The Ice House District

debaliviere · PostJan 06, 2005#12005-01-06T21:24+00:00

I was talking to a prominent commercial real estate broker at the Rams game on Sunday (our season tickets are right next to each other), and we were discussing downtown development. One project that he mentioned was called the Ice House District, but he would only tell me that we will be hearing about it soon. Apparently, there will be some development surrounding the old ice house just south of downtown (near Purina and the Eat Rite) - I'm anxious to hear what it will be!

There have already been a few buildings rehabbed in that area - a loft office building on 7th Street and another close to the highway.

suburban lou · PostJan 06, 2005#22005-01-06T21:48+00:00

Where is the Ice house, does anyone have pics?

This really sounds interesting I hope information is let out soon.

par · PostJan 06, 2005#32005-01-06T22:08+00:00

Is it that windowless brick building at 6th and Lasalle maybe. That looks kind of icehouse-ish. I haven't gone by there in awhile, but I seem to remember someone working on the roof.

debaliviere · PostJan 06, 2005#42005-01-06T22:09+00:00

It's near Broadway and Chouteau. There is a FuelMan station there, and the Ice House is behind it (to the west)

I don't have a picture of the Ice House itself, but here are a couple of pictures of the area from around a year and a half ago:

I think it's just north of this building:

PostJan 06, 2005#52005-01-06T22:10+00:00

You got it, Par. That's the building.

MattnSTL · PostJan 06, 2005#62005-01-06T22:35+00:00

Interesting. The developer on that office renovation did a nice job. I can't wait to find out what is planned. Downtown should now stretch from the Bottle District all the way to the Ice House District, via Chouteau's Lake. I can't wait for all this work to get started.

arch city · PostJan 07, 2005#72005-01-07T00:01+00:00

Great!

I suspect the current developers in this area want it to be sustained. Right now it is very sparse and disconnected, I think, but some infill development would do the area much justice.

The exisiting buildings in the area are really coming along nicely.

PostJan 07, 2005#82005-01-07T00:08+00:00

The icehousedistrict.com and mblrealty.com domains are registered to

MBL Realty Corporation

11728 Holly Springs Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63146

314-591-5022

314-567-5860

MattnSTL · PostJan 07, 2005#92005-01-07T00:17+00:00

Well, we know he wasn't making this up then. I can't wait for the announcement. I also like the name. It is something unique, even more so than the bottle district I think.

beer city · PostJan 07, 2005#102005-01-07T01:25+00:00

Interesting,

This could go a long way to linking Soulard to dowtown.

comandantecero · PostJan 07, 2005#112005-01-07T03:10+00:00

this is just a side note, but do we need that many marketing derived "districts"? I'd much rather see something more organic develop.... i mean BB's is right around there as is the Soulard Market and what used to be that one haunted house/factory that i think went lofts. I'm sure the area could be placed under the Soulard umbrella, or atleast develop it's own name, once it becomes a real and thriving neighborhood..... anywho not that important, but it seems like everyone wants to name their projects or developments a "district" (not only in St. Louis), and they all have rather contrived names.......

par · PostJan 07, 2005#122005-01-07T04:14+00:00

ComandanteCero wrote:this is just a side note, but do we need that many marketing derived "districts"? I'd much rather see something more organic develop..

How about SoChou? south of Chouteau

I do like how this could tie Soulard to DT.

Also, how easy is it to punch holes in the facade for windows & doors?

MattnSTL · PostJan 07, 2005#132005-01-07T04:50+00:00

All it takes is a concrete saw assuming the building is built with columns and beams. If it is masonry throughout, like most older structures, you have to put in headers above the windows, and build support around the opening you are cutting, which makes for more work, but still easily doable.

xing · PostJan 07, 2005#142005-01-07T05:34+00:00

I just saw on channel 4 news something about some development with a few developers involved, but I didnt catch the name or place, and I can't find the news on the website. The story on TV was extremely brief, and I just wanted to stop the tv rewind it.

I don't recall hearing the word "Icehouse," but I could be wrong. I missed so much information.

MattnSTL · PostJan 07, 2005#152005-01-07T05:44+00:00

I'm sure it will be mentioned again tommorrow. We all just need to watch closely.

archmadness · PostJan 12, 2005#162005-01-12T18:15+00:00

Beer City wrote:Interesting,

This could go a long way to linking Soulard to dowtown.

My sentiments exactly. I'm excited to see this idea fold out.

suburban lou · PostMar 21, 2005#172005-03-21T06:30+00:00

Any thing new on this?

debaliviere · PostApr 16, 2005#182005-04-16T15:32+00:00

Rumor has it that the developer of the Ice House District is about to start condemnation procedures to acquire a plot of land at 7th and Hickory that is currently home to an auto salvage yard...

MattnSTL · PostApr 16, 2005#192005-04-16T17:25+00:00

I hope they get it. The yard is a waste of the land, and it doesn't look too great either.

soulardd · PostMay 01, 2005#202005-05-01T19:36+00:00

I rode my bike past the salvage yard today, they really need to get rid of that thing. Also, I see a brick building down the street that appears like it's being redone. The only problem is that most of the new ground floor windows have already been broken out. Really a shame. Seeing that pissed me off.

One big question of mine though... has this project moved beyond "rumor" status yet?

irocktheparty2000 · PostMay 02, 2005#212005-05-02T02:32+00:00

That building is actually the home of my new place of employment. We are being told it will be ready by the end of May. We'll see on that one. And yes, they have replaced those lower windows several times now as they keep getting broken out. Not sure what they are doing to help prevent this but something needs to be done. By the way, the building is going to be awesome when completed.

debaliviere · PostJul 22, 2005#222005-07-22T15:03+00:00

More news:

http://www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov ... aSalle.pdf

conurbation · PostJul 22, 2005#232005-07-22T16:05+00:00

How can this building be considered a Historic Place? I am all for this project going ahead, but if the Polar Wave Ice and Fuel Company is so important to the history of St. Louis why haven't I ever heard of it before. Not to mention that the building doesn't seem to have any interesting architecture. This is just a misuse of the Historic Places program for the benefit of a developer.

matth · PostJul 22, 2005#242005-07-22T16:35+00:00

There are multiple Polar Wave Ice houses throughout the city, and all are considered historic. Not only does it benefit the developer, but also the neighborhood that this first phase will help create. I don't consider it a misuse at all.

debaliviere · PostJul 22, 2005#252005-07-22T17:05+00:00

And, in fairness, you can't really get a feel for the building from those three pictures. I would assume that new window openings will be cut in the building if/when construction starts.

Apparently, the whole project is kind of stagnant right now as the members of the development group have been having some disagreements.