ST. LOUIS & CLAYTON | Project Rundown - Page 11

Arch City · #1 Posted **Feb 5, 2012, 11:24 AM**

THE METROPOLITAN BUILDING 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, here and here.

photo by pasa, flickr.com

Arch City · #2 Posted **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. 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
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

mhays · #3 Posted **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.

photoLith · #4 Posted **Feb 6, 2012, 5:23 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.

goat314 · #5 Posted **Feb 6, 2012, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

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 · #6 Posted **Feb 7, 2012, 3:58 AM**

St. Louis tries new approach in museum expansion
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

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

This rendering shows the new expansion in the rear of original museum. The new expansion essentially wraps around the original Gilbert Cass structure.

Arch City · #7 Posted **Feb 13, 2012, 7:45 AM**

Another rehab for Downtown West.

_____________________________

Locust Street building to get a redo
BY TIM BRYANT | Posted: Thursday, May 5, 2011 4:31 pm
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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 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

#8 Posted **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 · #9 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 12:06 AM**

Recent articles about the National Blues Museum.

Chicago Tribune: Blues museum planned for St. Louis riverfront

Toronto Sun: St. Louis riverfront getting a bit more blue

The Huffington Post: First National Blues Museum Set To Open In St. Louis

Sound Spike: National Blues Museum takes shape in St. Louis

mhays · #10 Posted **May 25, 2012, 8:10 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.

Arch City · #11 Posted **May 25, 2012, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

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.

mhays · #12 Posted **Jun 11, 2012, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch 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.

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

Arch City · #13 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

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 · #14 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 10:10 PM**

Pinnacle Entertainment's River City Casino, 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

Nexis4Jersey · #15 Posted **Jun 25, 2012, 3:15 PM**

Are those poles coming down aswell?

Arch City · #16 Posted **Jun 26, 2012, 5:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

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 · #17 Posted **Jun 26, 2012, 2:27 PM**

The Peabody Opera House in downtown St. Louis just added a really cool 360' tour of the venue and many of its main halls on its website.

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, Jay Leno, Aretha Franklin, Cedric The Entertainer, George Lopez, Wilco, Gavin DeGraw and more. See more beautiful photos here.

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

photo credit from flickr.com

photo credit, akathryna, flickr.com

#18 Posted **Jun 26, 2012, 4:42 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.

Arch City · #19 Posted **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
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.

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.

goat314 · #20 Posted **Jun 28, 2012, 2:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch City

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
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.

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.

Would it kill some of these municipalities to put parking in the back and bring the activity to the street level?