I spoke to the good people at Breckenridge Companies today and was told that the company won't make a decision until June on whether the Kiel Opera House project will proceed.
According to Breckenridge, June is the month when a final decision will be made about the Abrams Federal Building, which Larry Rice is pursuing for an extension of his homeless shelter.
Total investment for the Kiel projects is over $100-million dollars and includes renovation of four theaters (total 5,000 seats), new seating, sound systems, and other external projects around the venue.
It really NEEDS to happen. If Breckenridge has his way, not only will the Opera House be reopened, but the Muni Courts as well (as a hotel). In addition, he plans on building a mixed use bldg with a garage on the lot at Clark and 14th where the Children's Bldg used to be. If Rice gets his way, none of this will happen, and an office bldg will become a homeless warehouse. Downtown has the vast majority of the homeless shelters in the region to begin with, and with a great big new one in a prominent location that would also eliminate the development of three significant structures--ouch.
Warehousing the homeless doesn't work. I can't believe he is actually trying to do this. Nothing could hamper the momentum we have downtown like putting 1000 homeless people on Market. Tourists love that...
Rice already draws people from the near north side down into DT with his New Life Evangelical Center. He moved into DT because St. Patricks already had the near north side covered, so he wouldn't be eligible for funding because it was a duplication of services. Sal. Army has midtown...now he plans to create the need for the Abrahms building. This is one project where if you build it, they will come...
This is one project where if you build it, they will come...
Boy, that sure is the truth!
To paraphrase every bad guy from Scooby-Doo, if it weren't for that meddling Rice, Breckenridge would probably have the financing in place for the Kiel by now. Instead, we have to sit and wait and hope that Rice's insane plan does not become a reality. I was originally very optimistic that Breckenridge would get the Abrams Building, but now I'm not sure what to think.
I know I've already suggested this somewhere else, but this building might suit St. Louis's brand new, world-class aquarium fine...
Honestly, what would you tell an out-of-towner to do while downtown? If the visitor is not a fan of admiring beautiful turn-of-the-century industrial and commercial architecture, there's...well...let's see...the Arch, Union Station, City Museum. Downtown needs more attractions.
It has great restaurants, and many of them. It has a nice atmosphere that is improving daily. It has a nice skyline. Washington Ave. is unique for this area. But are there any tourist destinations besides the above-mentioned?
A museum of some sort would be nice. Though I like the idea of redeveloping the East St. Louis riverfront, that architecture museum would be pretty neat to have downtown, even if not a tourist draw-er.
As I said above, an aquarium is a must, for me. Tourists love it too. Also, innovative attractions like the City Museum would be nice.
I won't get into the rest, because the focus is on the Kiel Opera House. But it seems to me, if the building is not redeveloped into a theater house, it could benefit from the above uses.
I don't like the aquarium idea. This thing needs to be a performing arts space. Aquaria (?) are second-class attractions like those random, sad museums you see on the side of the road to toys or Elvis or walnuts. This could be personal predjudice, however, as the only kind of fish I like are those rubbed with lemon and pepper.
If you want an aquarium, I wouldn't mind one in Forest Park, maybe close to and in conjunction with the Science Center.
I meant smaller projects developed by individual developers (like lofts) as opposed to the big-ticket projects (sporting venues, convention hotels, parking garages) that are pushed forward by government entities.
I meant smaller projects developed by individual developers (like lofts) as opposed to the big-ticket projects (sporting venues, convention hotels, parking garages) that are pushed forward by government entities.
Yeah...and speaking of hotels, does downtown really need another one? Is that a good use for this building or for the Municipal Courts building?
No, we really don't need another hotel. Occupancy rates are fairly low as it is. Ideally, the city would use it for offices and for their courts, but there's simply no money for such a project.
What I'm guessing is that Breckenridge didn't want an abandoned building next to his Opera House, and was willing to redevelop into a hotel just to have SOMETHING. Maybe operate it breaking even.
It would be interesting to make it a mixed use project. I'm thinking offices and retail. The courtrooms would make really cool shops or little eating places, and the office would probably attract ad agencies, telecommunications companies, and even law firms (those with a sense of humor) for office tenants.
That's a cool idea, Steve. As office space, it could be kind of like the Shupp Co's offices on Fourth Street, only bigger. They have a very cool office in the old Mississippi Valley Trust Co. Building.
ST. LOUIS (2005-04-15) Televangelist and St. Louis homeless advocate Larry Rice has lost an appeal to turn the Abram Federal Building downtown into a homeless shelter. Rice received word from the Department of Health and Human Services Friday.
Reverend Rice said he plans to sue HHS, but he also remains open to negotiating with the city for another building.
I hope Rice just gives up. It's time. I am all for a place to house the homeless, but downtown has too many shelters. It's time for Rice to consider expanding to the suburbs.
Talks about reopening the Kiel Opera House, on hold for nearly a year, are about to get back on track.
The Rev. Larry Rice last week lost his latest appeal to the Department of Health and Human Services to gain the former Abram Federal Building and turn it into a homeless shelter.
He plans to appeal, and has talked about suing the department.
Meanwhile, developer Don Breckenridge is racing to get his plans in place to convert the Abram building into offices and a parking garage for Kiel.
Breckenridge announced two years ago that he planned to reopen Kiel, shuttered since 1991, as a venue for Broadway shows and other entertainment. However, he needs additional parking in order to wrest the Kiel lease from the Savvis Center.
"I'm told by my lawyers that (Rice) has less than a 2 percent chance of winning this appeal," Breckenridge says. "We're willing to run that risk. We don't want to wait another six or eight months."
He plans to meet Wednesday with a number of city officials to jump-start the process. James Garavaglia, asset manager for the city comptroller's office, says that when talks stopped with the federal government, St. Louis was on the verge of getting an appraisal of the property and agreeing on a purchase price. The city wants to acquire the building and lease it to Breckenridge.
Meanwhile, Breckenridge says he has lined up most of the money he needs and is applying for tax-increment financing from the city.
The bottom line is that even in the best case, bureaucrats and lawyers probably will not be able to put together the deal before Labor Day, Garavaglia says.
With renovations, Kiel would reopen in late 2006, at the earliest.
Breckenridge says he is 90 percent of the way to signing Clear Channel Entertainment to a 20-year lease to manage Kiel.
This is indeed great news. But, man, it is really frusterating that the people of St Louis seem to think that EVERY BUILDING needs its own parking garage.
