KCRag Forum

rxlexi wrote:   It's surprising to see such a major component of such a major project not get worked out in some way.  So I assume Centene is staying in Clayton then?  They would have provided a major anchor to BPV, but it will certainly get done without them.

  Bleacherbum's comments sound like many folks here prior to the opening of P&L, i.e. it's a tourist district that I won't use, etc.  But I think Cordish has proved many wrong, at least in KC with P&L; it may well be touristy, but it's also the hottest spot in the city, a ton of fun and spins off all kinds of energy into the rest of downtown.  I think BPV will be the same way in StL, with or without a major corporate anchor, although it is strange and sad for StL nerds to see it scaled down...either way though the interaction between BPV and Busch will be sweet (rooftops that look out onto the field!) and it will be a huge benefit to DT StL.

It's not a given they will stay in Clayton, but they most likely will. Some of the things said about Cordish here in STL is they "don't like to share the sandbox" . Apparently Centene was developing their own tower and area(s) around it and Cordish wanted control over all the site.

It's time to put you on the spot. Upon reflection, did the city make the right call with the REI arena proposal, based on the choices it had?

Oh, absolutely. We've created a vision that I don't think anybody would have realized. In fact, I give credit to the assemblers, Robert Reel and Tom Prato and REI, for stepping up and creating a vision for where this could head over the next three to five years. In the redevelopment business, it's all about vision and creating value, and we've got to be a step ahead of where the market actually is in our potential investments. There are folks that think some of what we are doing downtown is not ready yet, but that's the business we're in, we're in the business of getting ahead of the marketplace.

Is there a contingency plan for that area?

The contingency plan is where it was headed before the assemblage came along, which was continued development of the Arts District and continued infill development in that area. It still represents a great investment opportunity. I don't think that area will ever get back to what it was. No matter what happens, you're going to see that 70 acres, at worst, break into smaller assemblages and more large-scale development just because it's in the way of the march northward of development along the Las Vegas Strip. The Strip is this organic thing that grows in both directions. If you wonder what's going to happen north, just go look south. It's like squeezing a tube of toothpaste: If you've got both ends open, it's going to come out of both ends.

Are there other possible arena sites, maybe closer to the Stratosphere?

We've been working with three groups: REI, Cordish and Goldman Sachs. The Goldman Sachs Whitehall fund purchased the Stratosphere and it has a collective interest in that area. Obviously, I think Goldman Sachs would love to see an arena there because it would reinforce its investment in the Stratosphere. Cordish is in the business of entertainment-themed development. If you look at its track record, it is coming off the Kansas City bar and light district, which is where it built a big arena in a large mixed-use development. It built the Hard Rock in Florida, and we're excited that it is interested in downtown. We're just trying to find a place for it to put a flag in the ground and get going, and we think this project represents that opportunity. We just have to figure out how to put that together.

the Kansas City bar and light district

aknowledgeableperson wrote: When did Cordish build the arena?

DaveKCMO wrote: i don't think a vegas arena has been built. from the article, it sounds like one deal fell through and they're looking at another plan that involves those three companies together.

After receiving a green light late Saturday night from the state Gaming Commission, Indiana Live Casino will officially open its doors Monday to the public. Doors open at 10 a.m. Monday.

The permanent site will feature not only the slots and electronic gaming devices but also upscale dining and nightlife destinations, including Maker's Mark Steakhouse, NASCAR Sports Grille, Live Market featuring international foods in a fresh-market atmosphere and both the Angels Rock Bar and Mosaic Center Bar. Up to 650 people may be employed by Indiana Live Casino at its permanent home.

Cordish and the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA are working on a plan to put an entertainment district in the city's Rose Quarter. The proposal has met skepticism in Portland, a city with "a love affair with authenticity," as one critic puts it on a blog.

KCMax wrote: Louisville, Cordish sign development deal

The new Center City development -- essentially a $200 million to $435 million expansion of Cordish's 4th Street Live entertainment hub -- is planned in the so-called water company block bounded by Second, Third and Liberty streets and Muhammad Ali Boulevard.