City Living    Lofts - Apartments - Housing
 

In recent years, it has become clear that the demand for market-rate housing in downtown has exceeded the existing supply. Downtown's existing condominiums and market-rate apartments are almost always filled to capacity, and some even have waiting lists. The downtown housing market could easily support an additional 470 new units each year, adding to the exhisting 5,700 housing units.
 

• 12/16/99  New houses bring new homeowners and new hope
• 12/10/99  Washington Avenue renewal plan comes with innovations
• 12/08/99  Washington Avenue will get face lift from Downtown Now
• 10/01/99  $2.6 million anonymous gift helps fund renovations in neighborhood
• 09/20/99  Restaurant, lofts, offices planned for old Bell building
• 07/25/99  Planners see Lemp Brewery becoming a cool place to live
• 07/19/99  500 homes, apartments envisioned for Midtown
• 07/14/99  Community improvement district close to reality in St. Louis
• 07/08/99  City money delay stalls apartments on the Landing
• 07/08/99  Washington loft district finally gets a grocery store
• 07/07/99  Renovation of Marquette Building is expected to begin in fall
• 06/23/99  The view from Cochran Gardens
• 06/07/99  Washington avenue spuce-up aims to lure residents
• 06/01/99  Western Wire conversion to Wireworks - Lofts in the Square
• 04/22/99  Vacant buildings may be revived
• 04/12/99  Refugees revitalize city neighborhoods
• 04/11/99  Real estate survey shows mixed trends downtown
• 03/22/99  Santangelos invest $60,000 in market for downtown
• 03/15/99  $32 million apartments, care center planned for Homer G. site
• 02/22/99  190 homes to be built in the city
• 02/08/99  Wrecking ball will signal rebirth for Darst-Webbe area
• 01/10/99  People who live Downtown form Board
• 01/08/99  Downtown Loft project is revived
  

 
Forest Park ~ Forever
 

As of October 1st, 1999: Forest Park Forever has received about $31 million of its $43 million goal for park work. The city of St. Louis also has pledged $43 million for the project, which planners hope will be completed by 2004 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1904 World's Fair.
 

• 12/20/99  Planetarium prepares to upgrade, thanks to bonds
• 12/01/99  'Tis the Giving Season in Forest Park
• 10/04/99  The Master Plan - "Restoring the Glory"
• 10/01/99  Forest Park gets $4.5 million boost for renovations
• 07/14/99  Two architects share $500 in design contest
• 01/28/99  Gift will enhance Forest Park
  

 
Mass Transit and Highway Improvements
 

The Midwest Rail Initiative is an effort to develop and implement a business plan for improving and expanding passenger rail services in the Midwest. The rail lines radiating out from Chicago to Detroit, St. Louis, and Milwaukee were designated as official high speed rail corridors by Congress six years ago. Amtrak will spend $25 million to start a rail network designed to link nine Midwestern states with high-speed passenger trains, similar to its Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston. The cost of the project is expected to be about $3.5 billion, with the federal government paying for at least half. The 110 mph trains will decrease the travel time from St. Louis to Kansas City from five hours 30 minutes to less than four hours and is expected to be finished in ten years.
 

• 12/20/99  New Metrolink stations spur adjacent development
• 12/07/99  Missouri's highway costs escalating
• 10/06/99  New bridge may mean tolls on all Mississippi bridges here
• 09/23/99  New Mississippi River bridge closer to reality
• 09/23/99  U.S. program gives $3.4 million for upgrading some MetroLink stops
• 09/23/99  St. Louis County is likely to change taxicab system at Lambert Field
• 09/21/99  Engineers detail I-70 bridge design
• 09/20/99  Agreement reached on new $550 million bridge
• 09/06/99  Speeding up Highway 40
• 09/06/99  There is a need for us to consider alternatives to automobiles.
• 07/29/99  Agency will study six MetroLink proposals
• 06/30/99  Plan chosen for MetroLink extension
• 05/19/99  State plans to rebuild Highway 40
• 04/18/99  Three ways people can talk about the new Mississippi River bridge
• 03/25/99  20-year transit plan shifts focus
• 02/11/99  Planners reveal proposal for new downtown bridge
• 01/31/99  Amtrak will start high-speed rail line in Midwest
• 01/28/99  Amtrak earmarks $2 million for station
  

 
Downtown Improvements and Construction
 

• 12/17/99  Crowded Central Library expands next door
• 12/08/99  Schoolboard may buy new headquarters downtown
• 12/08/99  Major concert venue is planned for Delmar
• 12/06/99  Ice rink planned for Gateway Mall
• 11/08/99  Tree-loving group tries to restore St. Louis area's urban forest
• 10/12/99  Denver trip gives St. Louisans ideas to revive downtown
• 08/28/99  Soulard Market plans revitalization
• 08/15/99  Rebuilding St. Louis' image through world-class design
• 08/15/99  Economic realities and urban idealism collide in parking facilities
• 07/20/99  Out-of-town officials laud potential of downtown
• 06/22/99  Regulars fear upgrade of Soulard Market will destroy its flavor
• 06/09/99  Visions of an African-American museum dance in St. Louisans' heads
• 04/07/99  New decorative lights will brighten King Bridge
• 04/01/99  Cards to hit $320 million home run for local economy
• 04/01/99  Private group studies 3 sites in city for exhibit hall
• 03/17/99  Plan to shrink Market Street leaves Harmon cold
• 03/15/99  Narrower Market Street, wider Gateway Mall
• 02/17/99  Demolition begins so city can build new jail downtown
• 02/15/99  Office Depot looks at St. Louis Centre
• 02/08/99  Cards go to bat for stadium
• 01/29/99  $1 million is pledged to build exhibit hall
• 01/29/99  Group would foot part of bill on lighting Arch
• 01/25/99  A.G. Edwards plans $78 million expansion
• 01/22/99  City seeks to force sale of the Syndicate Trust
• 01/14/99  Downtown is expected to match National resurgence
• 01/13/99  Region could receive up to $100 million in federal aid
  

 
Renovation Projects
 

• 12/20/99  Old City Hospital site gets $28 million cash infusion
• 12/13/99  Saks building in the Central West End set for renovations
• 12/09/99  St. Louis Downtown Revitalization Receives National Recognition
• 12/08/99  In St. Louis, Developers Bank on Tax Credits
• 12/07/99  Arcade-Wright owners again seek to demolish downtown landmark
• 11/26/99  Laclede Gas building owners plan extensive renovation
• 11/19/99  Developer chosen for City Hospital Group plans to save hospital
• 11/19/99  Plan for old City Hospital site preserves most existing buildings
• 11/03/99  Group proposes to use Merchandise Mart
• 08/22/99  Two developers are left in competition for old City Hospital
• 06/29/99  Project calls for rehabbing all 16 library branches by 2004
• 06/23/99  Many older buildings spared in renovation plan
• 06/18/99  Proposals for old City Hospital include hotel and grocery
• 06/09/99  Jury's award may lead to redevelopment of old Forest Park Hotel
• 05/25/99  Downtown planners offer 3 options for reviving Old Post Office area
• 05/24/99  Historic buildings by Old Post Office could be renovated
• 05/19/99  The Greeley Building will be redeveloped
• 04/12/99  130-year-old psychiatric center undergoes rehabilitation of its own
• 02/02/99  Avalon Cinema closes doors after 63 years in business
• 01/17/99  Donation will allow Sheldon Theater to renovate annex
  

 
Eads Bridge
 

The latest news on Eads Bridge is that the blueprints call for four lanes of vehicle traffic with a five-foot-wide path for pedestrians and cyclists on the north side of the bridge. Harmon recently said two lanes of traffic would be closed on the weekends for use by bicyclists, joggers and pedestrians. The Port Authority plans to relight the Eads Bridge with decorative lights that will outline the arches and columns and illuminate the arcades. Design elements feature a decorative handrail and period type street lamps from the turn-of-the-century. The project is estimated at $18 million and is scheduled to be completed in 2001.
 

• 06/21/99  Harmon compromises on Eads opening
• 01/11/99  Eads Bridge Opening for Millennium
  

 
St. Louis Kiel Opera House
 

• 11/29/99  A reopened Kiel Opera House would make millions, group says
• 11/07/99  Kiel Opera House is big, beautiful and dark
• 09/12/99  Sale of Kiel Center Raises hopes of renovating Kiel Opera House
• 06/01/99  Panel Fine-Tunes St. Louis Opera House Redevelopment Plan
• 02/18/99  Regional Arts Commision will give $5000 performing arts
• 01/19/99  Plan calls for Dinner Theater at Opera House
  

 
St. Louis Arena 1929-1999
 

Balke Brown Acquisitions Corp. completed an agreement with St. Louis city to buy the Arena site for $9 million. A commercial and mixed-used development is planned for the 26-acre site. The city bought the Arena in 1986 for $15 million, of which a $6 million debt remains. The Arena, which has been vacant since 1995, was demolished on February 27, 1999.


- Saint Louis Business Journal; February 10, 1999

 

• 11/24/99  Hole left by Arena demolition should be filled by March
• 08/24/99  Arena cleanup gets costlier
• 06/21/99  Arena site lures first tenant
• 03/01/99  Even as rubble, Arena shows that it can still draw a crowd
• 02/28/99  Thousands gather to watch last moments of an institution
• 02/23/99  Street closings, viewing sites announced for Arena demolition
• 02/22/99  Final farewell to the Arena
• 02/21/99  Spirtas denies he's an executioner; but he loves his job
• 02/11/99  Developer agrees to buy old Arena; demolition is set
• 02/05/99  Arena stands until developer signs contract
• 02/03/99  Wrecking company expected to demolish Arena by month's end
• 01/26/99  The Arena will come down
• 01/16/99  Sculptor's offer to buy Arena is rejected again
• 01/15/99  Harmon rejects money to delay Arena razing
• 01/08/99  City Museum Developer's vision for Arena
  

 
Downtown Hotel Plans
 

The funding package was unveiled for the $245 million convention hotel downtown. If everything goes as planned, construction should start March 2000 and be finished by mid 2002. The Board of Aldermen also signed off on two other projects early this year: $5.3 million in tax aid for renovation of the old Edison Brothers warehouse downtown and $600,000 in tax assistance for the Robert E. Lee riverboat. With these projects under way and the Drury Inn and Suites almost finished with the restoration of the old Fur Exchange and adjacent buildings, not to mention the Cupples Station renovation, downtown Saint Louis is looking rather brilliant!
 

• 12/16/99  Work on new hotel complex downtown should start next month
• 12/09/99  From wrecking ball to Italian marble
• 11/18/99  Casino Queen hotel on the waterfront
• 11/01/99  Downtown adds five hotels, more than 2,000 rooms
• 09/15/99  Cupples Station Becomes Catalyst for Downtown Redevelopment
• 10/19/99  Downtown convention hotel planned for St. Louis
• 09/08/99  Construction starts on Westin St. Louis
• 09/08/99  Cupples Station shows off its new face
• 07/08/99  Hotel loan package changing
• 06/23/99  City seals financing for new convention hotel
• 06/23/99  Hotel funding package unveiled
• 06/20/99  Convention hotel would be built on foundation of bonds, loans, credits
• 06/18/99  Proposals for old City Hospital include hotel and grocery
• 06/14/99  Convention hotel deal near
• 04/27/99  City lobbies HUD for hotel
• 04/09/99  120-foot sign marks renovation of Cupples Station
• 03/18/99  The art house chase       >>> more information on reopening
• 02/22/99  $13 million East St. Louis hotel to be ready for 2000
• 02/22/99  Starlight Roof party kicks off reopening of the Chase
• 02/06/99  A touch of the bubbly is on the menu for Chase reopening party
• 02/06/99  Aldermen OK tax subsidy for convention hotel downtown
• 02/05/99  Cupples Station is set to come alive after escaping ruin
• 02/04/99  Delay on bill could scuttle downtown hotel