, shelving, doors, and paint.

Property corridors have received new flooring, lighting, ceiling tiles, and paint. This historic structure also has undergone masonry and tuck pointing repair on the property’s historic metals, windows, and slate roofing.

Source (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2012/05/21/castle-park-apartments-to-reopen.html)

IWant2BeInSTL

May 22, 2012, 5:35 PM

^ cool! i didn't even know that place exists.

Arch City

May 22, 2012, 10:32 PM

Let's see where this goes...............

When the recession hit, this area of downtown couldn't catch a break. Now the plan is to build in bits and pieces based on demand.

This scaled back Phase I doesn't look too bad.
_____________________________________

Cardinals reveal new plan for Ballpark Village (http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/cardinals-reveal-new-plan-for-ballpark-village/ebd5e2f8cf6f471a834c38a025a1a4ed)
May 22, 2012, 11:05 a.m. EDT
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The latest plan for Ballpark Village in St. Louis is far less ambitious than previous proposals, but the Cardinals say it is far more likely to succeed.

The team on Monday announced a scaled-back plan for the area just outside of Busch Stadium. It includes plans for a team hall of fame and a themed restaurant, space for huge outdoor events, and restaurants, bars and other entertainment.

Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III isn't naming tenants but said the 100,000 square-foot retail and entertainment complex is 80 percent spoken for. The Cardinals and co-developer Cordish Co. plan to foot most of the $100 million bill.

"I'm excited about this," DeWitt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I think our package is coming together at the right time."

http://cbsstlouis.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/4fbae15a8f212-image.jpg

http://cbsstlouis.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/4fbac9ef2924b-image.jpg

Nexis4Jersey

May 23, 2012, 12:50 AM

Are there any plans to make Clayton into a Thriving city and to increase density?

Arch City

May 25, 2012, 8:06 PM

Are there any plans to make Clayton into a thriving city and to increase density?
Not sure what you are asking, but Clayton is an inner ring suburb with a major CBD - nothing more, nothing less. I would saying it is thriving now. It has about 16,000 residents and all of the amenities (and more) that you could find in any city of similar size.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/653996252_73e71a6f6f_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5060/5519094432_390fffc69c_b.jpg

mhays

May 25, 2012, 8:10 PM

Arch City

May 25, 2012, 8:34 PM

The Cupples Station historic warehouse district, near Busch Stadium, continues its evolution with the $30-million renovation of Cupples #9. already under construction. Cupples #9 has landed tenants such as a law firm and The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium (http://countondowntown.com/2012/05/cupples-9-lands-flying-saucer/), which will add to St. Louis' fast-growing list of micro breweries. Other tenants are to be announced.
_________________________

Background:

CUPPLES 9 is being redeveloped into a first class, mixed-use commercial location with a scheduled mid 2012 opening. The first floor features both office and retail opportunities with outdoor dining facing Busch Stadium. The remaining six floors are dedicated to office users. All areas feature exposed masonry and 100% refurbished douglas fir columns and beams. Ceiling heights range from 13 to 19 feet (floor to floor).

CUPPLES 9 is part of the overall Cupples station warehouse district, a nine building neighborhood built between 1894 and 1917 immediately west of Busch Stadium and minutes from the Central Business District. Formerly comprised of two dozen buildings, Cupples Station' s nine remaining structures are part of a national historic district. The Project will be the eighth Cupples Station building to be rehabilitated, following such successful projects as the Westin Hotel and Cupples One.

The Cupples Station district will be further improved when the development of the long anticipated Ballpark Village commences. Once Ballpark Village is complete, it promises to transform this emerging district into an exciting, year-round destination and a premiere commercial, residential and entertainment address.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7269588438_bf1ce654a4.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7269588182_cf9889b78d_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7269587736_a8918ce656_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7269587858_cd8df757b0_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7269587990_037751cba4_z.jpg

Arch City

May 25, 2012, 9:02 PM

Clayton is the #2 downtown for the region, so "a city of its size" should reflect that role, with little (if any) relationship to its municipal population.

It's very similar to Bellevue, WA, in my city.
Not sure what you mean, but Clayton, in my opinion, is vibrant - especially during the day. Sidewalk cafes, galleries, downtown shops/boutiques (although the St. Louis Galleria and Brentwood Boulevard retail sit on the city's edge in suburban Richmond Heights), hotels etc. Clayton/Richmond Heights has two MetroLink transit stops and a major transit center. There are music, art and other kinds of festivals and events held downtown.

Clayton is also the St. Louis County seat, and its daytime (workforce) population is between 35-40,000 - including government workers.

Don't know the square mileage of Bellevue, but Clayton's square mileage is fairly small and is mostly full of pricey residential estates and single family homes.

Arch City

Jun 9, 2012, 11:19 PM

WOW!! Check out this beauty, which was just completed. It is a new addition to the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District (http://www.grandcenter.org/) in Midtown St. Louis.

This modern, three-story 27,000 square foot building is the new home to the University of Missouri-St. Louis' KWMU Media Center.

The new facility will include work offices, a studio and a small theater for live concert and lecture broadcasts. In addition to housing the radio station's studios, there will UMSL classroom space and meeting space for community events in the new building.

By the way, my favorite programming by this station is, "St. Louis History in Black & White (http://www.stlpublicradio.org/programs/black-white/)". History that I didn't even know about. And one of my favorite segments is here (http://www.stlpublicradio.org/programs/black-white/racialcleansing.php).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7333093116_26110cec11_b.jpg
photo, pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7333081446_d75e1b78b0_b.jpg
photo, pasa, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7333078322_7e0bc0e2dc_b.jpg
photo, pasa, flickr.com

Arch City

Jun 10, 2012, 2:16 PM

For two years already, the new $160-million dollar east wing of the St. Louis Art Museum has been under construction. This isn't about cost overruns either. It seems like forever already, but it is projected that the museum's new addition won't open until next year - 2013.

Quality project with quality construction, I suppose.

The 200,000-square-foot expansion will add 30 percent more gallery and public space to the museum. A new 300-space garage has been added. And SLAM plans to hire 25 additional full-time employees.

Even though it isn't completed, the new wing has received national and international press.

Here's an older excerpt,

"The addition, designed by David Chipperfield, replaces parking lots to the south and east of the Gilbert building. It will be sheathed in cast-on-site, darkly-tinted polished concrete panels, highlighted by the gleam of Meramec river aggregate.

The existing museum’s circulation patterns have been deftly extended into a new single level of sky-lit galleries, collections support spaces, and public amenities. A series of shallow, yet broad “window-rooms,” with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls, enlivens both the pattern of interior experience and the restraint of the exterior.

The design team includes French landscape architect Michel Desvigne, with St. Louis-based HOK serving as the architect of record. Initial landscape schematics describe a strong relationship between the architecture and Forest Park, limiting the number of existing trees that will be removed and suggesting a periphery of randomly planted trees resolving into a series of densely planted groves closer to the new wing."

Source (http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/071120chipperfield.asp)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7222001914_f71928f633_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/7222012322_b014f4deb2_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7222009736_7758a2a21d_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/6914686586_774ca24403_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6830328342_07b636496c_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6837877667_0be1993abd_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/6972657744_81e89a2ec7_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5231/7221988464_d793d35d32_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/6914692594_538a11fd2e_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6976481865_016a266e1a_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6830343862_e8138d353a_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/7060804705_0395b7d2da_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6837877667_0be1993abd_b.jpg

_______________________________________________________

A reminder of how the new East Wing will look.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7357778472_ce12f8c8af_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7357777806_130e4c34b7_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7357778368_aebf1fab81_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7357778318_e8bb924616_b.jpg

Arch City

Jun 10, 2012, 2:59 PM

Another educational and cultural institution in St. Louis is under renovation.

The St. Louis Central Public Library, which is undergoing a $79-million renovation and addition all within the original building, recently flipped the switch on June 6th to test the new L.E.D. lights that will brighten the freshly-cleaned facade.

The LED lights will not be turned on again until the library's opening later this year.

Read more and see renderings here (http://countondowntown.com/2011/12/library-progress-at-renovated-park/).

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/303681_10150989507860516_533076971_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/545017_10150989507965516_393511387_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/582294_10150989508045516_1925550266_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/526925_10150989508190516_922152602_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/318020_10150989508095516_513207882_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/547110_10150989507005516_1487674283_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/166061_10150989507595516_76417272_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/166576_10150989507340516_1437917698_n.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7172595475_92f2b711c6_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7172597631_856eab9956_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7172597499_f51b70570f_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7172598843_a0f4749585_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7172597421_14b0dd93c9_b.jpg

Arch City

Jun 10, 2012, 3:25 PM

St. Louis Central Public Library renderings.

http://media.cannondesign.com/uploads/projectimage/004-CAN1146_N10_letter.jpg

http://media.cannondesign.com/uploads/projectimage/001-CAN1146_N11_letter.jpg

http://media.cannondesign.com/uploads/projectimage/002-CAN1146_N6_letter.jpg

http://media.cannondesign.com/uploads/projectimage/003-CAN1146_letter.jpg

Arch City

Jun 11, 2012, 2:12 PM

The Metropolitan Artist Lofts (http://www.metropolitanartistlofts.com/) project in Grand Center (St. Louis' arts and theater district) is moving along nicely in an historic building.

This is one of the first new residential projects planned for the district.

From the website: "With upscale architecture and finishes, 72 live/work lofts, and four on-property studios, Metropolitan serves as a place of inspired life and inspired
work."

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7333101528_e59b209295_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7333096296_a630dd2983_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7154731863_75561991b7_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7154698399_52688a182a_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7086/7339918434_deb0e9ceb3_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

Below, the street to the immediate left is Locust St. - the main commercial corridor for Midtown Alley (http://www.midtownalley.com/).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7333090022_8337cc7686_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7086/7333084280_3bd984392b_b.jpg
photo, pasa47, flickr

mhays

Jun 11, 2012, 7:47 PM

Not sure what you mean, but Clayton, in my opinion, is vibrant - especially during the day. Sidewalk cafes, galleries, downtown shops/boutiques (although the St. Louis Galleria and Brentwood Boulevard retail sit on the city's edge in suburban Richmond Heights), hotels etc. Clayton/Richmond Heights has two MetroLink transit stops and a major transit center. There are music, art and other kinds of festivals and events held downtown.

Clayton is also the St. Louis County seat, and its daytime (workforce) population is between 35-40,000 - including government workers.

Don't know the square mileage of Bellevue, but Clayton's square mileage is fairly small and is mostly full of pricey residential estates and single family homes.

I mean that the size of Downtown Clayton has very little to do with the population of the City of Clayton.

Arch City

Jun 12, 2012, 10:05 PM

I mean that the size of Downtown Clayton has very little to do with the population of the City of Clayton.
True. Nonetheless, it is my hope that Clayton and other inner 'burbs eventually will merge to create a larger inner ring city.

Arch City

Jun 12, 2012, 10:10 PM

Pinnacle Entertainment's River City Casino (https://www.rivercity.com/), in south suburban Lemay, is adding a 200-room hotel, 10,000 square foot multi-purpose event center and a covered parking garage with approximately 1,700 spaces.

Video: River City Casino Breaks Ground On Expansion Project (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/311733/3/River-City-Casino-breaks-gound-on-expansion-project)

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/562052_375656872455914_37931664_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/549124_375657109122557_2126396790_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/542897_375657229122545_1983379331_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/523824_375657499122518_982885336_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563503_375656649122603_600635312_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c15.0.843.403/p843x403/297538_264583863563216_1093954451_n.jpg

Arch City

Jun 13, 2012, 5:03 PM

Here are renderings for St. Louis University's new law school (http://www.slu.edu/school-of-law-home) building in downtown St. Louis. The new 12-story law school location is expected to bring 1,100 faculty and staff to downtown St. Louis.

To be located in a vacated building that was donated to the university, the university had originally planned to build a new law school at its Frost Campus in Midtown, however after the donation, SLU decided to move the law school downtown.

The law school will be named, The Joe & Loretta Scott Law Center (http://www.slu.edu/school-of-law-home/faculty-and-administration/news-and-events/news/downtown-building-updates) -after the donors.

The renovated building will include a new LED-lighted canopy, new lobby, rooftop pavillion and meeting areas, new moot courts and classrooms, cleaning and recladding of the exterior, storefronts for retail and restaurants, etc.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7358674044_f084ffaf31_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7358492812_181d086d90_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7358492718_38d83a8587_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7358492632_6192a1c8a4_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7358492414_817419196a_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7358516806_21672bf603_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7173299001_0ced283a65_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7173315147_4473cc5cf4_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7358492344_4cd3139230_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7358492496_be5609db8e_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7358492572_e09814ecc2_z.jpg

Arch City

Jun 25, 2012, 2:35 PM

This $50-million project is plugging a big hole in North Central St. Louis.

From the developer:

"North Sarah, a multi-family, mixed-use development, consists of 120 mixed-income rental units in garden apartments, townhouses, three mixed-use buildings (approx. 7,000 SF of commercial/retail space) and a fourth mixed-use building that includes management/community space (approx. 4,900 SF). This development represents a critical component of the North Central Redevelopment Plan that was developed over several years and completed in 2000 by the City of St. Louis, community stakeholders and residents.

Located in the North Central area of North St. Louis City, North Sarah is anchored by key St. Louis neighborhood assets on its edges, including Grand Center to the east, the Central West End to the west, and nearby Saint Louis University to the south and east. In the community’s core, a number of new civic, educational, commercial and residential developments have created nodes of reinvestment."

Read more here (http://urbanreviewstl.com/2012/06/excellent-urban-infill-north-sarah-apartments-by-mccormack-baron-salazar/) and here (http://www.mccormackbaron.com/component/sobi2/?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=2&sobi2Id=132).

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6048/6890092502_895bf9e745_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6043/7036190441_df8d37f6a4_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6055/6890094582_c7484eec61_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7036183619_9ef5f81723_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/7036181617_3472ed610d_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/6890085876_b0fa7dce23_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6890077676_0e6d4e133c_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6890075858_3e84d83757_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/6890074014_faca4cafd4_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7036165397_85a84d998d_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7036163501_64c26977b2_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6890098906_84507980c8_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7339932812_506d3a0fbc_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7339933670_71ce9467d6_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7154729795_4e57bb7e27_b.jpg
photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

Nexis4Jersey

Jun 25, 2012, 3:15 PM

Are those poles coming down aswell?

Arch City

Jun 26, 2012, 5:17 AM

Are those poles coming down as well?

I don't know for sure if they will, but if you look at the photos there are certain streets around the development where there are no electric poles.

This is an area that was/is under-populated with lots of vacant lots, so perhaps there might not have been too much attention paid to infrastructure improvements over the years in this area.

For the record, this infill area is sort of a gateway to the north, the Central West End and south parts of the city and it is near rebounding areas such as Grand Center and Midtown.

Arch City

Jun 26, 2012, 2:27 PM

The Peabody Opera House (http://peabodyoperahouse.com/) in downtown St. Louis just added a really cool 360' tour (http://peabodyoperahouse.interactive360.net/) of the venue and many of its main halls on its website (http://peabodyoperahouse.com/).

The Peabody Opera House (formerly the Kiel Opera House) reopened last October 2011 to much fanfare in St. Louis after under-going an $80-million renovation; however, we haven't posted any photos of it until now.

Closed for nearly twenty years, the 3,100-seat main theater has picked up where it left off by already hosting some of the biggest names, shows and concerts in show business such as Oprah Winfrey and her Life Class (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/305819/3/Oprah-coming-to-Peabody-Opera-House), Jay Leno, Aretha Franklin, Cedric The Entertainer, George Lopez, Wilco, Gavin DeGraw and more. See more beautiful photos here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/akathryna/sets/72157629093797004/).

Here are some tease photos....................

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6233/6307234639_8644225cdd_b.jpg
photo credit from flickr.com

http://d3rm69wky8vagu.cloudfront.net/overview-banner-theater-photos/peabodywide.jpg

http://backbeat-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Opera_House_From_Stage_HDR2.jpg

http://backbeat-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/14th_St_Entrance.jpg

http://backbeat-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Front_Entry_HDR2.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6785371638_7394d5f5e7_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6785369282_78cdd30065_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6785372094_725140b296_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6785372670_b387613a1b_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6785397672_a859d8aa69_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6931520095_fe0bc1b14a_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6785403534_4da32717f7_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6931553595_2e9be4f142_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6931555745_e71942df4c_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6931557985_8beda50ea6_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6785374578_fd4c49ed81_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6785442226_be9ffa3758_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6931515867_35df9f3632_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7199/6931510221_893a7d4624_b.jpg
photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

IWant2BeInSTL

Jun 26, 2012, 4:42 PM

Arch City

Jun 28, 2012, 1:37 PM

Plans by a Chicago-based real estate firm call for a $100-million redevelopment of a nearly-empty southwest suburban St. Louis indoor mall.
______________________________________________
Major redevelopment plans for Crestwood Court (http://www.kmov.com/home/Major-redevelopment-plans-for-Crestwood-Court-158996885.html)
by John Knicely / News 4
KMOV.com
Posted on June 13, 2012 at 10:43 PM

ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -- Plans are moving forward to transform Crestwood Court Mall into an open-air entertainment district. Most of the mall would be torn down to make way for restaurants, a grocery store, a movie theater, and even concerts. It will be called The District at Crestwood (http://www.centrumproperties.com/properties/showproperty/83).

Centrum Partners out of Chicago owns the property. The developer revealed the plans to Crestwood city leaders Tuesday night. Mayor Jeff Schlink is excited about the project and says it will be a major transformation.

“For people to get away from that property being a mall is going to be a big shift for them,” he said. “I think once people see the plans and wrap their minds around it, it will be a lot more appealing to them.”

The old Macy’s building will be transformed into 3 levels of mixed use including a fitness club, a grocery store, and movie theater. The old Dillard’s building will be torn down along with most of the mall. The entrance to The District at Crestwood would be a fountain plaza that can be turned off to host concerts and live events.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7446123496_fe21f047d8_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7446123302_45796fbffc_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7446123160_abffcaa54b_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7446123820_114d593b25_c.jpg

Arch City

Jun 28, 2012, 1:39 PM

damn! those hi-res 360 views are incredible! they REALLY knocked the opera house out of the park, right down to the plaster details. just beautiful. and, although i DESPISE vinyl siding in any amount, especially mixed with brick, north sarah is looking great. can't wait for those storefronts to start filling up.
The building looks great inside and out, but they could improve the landscaping out front. Sometimes, more is less, but not in this case especially considering Citygarden and the Gateway Mall are across the street.

goat314

Jun 28, 2012, 2:03 PM

Arch City

Jun 30, 2012, 4:08 AM

Flying saucer to take off with Starbucks and Chipotle (http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/news/article.asp?docKey=600-201204130509KRTRIB__BUSNEWS_5547_62975-1&params=timestamp%7C%7C04/13/2012%205:09%20AM%20ET%7C%7Cheadline%7C%7CFlying%20saucer%20to%20take%20off%20with%20Starbucks%20and%20Chipotle%20%5BSt.%20Louis%20Post-Dispatch%5D%7C%7CdocSource%7C%7CKnight%20Ridder/Tribune%7C%7Cprovider%7C%7CACQUIREMEDIA%7C%7Crealtedsyms%7C%7C%7CUS%3BSBUX&ticker=SBUX:US)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
04/13/12

http://klitzingwelsch.com/images.php?action=fs&jn=11102&image=Render%20(blue).jpg

April 13--Threatened last year with demolition, the historic "flying saucer" building in midtown St. Louis soon will be an emporium for $6 lattes and gourmet burritos.

Starbucks and Chipotle are near completion of leases for the former Del Taco outlet near St. Louis University. Developers plan to renovate and expand the unusually shaped building in time for the start of SLU's fall semester.

Hany Abounader, a partner in the development, said the building, at 212 South Grand Boulevard, will serve as a southern gateway to midtown.

"It's going to be a landmark for the SLU campus and the Grand Center area," he said.

Preservation of the building, erected in the 1960s as a Phillips 66 gas station, represents a turnabout for the owner, Rick Yackey, who last year sought city permission to replace the structure with a conventional retail building. His effort prompted protests from preservationists and sidewalk demonstrations.

________________________________________

Videos

#1. Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGSMwRsD4vA)

#2. St. Louis, MO (KSDK) (http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/313014/3/Starbucks-Chipotle-to-take-over-flying-saucer-building) - After a lengthy push by area preservationists last summer, the flying saucer building formerly known as Del Taco was saved from demolition.

Developer Rick Yackey initially wanted to knock the Midtown building down, but changed course last August. In September, Yackey announced plans to restore and reuse the building, adding about 1,200 square feet and maintaining the original look.

The building was originally conceived as a gas station, designed by now-retired architect Richard Henmi in the early 1960s.

The site will accommodate new tenants Starbucks and Chipotle. And underground expansion will be necessary to fulfill those businesses' needs for the space.

Arch City

Jul 2, 2012, 11:01 PM

Washington University's Olin School of Business is undergoing a $90-million major expansion project (http://buildolin.wustl.edu/) that will nearly double its footprint on the Danforth Campus.

The buildings will be named for dedicated university benefactors (http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22994.aspx) and lead gift donors Joanne and Charles F. Knight and Carol and George Bauer.

Built in Washington University’s traditional college-gothic architecture, the $90 million project is expected to be complete in December 2013 and includes two innovative buildings united by a soaring glass atrium totaling more than 166,000 square feet.

In the last decade, Washington University in St. Louis has invested nearly $2-billion dollars in new campus buildings and upgrades to both its Danforth and medical campuses.

Below, the new building's design.

tv3Jchvx8sA

The building being torn down to make room for the new building.

qlNgLM5W1-c

Arch City

Jul 3, 2012, 4:35 PM

More infill projects for St. Louis City, which includes a new city park for a south central city neighborhood (http://www.17thwardstl.com/).

The Washington University Medical Center is about to embark on a $1-billion facilities expansion and nearby neighborhoods are being made sustainable for a potential residential influx.

Aventura at Forest Park, located at 4401 Chouteau, will be the largest construction project in Forest Park Southeast since McCormack House was built in 2000. The $12 million project will be comprised of two 3 story buildings that will house 101 apartments. The market rate project will consist of 23 one-bedroom and 78 two-bedroom units starting at $1,000 a month.

And Chouteau Park will be one of city's newest parks bordering and overlooking I-64. Chouteau Park was designed by, H3 StudioThe City Parks Department worked in collaboration with The Washington Medical Center, Forest Park Southeast Development Corporation and Park Central Development

Chouteau Park, when complete, will serve as the largest public green space in Forest Park Southeast.

Red outline= Site for Aventura at Forest Park Apartments
Yellow outline = Site for the new Chouteau Park

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7474164060_d067b837bd_b.jpg

http://wumcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/025-AB7-resize.jpg

http://wumcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Phase1-resize.jpg

Below are renderings of Chouteau Park.

http://www.17thwardstl.com/wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/chouteaupark.jpg

http://wumcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Chouteau-Park1.jpg

Below are photos of the site being graded for Aventura at Forest Park Apartments.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/7416736464_a9f7630d5e_b.jpg
Photo credit, nextSTL.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7416737202_2662bb0c1a_b.jpg
Photo credit, nextSTL.com

Below is the site of the new Chouteau Park.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6116/6219723860_a0dcae5d3a_b.jpg
Photo credit, Pasa47, flickr

Centropolis

Jul 3, 2012, 5:53 PM

Kind of out of place looking sunbelty looking development with a silly name but I'll take it. It's an OK density, probably should have a flat roof. Important, good location and good signal for the neighborhood.

Arch City

Jul 3, 2012, 9:18 PM

The Chesterfield outlet mall war continues.........

Could suburban Chesterfield end up with two premium outlet malls?

Some tenants have been announced for St. Louis Premium Outlets, while Taubman's Prestige Outlets' tenant announcements will come July 25th.

____________________________________

Taubman has proposed a $150 million, 450,000-square-foot outlet mall project. The Taubman project will open in October 2013.

Link: Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield (http://www.taubman.com/leasing/701.html)

Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
Gross Leasable Area: 450,000 square feet

http://www.taubman.com/images/chesterfield/propertyphoto.jpg

http://www.taubman.com/images/chesterfield/tradeareamap1.jpg

http://www.taubman.com/images/chesterfield/tradeareamap2.jpg

____________________________________

St. Louis Premium Outlets

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/05/d057d671-621d-5cac-928d-c43277dc1030/4f82d9d0d2b98.image.jpg

The $85-million dollar St. Louis Premium Outlets has been approved by the city of Chesterfield to establish a Community Improvement District (CID), which would levy an additional 1 percent sales tax on all stores within the developer’s planned outlet mall area.

St. Louis Premium Outlets is a proposed 350,000-square-foot, open-air outlet mall that would be located on the south side of Highway 40/64. The mall would anchor the 131-acre Chesterfield Blue Valley mixed-use development on Old Olive Street Road.

St. Louis Premium Outlets' new outlet center will be anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, one of seven new store locations recently announced, including Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, Elie Tahari, Haggar Clothing Co. Haggar Clothing Co., Jones New York, Loft Outlet, Maidenform, Tommy Hilfiger and Van Heusen.