KCRag Forum

photo by clayco

centene 2 is about topped out, this photo is a couple months old but has glass going up the sides of it now. it's really a monolithic presence in clayton and looms over even university city, now.

here it is popping over the u-city streetscape...



by user newstl2020 @ nextstl.com

here's a recent proposal for the south end of clayton along the hanley residential highrise strip:


via nextstl.com

there are numerous okay-enough highrise residential proposals floating around clayton, but this one infills a vacant grocery store and associated parking lot.

Sub District 2's Tower is very large up close. This photo is from Thursday. As of today, another half floor of steel is all that's left till the strucutre is complete. That should happen within the next day or two unless they slow down for a large topping out party. This building is large (chunky) when viewed from the East or West but when viewed from the North or South, it looks sleek, especially from the North (seen below). Wellbridge, a fitness company has already opened and their former building is beign demolished for a parking garage. Down at Carondelet, the parking garage is coming together with the corporate auditorium ready to rise.

There appears to be a handful of steel beams left to be placed on the main tower. Elsewhere, the parking garage is coming together, and as newstl2020 said above, excavation and demolition has begun on the residential portion. I think this is going to look exceptional once all the buildings go up. I am thinking that it shouldn't be much longer to will hear something on the residential Tower along Carondelet and the next round of skyscrapers at the wedge site behind the Ritz Carlton. Here are some photos from today from varying angles. The first is from nearly same spot as the photo I posted above.



Here are the new angles...

The next wave of Clayton development is well underway and it's going to reshape the district's streetscape and skyline. Projects consisting of apartments, hotel rooms, condos, and office space are all proposed or underway. In order of appearance:
- Forsyth Pointe: Office - under construction. Developer: US Capital Development.
- Residence Inn: Hotel - under construction. Developer: Midas Capital.
- Bemiston Place: Apartments - under construction. Developer: Balke Brown.
- AC Clayton: Hotel - under construction. Developers: Homebase Partners and Koplar Properties.
- 8230 Forsyth: Condos - proposed. Developer: Midas Capital.
- 50 South Bemiston: Apartments and Office - proposed. Developers: Green Street and Sterling Bank.
- 10 South Central: Condos and Hotel - proposed. Developers: Green Street and Midas Capital.
- Caleres Site/Clayton West End: Condos, Hotel, and Office - proposed. Developer: CRG (Clayco Real Estate Group).

How does Clayton get these projects approved? There are blocks of single-family homes nearby with what appear to be somewhat affluent owners. Don't the homeowners raise hell each time some project is proposed?

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6472394 ... 384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6511456 ... 384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6533519 ... 384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clay ... 90.3237263

FangKC wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:54 pm How does Clayton get these projects approved? There are blocks of single-family homes nearby with what appear to be somewhat affluent owners. Don't the homeowners raise hell each time some project is proposed?

People do complain but most realize that where they live is prime real estate for stuff like this. Most people have their concerns addressed in multiple public meetings where they can ask questions and give feedback. That makes a lot of people happy (to feel like they're part of the process and their opinion matters). That, plus set construction expectations (hours, clean up, firm timelines, etc) help calm some nerves. I know the most recent project to get a big time grilling was the 8230 Forsyth condo building but even those concerns were addressed and the project advanced to where it's now approved.

Now, if you propose something big south of Forest Park Parkway (like the Beacon a few years ago) you're surely going to get the NIMBYs going. That part of Clayton is more resistant to change than the area north of Forest Park Parkway. The Clarendale is lucky that it got built with the crowd down there.

Its kinda funny but I feel like Clayton is the states hottest real estate for urban development. I can think of a few places in STL City and KCMO where that 3rd picture would fit right in!

The buildings in the third picture were my favorite out of the set.

Some new projects have been proposed since last year. The small suburb continues to be among the hottest real estate markets in the St. Louis area and despite high interest rates, things continue to move along.

The latest one is this high-rise by Michael Knight. You might know him as the guy who redeveloped Commerce Tower on Main. "The Shaw" as it's been named, will feature 298 total units, some on-site parking, retail space, and amenities. the shorter building is the existing building at 121 South Meramec (the former 7-Up HQ) just given a haircut from 11-stories to 6. Chris Cedergreen is the design lead with the Lamar Johnson Collaborative being the architect of record.




At Meramec and Pershing, Keeley Properties, and Trivers Architects, proposed and won approval for a 6-story, 147-unit apartment complex. This will replace a grassy field that was created as a result of some buildings being demolished a few years ago.


10 South Central lost its condos and was shrunk to 20-stories. Now, it's just a hotel, retail space, and parking. Midas and Green Street are the developers. The Lamar Johnson Collaborative is the architect (HDA was the architect of the old plans).





50 South Bemiston's construction will soon start. That project is 24-stories and features 254 apartments, the new offices and a branch for Sterling Bank, additional retail space, and parking. Green Street and Sterling Bank are the developers. HDA is the architect.


In DeMun, Ellen Reid is proposing to turn an old multi-family building into a 24 room boutique hotel. The close proximity to Forest Park, Washington and Fontbonne Universities, St. Mary's Hospital, and 6being within the thriving DeMun business district means this place should do well. However, there's been no movement on this project since February.


Construction on Bemiston Place and the AC Hotel have reached the "topped out" stage in their process while 8230 Forsyth/Forsythia is currently undergoing site prep. The Caleres HQ redevelopment was dropped by Clayco/CRG and Pier Property Group picked it up. It's not yet clear what PPG is planning there or if they're even still planning a project there. The Residence Inn Hotel and Forsyth Pointe both recently opened to guests and tenants.

Forsythia, Bemiston Place, Meramec and Pershing, The Shaw, and 50 Bemiston total 971 new residential units (933 apartments and 38 condo). The AC Hotel, 10 South Central, and Hotel DeMun total

Good for Clayton. No surprise here at all. This is how development works when you have a competent Govt, low crime - because crime is not tolerated, clean streets and services, etc. And you have decent, honest people in each department. I can almost guarantee that Clayton's local govt has many people there that were successful in the private sector before they were lured to work for the city.

Compare this to STL and KC, both "progressive" bastions of idiot leadership, crime, rot, nepotism and corruption. Where few if any Dept leaders, Mayor, council, etc (outside of filthy lawyers) have worked in the private sector. Developers hate places like that!

So, uh...if you're the benevolent(?) dictator of a major city, how you bring them up your standard?

I'd love to hear your detailed plans as how individual city governments can solve national-level structural problems that are something other than "using police power to keep the poors out/in their place".

Chris Stritzel wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:45 am ...
In DeMun, Ellen Reid is proposing to turn an old multi-family building into a 24 room boutique hotel. The close proximity to Forest Park, Washington and Fontbonne Universities, St. Mary's Hospital, and 6being within the thriving DeMun business district means this place should do well. However, there's been no movement on this project since February.

Out of all of the developments shown, this is my favorite one.