As I’ve done for the last month, this is another post on potential development sites along the proposed initial route of the St. Louis Streetcar. The sections already reviewed are as follows:
This post continues west to the end of the first phase of the route, starting at Lindell & Vandeventer to Lindell & Taylor, south on Taylor to Children’s place at the BJC hospital complex and next to the Central West End MetoBus Transit Center & MetroLink station (map).
Longtime readers know I’ve advocated a modern streetcar line for years connecting Downtown, Midtown/Grand Center, Central West End, and the Loop. My preferred route was to go north on Vandeventer then west on Delmar. I’d still like to see a streetcar on Delmar. Other options to go north from the current proposed route are at Sarah and/or Taylor. I’d like to see a decision made about future expansion so the track can be added onto without disrupting the Lindell route.
Anyway, here’s a look going west from Vandeventer:
This Rally’s was built in 1993 on nearly a third of an acre site with streets on three sides (Lindell, Vandeventer, & McPherson. The land & building are owned by a firm in San Diego, CA. Given the short life expectancy of such a structure I’d expect a more urban building on this site in the first 5 years of the streetcar line.Next door the American Automobile Association of Missouri is renovating their iconic former headquarters building. CVS is building a drugstore on the west end of the site.The apartments at 3949 Lindell are being rebuilt after a 2012 fire, this is an August 2008 photo. More development of this scale will become the norm along the route, it’ll be a 10-20 year process, not overnight.A number of buildings occupy smaller lots on the south side of Lindell, these do a poor job of connecting with the sidewalkThis McDonald’s was built in 2008 on a site that is nearly an acre. McDonald’s owns the site so I wouldn’t expect to see a change for 20-30 years unless the land value increases dramatically and drive-thru sales collapseThis building, The Continental, was built in 1965. City records indicate it has 49 apartments. Density is good but it isn’t welcoming. New facade? Raze & replace?The Arby’s on Lindell, built in 2007, is also on nearly an acre siteThis American Red Cross building has good mass & density, but a poor relationship with the public sidewalk, typical for 1966.The former mansion at 4054 Lindell was built in 1896. It appears to be in decent condition so perhaps it’ll get a new owner or be razed for something more urban.The apartment building at 4066 Lindell, built in 1927, has 68 apartments. As is it provides affordable units, but renovation to go upmarket is possible, displacing low-income tenants in the process.The part of Lindell Marketplace on the east side of Sarah sits on 4.8 acres. The will get razed & redeveloped into a dense mixed-use site before the larger site to the west due to fewer tenants to inconvenience.With three outlots included, Lindell Marketplace on the west side of Sarah has 9.3 acres. It is bounded on all sides by public streets, built in 1986. Multiple ownership, anchor tenant Schnucks, and many small tenants complicate redevelopment.This Jack-In-The-Box at 4111 Lindell, built in 2011, occupies one of the three outlets.CVS wanted to raze the former Public Housing Authority building at 4100 Lindell but there was opposition. Hopefully it’ll get a nice renovation that respects the original 1957 design. I picture a ground floor restaurant with a lush patio out front, offices or apartments 0n upper floors.The 1948 building next door is more likely to get replaced than renovated.4158 Lindell is from 1948 but I see no reason why a developer shouldn’t raze it and build a mixed-use building. The Leonardo Apartments to the west is on a smaller lot and contains 34 apartments.The Walgreens at 4200 Lindell was built in 2002 on a massive 1.8 acre site. I see this as being a perfect location for Walgreens’ new upscale urban flagship format, complete with a fresh sushi bar, in a multi-story mixed-use building. Click photo for article about this new format.I’d like to see the American Cancer Society lease part of their ground floor to activate the NW corner of Lindell & Whittier StThis one-story branch bank was built in 1995 when SLU bought & razed the branch at Lindell & Grand. The site is 0.75 acres.In 2009 the San Luis Hotel was razed for a parking lot. Hopefully we’ll eventually see a new building on this siteThe Boatman’s Bank on Lindell in 1990-91, now a Bank of America, is very disconnected to Lindell.The NE corner of Lindell & Euclid was built in 1968. A high-rise was planned for this site when the economy crashed.The SW corner of Lindell & Euclid has been a parking lot for 20+ yearsThe parking lots on the east side of Kingshighway should also be considered for developmentThe west end of phase 1 would be next to the open air CWE MetroBus Transit CenterThis street would be the initial west end point, nearly zero development potential unless you’re willing to raze a garage built in 1994
There’s much more development potential here than I originally thought, but with mixed-use projects like 3949 Lindell and the planned City Walk (with a Whole Foods) it could be argued the streetcar is needed in other areas to get development rolling.
Future installments in this series will look at:
Development potential in the downtown central business district
Some challenge/changes the streetcar will create
And a poll(s) on routes for future expansion
Still, I’m excited by the transit the streetcar could provide as well as the level of development it could spur.
This is the most inane series of post I’ve ever seen. Half of the City is vacant lots or empty buildings and you felt the need to point out the inherent development opportunities such sites present. No kidding, or do you really think running a trolley past an abandoned warehouse is going to generate spec development?
Yes, transit can spur development so empty buildings and lots become occupied. It is important to discuss these things so 20 years we end up with the city we desire, or as close as we can get.
Dude, keep it civil! Discussion involves listening to and respecting other people’s opinions even when you disagree with them. Steve thinks that this is an important issue, it’s his website, and he either tolerates or encourages dissenting viewpoints. If you have something constructive to offer, let’s hear it; if not, troll somewhere else . . . .
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This is the most inane series of post I’ve ever seen. Half of the City is vacant lots or empty buildings and you felt the need to point out the inherent development opportunities such sites present. No kidding, or do you really think running a trolley past an abandoned warehouse is going to generate spec development?
Eddie, I agree 100%. I skip through these posts and get a chuckle, then I return to the real world.
Yes, transit can spur development so empty buildings and lots become occupied. It is important to discuss these things so 20 years we end up with the city we desire, or as close as we can get.
Kill yourself
Dude, keep it civil! Discussion involves listening to and respecting other people’s opinions even when you disagree with them. Steve thinks that this is an important issue, it’s his website, and he either tolerates or encourages dissenting viewpoints. If you have something constructive to offer, let’s hear it; if not, troll somewhere else . . . .