Improvements and New Construction

This September, developers announced plans for "The Bottle District", a new $200+ million, 15-acre entertainment destination to be located north of the Edward Jones Dome.
 

• 12/27/04  Downtown St. Louis developments approach $3 billion mark
• 12/17/04  Central West End will be home of new biotech building
• 12/17/04  Ground Broken for New Building to Spur Biotechnology in St. Louis
• 12/16/04  Biotech Incubator Breaks Ground in St. Louis
• 12/06/04  TIF for shopping center gets OK
• 11/29/04  Biotech building begins on Forest Park
• 11/29/04  Developers line up for two major Grand Center sites
• 11/23/04  Children's Hospital Breaks Ground on $80 Million Building Expansion
• 11/19/04  Developer sees a bright future for downtown St. Louis
• 11/08/04  Bryan Cave weighs developer proposals
• 10/27/04  SSM Cardinal Glennon plans $59 million expansion
• 10/16/04  St. Louis Stadiums Kick Off Ambitious Plans for New Venues
• 10/13/04  Art Museum begins search for architect to design expansion
• 10/10/04  Extended-Stay Hotel to be Built In St. Louis' Central Business District
• 09/29/04  Desco plans $40M shopping center in south St. Louis
• 09/28/04  $40 million center is planned for city
• 09/20/04  $200M Entertainment District to Refresh St. Louis
• 09/20/04  $200+ Million Entertainment District Rocks Downtown St. Louis
• 09/14/04  $18 million shopping center proposed for former ammunitions plant
• 09/07/04  Revitalizing the Bottle District
• 09/04/04  Developers pop the top on new Bottle District
• 08/10/04  CORTEX gets $2.9 million in federal funds
• 08/06/04  Barnes-Jewish Hospital has an inn with the hotel market
• 08/02/04  Growth blueprint awaits signing
• 08/02/04  Construction continues on 'East of Broadway' project
• 08/01/04  FOX Files: More to do on the riverfront
• 07/23/04  Breckenridge puts federal building on back burner, turns attention east
• 07/23/04  Home building booms, mayor says
• 07/15/04  St. Louis expected to extend downtown CID for seven years
• 07/09/04  R&B star adds a twist to Landing
• 07/05/04  Bryan Cave seeks request for new building proposals
• 06/28/04  St. Louis Awarded $52 Million in New Market Tax Credits
• 06/24/04  New lake, greenway could boost city, development expert says
• 06/23/04  Former Ammunition Plant Will Be Cleaned Up
• 06/22/04  Downtown Now plans to demolish a Cupples Station warehouse
• 06/21/04  Politicians Say Downtown St. Louis Is Growing
• 06/21/04  Cupples Building No. 7 gets up to $1 million in state tax credits
• 06/14/04  Residential development, arts buildings and four parking garages proposed
• 06/14/04  Hi-Pointe residents oppose 15-story condo development on Skinker
• 06/09/04  City seeks redevelopment plans for St. Louis Army Ammunition Plant
• 06/07/04  Roberts brothers buy building, hire Suttle Mindlin as planner
• 06/07/04  New development begins in former McRee Town
• 04/23/04  Balke Brown moves forward with $13 million hotel at Highlands
• 04/01/04  Opus Takes Lead in Park East Development
• 02/26/04  Blues museum may go around Mississippi Nights
• 02/25/04  Children's Aquarium finds new home at City Museum
• 02/25/04  Midtown Rebirth: SLU Reveals Location for Largest-Ever Building Project
• 02/25/04  SLU to build $64M medical research facility in Midtown
• 02/23/04  East end of Washington to get $2.5 million facelift
• 02/23/04  Highway, parks, private funding sought for I-70 lid
• 02/23/04  $2 million KitchenK leads retail's return downtown
• 02/17/04  Opus Northwest puts high-rise condo plans back on fast track
• 02/16/04  East St. Louis riverfront draws inspiration from Laclede's Landing
• 02/10/04  Corner soon could become developer's field of dreams
• 01/15/04  Saint Louis University on-campus arena site announced

 

Renovation Projects
 

• 12/24/04  Andy Trivers thinks old can be new again
• 12/20/04  Steffen paying $1.3 million for Mercantile Library building
• 12/19/04  New movie theater to open on Lindell
• 12/17/04  Pyramid Construction adds another chapter to Mercantile Library's tale
• 12/13/04  Springfield buyer of Union Pacific building plans $60 million rehab
• 11/18/04  Neighborhood is coming back
• 11/18/04  Developer will dress up downtown, Lafayette sites
• 11/09/04  Rice may get new chance to acquire federal building
• 11/05/04  City Seeks Developers for Syndicate Trust Building
• 11/01/04  Spool Thread spreads office condo concept in market
• 10/04/04  Marriott Downtown completes $1.5 million ballroom renovation
• 09/21/04  Developer named for South Side National Bank building
• 09/20/04  Cupples project draws five developers
• 09/12/04  Breckenridge waits patiently as Kiel drama plays out
• 08/16/04  Gills plan $10 million Skinker project
• 08/15/04  Developers plan to renovate empty 3-building complex near Delmar Loop
• 08/02/04  Master plan in works for Compton Hill Reservoir Park
• 08/02/04  New Life renews fight for federal building
• 07/23/04  Developers see lofty goals fulfilled
• 06/29/04  Couple wants to hug 2 threatened buildings
• 06/28/04  Schuchard brings art loft track record to city Loop
• 06/25/04  Insurance exec brings concept of office condos to downtown
• 06/09/04  Rehab brings "green" to old finance hub
• 05/31/04  Steffen invests $32 million more on Washington Avenue
• 05/24/04  $52 million: Giving (tax) credit where credit is due
• 05/13/04  Four area buildings, district named to National Register
• 05/05/04  Local buildings, districts to be considered for National Register
• 05/01/04  Opera House keeps eye out for final act
• 04/27/04  Rice's plan for Abram Building is rejected
• 04/26/04  Feds Say Rice Can't Have Abram Building
• 04/27/04  $100 Million Kiel Development Set to Move Forward
• 04/26/04  Abram Building Ruled To Be Part Of Kiel Opera House Revitalization
• 04/05/04  Two downtown projects get state Brownfield tax credits
• 03/19/04  Lawrence Group principals buy Marquette for $4.9M
• 03/17/04  Lawrence group will revive Marquette Building downtown
• 02/19/04  Restoration St. Louis buys school on Theresa from SLPS
• 02/19/04  Board sells for lower price to save school
• 02/18/04  Developers interested in South Side National Bank building
• 02/01/04  Two Bills Threaten Historic Tax Credits
• 01/27/04  Larry Deutsch puts Washington Avenue properties on block
• 01/36/04  Lafayette Square rehab sparks Shaughnessy's business
• 01/19/04  Hejna planning $55 million redevelopment of Dillard's
• 01/17/04  Developers hope to raise the curtain on a downtown gem

 

City Living    Lofts - Condos - Apartments - Housing - Washington Avenue

The market for more housing in downtown St. Louis is very strong. Recently, the demand for residential lofts, condos, and apartments downtown have outweighed the supply. Many of the loft projects that have been in development over the past few years are just now coming online. Many of projects have been more than 50% pre-sold, while others have been sold out. As more residents begin to move in this year, we should see other amenities appear as demand increases. For more information on what is available, check out the St. Louis Lofts or the Urban St. Louis websites.
 

• 12/24/04  Old neighborhoods evolve into new target for development
• 12/18/04  St. Louis City reaches milestone; work remains
• 12/16/04  Out-Of-Town Developers Invest Millions Into Downtown Lofts
• 12/13/04  Housing panel OKs plan to turn nursery into condos, townhouses
• 12/06/04  HRI, Conrad closing in on Cupples Station projects
• 12/06/04  Long-awaited Russell Place makes debut
• 12/04/04  Who's living in lofts?
• 11/11/04  Slay: 'City is back' after Census revises population figures
• 11/18/04  Chicago-Based Developer Will Dress Up Sites With Housing
• 11/09/04  St. Louis Wins Challenge of Census Bureau Report
• 11/08/04  Mayor Slay to Join North Market Place Opening
• 11/08/04  Cascades development heads for aldermanic action
• 11/01/04  'High design' 4545 ground breaking set for mid-2005
• 11/01/04  Botanical Heights: McRee Town lifts itself to higher ground
• 11/01/04  Builder marketing historic reproduction niche in Soulard, Benton Park
• 10/24/04  Unique St. Louis lofts attract new downtown residents
• 10/18/04  Developers close financing on $32 million Welsch deal
• 10/15/04  Conrad Properties launching 4545 Lindell
• 10/14/04  Sleek condos will be squeezed between old Lindell buildings
• 10/13/04  City Hospital transformed into The Georgian condominiums
• 10/12/04  The Loft Boom
• 10/05/04  Altman-Charter Turns-Over First Parcel Of Grand Center Development
• 10/04/04  More out-of-towners find value in Washington Avenue
• 10/04/04  $1 million plaza is first of Lafayette Square TIF improvements
• 10/04/04  101 condominiums going into former City Hospital
• 10/03/04  Groundbreaking Ceremony in Hyde Park Neighborhood
• 10/01/04  After decades of darkness, Home Builders Assoc. turns on gaslights
• 09/30/04  Flesh is returning to skeleton of old City Hospital
• 09/29/04  Developers look to spark interest in St. Louis area
• 09/28/04  A new look for venerable old city neighborhood
• 09/27/04  Fannie Mae exceeds $50M investment in downtown housing
• 09/12/04  Park Avenue Plaza: From junkyard to jewel
• 09/09/04  Lafayette Square corner gets a breath of new life
• 09/09/04  New north side plan
• 08/31/04  McBride's Botanical Heights grows from old neighborhood
• 08/24/04  Connecticut pair get Plaza Square for $21.4 million
• 08/19/04  New retaurants, retail stores are following the loft boom into downtown
• 08/16/04  McCarthy completes $26 million Metro Lofts project
• 08/14/04  28 camp out to get Botanical Heights homes
• 08/12/04  McRee Town area has folks lined up to buy
• 08/02/04  State seeks to encourage St. Louis' urban dwellers to use parks
• 08/02/04  City Hospital's first tenants expected to be in by spring
• 07/27/04  Residential Construction Up in St. Louis
• 07/26/04  Bruce Mills to add $50 million apt. development to real estate empire
• 07/26/04  Plaza Square apartments going on auction block after sale falls through
• 07/22/04  Conrad Properties Now Leasing at Metro Lofts
• 07/15/04  Urban-housing plan illuminates: Housing in the old Gaslight Square area
• 06/28/04  Lindell Towers East renovation project complete
• 07/05/04  Developers take on Pet project
• 06/28/04  Bank of America to buy Columbus Square
• 06/28/04  Columbus Square apartments are sold
• 06/24/04  Plan for high-rise on Skinker is called a reward and an intrusion
• 06/21/04  HRI adding more affordable housing to Cupples mix
• 06/15/04  Microdevelopers are bringing back neighborhoods one rehab at a time
• 06/07/04  New City Housing Development Groundbreaking
• 06/07/04  From McRee Town to Botanical Heights
• 06/07/04  McBride & Sons starts work on Botanical Heights development
• 05/23/04  Couple start transforming old school into apartments
• 05/13/04  Old North St. Louis uses restoration of past to make future brighter
• 05/07/04  Historic Washington Ave Garment District Reborn as St. Louis Loft District
• 05/06/04  West End Realty pitches plan for old South Side Bank
• 05/05/04  Sansone, Gundaker propose makeover for Plaza Square
• 05/03/04  Central West End is grade 'A' apartment location
• 05/03/04  Benton Park rehabbers seek historic credits
• 04/28/04  Spotlight on The Lofts at City Museum in Downtown St. Louis
• 04/25/04  Restoring the glory
• 04/23/04  Slay cracks down on downtown's problem properties
• 04/22/04  Mayor Slay Initiates Downtown Problem Property Crackdown
• 04/22/04  Hotel's closing has tenants scrambling
• 04/06/04  Dinner and a movie takes on new meaning at Union Station
• 04/02/04  Haas Building caps a comeback with condos
• 03/31/04  Reviving the Tower Grove South neighborhood
• 03/30/04  Developer's vision for Day's Inn is an apartment building
• 03/25/04  Buyer's vision is 100 apartments for Pet Building
• 03/18/04  Downtown bags two hungrily awaited groceries
• 03/15/04  Housing, commercial development to replace Truman Center
• 03/12/04  Comptroller Green finds developer for Truman Restorative Center
• 03/09/04  McRee Town to get new homes; new name
• 03/03/04  Spotlight on 4200 Laclede Condominiums in the Central West End
• 02/19/04  Park East Tower Luxury Condominium Development Planned for CWE
• 02/19/04  Historic School To Be Turned Into Lofts
• 02/02/04  Balke Brown plans up to $20 million development overlooking Mississippi
• 02/02/04  Last-minute effort rescues Blumeyer housing credits
• 02/02/04  Rehab, restore, renew
• 01/23/04  "Sunshine factory" opens window on new life
• 01/16/04  Two developers turn the page on Eden Publishing
• 01/14/04  East St. Louis housing development gets state tax credits
• 01/01/04  Tax Credits Clear Way For New Housing in East. St. Louis

 

Old Post Office Redevelopment / Century Building Demolition
 

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay says the demolition of the historically significant Century Building would save the Old Post Office District, and is a key to reviving downtown. The city claims that opposition to the Century demolition could kill plans to redevelop the Old Post Office. The replacment of the marble office building with a 1,050-space parking garage is considered non-negotiable. Despite the fact that a Request for Proposal was never issued and the Century Building was never marketed to developers in an open process; Loftworks LLC, McGowan Brothers Development and Mansur Real Estate Services unveiled a $81 million alternative to demolishion. The plan, which would offer parking and preserve the Century Building was withdrawn because it received no support from St. Louis City Hall.
 

• 12/11/04  Razing of Century Building raises neighbors' complaints
• 10/30/04  Century Building dies senseless death downtown
• 10/21/04  Century Building Demolition Begins
• 10/21/04  Judge denies effort to stop demolition of Century Building
• 10/18/04  More than $150 million invested in developments adjacent to OPO
• 10/18/04  Old Post Office project has roots in plan from 1993
• 10/18/04  Closing the deal: Six-year struggle comes to an end
• 10/14/04  Old Post Office Construction to Begin This Week
• 10/13/04  Renovation of 120-year-old landmark will get under way this week
• 09/21/04  Old Post Office Work Could Begin in Next Week
• 09/20/04  Old Post Office Project Proceeds
• 09/20/04  Old Post Office ownership transferred to state of Missouri
• 09/20/04  Old Post Office redevelopment deal set to close
• 09/09/04  STL Public Library branch coming to OPO
• 08/30/04  St. Louis City library checks out Old Post Office location
• 08/26/04  Library wants branch in Old Post Office
• 07/26/04  $43 million suit threatens Old Post Office
• 07/26/04  Downtown property owners take issue with lawsuit's claims
• 07/22/04  Developer charges that threats killed proposal
• 07/12/04  The Pasta House signs at Old Post Office
• 07/04/04  Historic preservation trust sides with city in plan to raze building
• 06/29/04  National Trust backs plan to raze building
• 06/29/04  Protest Over Planned Century Building Demolition
• 06/28/04  National Trust for Historic Preservation Supports OPO Project
• 06/28/04  Stamp of approval nears on deal for Old Post Office
• 05/24/04  $18 million earmarked for Old Post Office garage
• 05/04/04  Webster University Signs Lease For Old Post Office
• 05/03/04  Webster University becomes first to ink lease at Old Post Office
• 05/03/04  Webster University Stamps Deal for Old Post Office
• 02/04/04  Webster considers reducing OPO space
• 01/28/04  Maybe it’s time to revisit Steve Stogel’s redevelopment plan
• 01/14/04  Webster University considers reducing space at Old Post Office

 

St. Louis Riverfront Casinos

The President's Casino on Laclede's Landing along the St. Louis Riverfront was purchased in October 2004 by Fort Mitchell, Kentucky-based Columbia Sussex Corp for $57 million. They are now proposing a $150 million project to add residential, retail and more parking. St. Louis had also just signed a deal with Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. to build a $250 million casino, hotel and residential development on the Landing downtown. On the Illinois bank of the Mississippi river in East St. Louis, the Casino Queen is planning to invest about $150 million in updates and expansion.
 

• 12/15/04  Dispute could scrap President sale
• 12/15/04  Columbia Sussex seeks mayor's help in parking garage suit
• 12/03/04  Pinnacle's board OKs buy of Embassy Suites on Laclede's Landing
• 12/02/04  Casino Companies Battling Over Laclede's Landing
• 12/02/04  Columbia Sussex's condo and retail plan overlooks one important detail
• 11/29/04  Casino buyer plans housing, shopping on Landing
• 11/29/04  Company Wants More Than President Casino
• 11/18/04  Pinnacle Entertainment to buy St. Louis hotel, link it to casino project
• 11/17/04  Pinnacle buying hotel as part of plan for casino
• 11/01/04  St. Louis casinos plan $500 million in new construction and expansion
• 10/13/04  Columbia Sussex's deal for President gets court approval
• 10/12/04  Columbia Sussex: St. Louis-bound?
• 10/08/04  Columbia Sussex wins President Casinos' St. Louis property
• 10/07/04  Big Changes In Store For Admiral Riverboat
• 10/07/04  Surprise bidder wins auction for President Casino
• 09/01/04  Pinnacle Gets OK For Two St. Louis Area Casinos
• 09/01/04  Pinnacle gets green light from Missouri Gaming Commission
• 09/01/04  Pinnacle chosen to build two new casinos
• 08/27/04  Mo. Gaming Commission to meet Sept. 1 on local proposals
• 08/12/04  Mo. Gaming Commission again delays new St. Louis casino decision
• 08/11/04  Suitor of President Casino is known for shrewd deals
• 07/19/04  City's Landing casino site may test law
• 07/01/04  Missouri Gaming Commission delays St. Louis casino decision
• 04/29/04  Pinnacle, SLDC agree on downtown casino plan
• 03/15/04  St. Louis gives OK to Pinnacle's downtown casino plan
• 02/25/04  Pinnacle sweetens city's deal for casino
• 01/15/04  Two city commissions choose Pinnacle's casino plan
• 01/14/04  County casino panel postpones decision
• 01/14/04  St. Louis County narrows field for casino developers, Harrah's out
• 01/12/04  Isle of Capri's Admiral deal hinges on city-county win

 

Forest Park ~ Forever

The inital fundraising goal for Forest Park's Master Plan has been surpassed 2 years ahead of schedule. The goal was to raise $86 million for the Forest Park Master Plan the City of St. Louis adopted in 1995. Forest Park Forever, a nonprofit fund-raising group, has already raised $92 million. A list of Major Contributors to the Master Plan can be found at the Forest Park Forever web site. Forest Park's campaign is the largest ever achieved by a public-private partnership for an urban park. Forest Park was dedicated at a large public ceremony on June 24, 1876.
 

• 08/02/04  Forest Park Restoration
• 06/17/04  Forest Park Forever gets $250,000 in state tax credits
• 05/06/04  Citywide Park Master Plan Forum May 15
• 01/27/04  Forest Park Forever tops funding goals, launches phase 2

 

St. Louis Centre

When St. Louis Centre opened in 1985 at a cost of $95 million, it was the largest enclosed urban shopping center in the United States. Spanning the blocks between 6th and 7th, Locust and Washington, it remains one of the largest enclosed downtown shopping malls in the country. The bad news -- beneath a vaulted glass roof, the mall's four stories of shops and restaurants remain less than 50 percent occupied. The good news -- the struggling mall has been sold to California-based Galveston Discount Warehouses for $5.4 million at a foreclosure sale at the Civil Courts building in downtown St. Louis. It is unclear what will happen to St. Louis Centre, but it has been suggested that there will be street-level retail. The new owner wants to do this right and not make any hasty decisions regarding the malls future.
 

• 11/15/04  St. Louis Centre's New Owner To Clean Up For NCAA
• 08/26/04  Mall's owner won't act hastily
• 08/12/04  Buyer of St. Louis Centre plans to keep the mall but says little else
• 08/04/04  St. Louis Centre sold to California firm for $5.4 million
• 08/04/04  Buyer goes to bargain basement for St. Louis Centre deal
• 08/04/04  Sale of St. Louis Centre begins today
• 07/06/04  Foreclosure of St. Louis Centre faces month delay
• 06/24/04  St. Louis Centre faces foreclosure sale next month
• 06/21/04  Downtown Mall in Foreclosure

 

Mass Transit, Highway Construction and Improvements

Construction on the $1.1 billion runway project at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport continues and looks to be finished in 2006-07. [ www.lambert-pmo.org ]

Full funding for a new $1.6 billion Mississippi River bridge is still pending. Planning began over a decade ago, and $300 million has already been committed by both Missouri and Illionis. If the new bridge is built as designed, it will be the worlds widest cable-stayed structure. [ www.newriverbridge.org ]

Another transit project about to move forward is the $29 million MultiModal Center. It is to be located on the site of the old Downtown Amtrak Station, just across from Savvis Center. With construction starting this spring, the center will serve not only Amtrak, but will be the hub for Greyhound bus service, local bus service and the St. Louis area's MetroLink light rail system.
 


• 12/30/04  Council expects $2.7 million to study MetroLink expansion
• 12/27/04  State tax credits approved for Maplewood MetroLink Station
• 12/20/04  St. Louis Opens New - Still Temporary - Train Station
• 11/29/04  New Amtrak Station Should Be Ready by Christmas
• 11/11/04  MetroLink money gets tentative approval
• 10/27/04  Home buyers get breaks buying near transit lines
• 10/19/04  New Highway Ramps Near Downtown to be Completed in Spring
• 08/11/04  New St. Louis bike path program will cover 20 miles of city streets
• 09/01/04  McKinley Bridge rehab, IL Route 3 projects get boost
• 08/30/04  Public can see plans for South County MetroLink extension
• 08/11/04  New Amtrak station may cost $700,000
• 08/11/04  Metro takes over management of Cross-County MetroLink extension
• 07/08/04  Bridge is still a dream, but contract for PR is real
• 06/21/04  Two highway projects are a go
• 06/03/04  Metro hopes new station will boost bus image
• 05/20/04  Board approves repairing McKinley Bridge in fall
• 04/29/04  Airport expansion is ahead of schedule
• 04/29/04  Mayor: Lambert runway expansion to come in under budget
• 04/18/04  Plan puts runway expansion back on schedule
• 03/27/04  MetroLink projects make it on to a $275 billion federal transportation bill
• 03/23/04  Plans for Downtown Trolley Route Moving Forward
• 03/22/04  Downtown gets $250K grant for shuttle/trolley
• 03/22/04  Funding Secured for Downtown Trolley
• 03/21/04  McKinley Bridge will get state boost
• 02/23/04  MetroLink Expansion Alternatives Narrowed To Three
• 02/23/04  Bond Says Time Running Short To Pass Highway Bill
• 02/16/04  Mayor Slay asks retired CEO & 3 US senators to help improve Lambert
• 02/13/04  MoDOT takes over 32 miles of roads from St. Louis city
• 02/03/04  Forest Park shuttle may make comeback
• 02/02/04  MetroLink planners are looking at 3 routes for south extension

 

St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Stadium

The $360 million ballpark project is on schedule to open for games during the 2006 season. For more information visit: http://www.ballparkconstruction.com/
 

• 11/01/04  Going for the triple; John Loyd and the new Cardinals nest
• 10/27/04  Lawyers doubt measure would affect stadium
• 08/04/04  New stadium taps into tradition
• 08/01/04  Cardinals Build New Ballpark in Downtown St. Louis
• 08/04/04  New ballpark gets old name: Busch Stadium
• 06/22/04  Stadium Continues Construction, But Remains Nameless
• 05/13/04  Lamping markets stadium naming rights as foundation goes in
• 03/15/04  Building Boom In China Forces Contractors To Pull Out
• 02/02/04  Buildings, lots around new ballpark on the sale block
• 01/23/04  RCGA predicts $800 million impact with stadium
• 01/17/04  Cardinals officially breaks ground on new ballpark
• 01/16/04  Cards to break ground on new ballpark Saturday
• 01/11/04  Cardinal's baseball stadium is now on fast track
• 01/07/04  Cardinals release details of Ballpark Founders program
• 01/05/04  Bank One dropped out of ballpark deal at 11th hour