Have you all seen this new project by Pyramid? It has no relationship to the streets --- all three. It is named Sullivan Place but Sullivan Street was actually closed for this project. One of the biggest wastes of 5+ acres and millions of dollars I've ever seen.
This is pretty ugly, and I am sure it will be a nice safe building in ten years. After all, a prison is only going to attract criminals, and maybe that is why this looks like a prison.
Honestly, while having fun at St. Pattys Day in Dogtown, I was thinking that this type of development will not be stopped until we do something; yes, when I drink I still think about development. There is a lot of ugly newer housing being built in the Sublette Park area too, however, not nearly as bad as this prison. On a side note, my neighborhood of Northampton has a McDonalds, the huge Target, and a Schnucks, why is no one complaining about these? I do shop at these stores, however, they are not really urban, since they have huge parking lots, which could be smaller.
It is getting apparent that our Alderpersons do not really have the best interests of the City in mind. I guess many of them are from St. Louis County, or they must be taking a payoff.
Finally, the parking lot issue begs the question: will we really be able to reduce, or eliminate parking lots, before Metro actuallly works? People will not sacrifice their car until there is some continuity.
This is really ugly stuff! These developers give with one hand and take away with the other. None of them are to be trusted to do right by the city 100 percent.
stlpcsolutions wrote:On a side note, my neighborhood of Northampton has a McDonalds, the huge Target, and a Schnucks, why is no one complaining about these? I do shop at these stores, however, they are not really urban, since they have huge parking lots, which could be smaller.
This difference for me is current vs. established. I did critique the Target when being built but I kind of view the Hampton Village & McD's as being grandfathered in. I'm not going to backwards and be critical of all the suburban stuff built over the last 50 years. I don't have time.
But new stuff such as Sullivan Place certainly deserves our attention. We've got to draw the line on what gets built now going forward.
As for parking on this project, the number of spaces is low relative to the numbef of units --- less than one space per unit. Of couse, nothing is within walking distance.
A talented architect and urban consultant (cheap self promotion) could have produced an interesting project on this site with sufficient parking, a relationship with the street and without closing the alley or Sullivan Street. I also would have gotten the density to at least double that number so perhaps the units would have actually been affordable beyond just a marketing phrase.
Steve, you can grandfather in Hampton Village, however, a large argument for these suburban developments in the City, could be that developments like Hampton Village, which are suburban, are heavily used, thus in demand. This is a pretty strong argument that suburban developments are desirable, at least as far as shopping. I cannot see how any group could justify this development. Has anyone contacted Pyramid about this development, or maybe the Alderperson?
stlpcsolutions wrote:Steve, you can grandfather in Hampton Village, however, a large argument for these suburban developments in the City, could be that developments like Hampton Village, which are suburban, are heavily used, thus in demand. This is a pretty strong argument that suburban developments are desirable, at least as far as shopping. I cannot see how any group could justify this development. Has anyone contacted Pyramid about this development, or maybe the Alderperson?
I'll agree with you about demand for Sullivan Place being hard to justify. However, I would argue that Hampton Village is not in demand because it is suburban in its design. It is in demand because it is there, clean, and has needed retailers. If that were a blank site today and they were proposing to build Hampton Village today with the McDonald's outparcel I'd be arguing against it.
I would definately argue against it as well, however, if you visit the stores, you will see they are doing quite well. I am sure a more urban development could replace Hampton Village, and draw the same, or a larger amount of shoppers.
Again, the current usage of Hampton Village could be used as justification for the suburban strip mall shopping style, albeit incorrect justification. I suppose the best way to combat this thinking is to change perception and lobby for reform.
Hmmm...let's see: The scale and setbacks have absolutely no relationship to their surroundings, the residences are relatively small and expensive yet billed as affordable housing, and the obviously cheap construction combined with perimeter fencing gives the place an undeniably institutional, prison-like look. It's Pruitt-Igoe all over again, albeit on a smaller scale.
Pyramid does wonderful work in downtown, so I don't understand why the company isn't demanding more accountability from those that are responsible for projects elsewhere in the city. I thought Pyramid had a wonderful, peerless reputation until I realized the schlock they are responsible for building in other parts of the city. This particular project is especially shameful IMHO. This should've never made it off the drawing boards, and what was on the drawing boards should've been tossed in the wastebasket. I'm p****d.
Is Pyramid no longer in the business of renovating individual homes? Outside of their loft developments, it seems that they are getting away from their original bread-and-butter.
If these structures had been given a little more thought by a qualified urban designer and had been placed along the street with some street level commercial they might actually have been attractive. Instead, being in an urban neighborhood, it looks to me like a tornado had gone through and sacatered them about. In other words, it's not the buildings themselves, it's their arrangement, so I agree with the last several posts. It could have been nice, but turned out looking like crap thanks to inept planners who it seems have absolutely no concept of urban planning.
