Metropolitan Building - 500 North Grand (Grand Center)

stlgasm · PostApr 07, 2005#12005-04-07T13:02+00:00

It's been over two years since the Gills announced they would rehab the Metropolitan Building into apartments and retail. I wonder what the hold up is? It's probably the largest empty building left in the city now that the Syndicate Trust has just been claimed.

Has anyone heard anything lately?

debaliviere · PostApr 07, 2005#22005-04-07T13:21+00:00

I haven't heard anything, but I think that Gill and Fr. Biondi had a falling out. In a recent article on Grand Center, Gill mentioned that he wouldn't be doing any more projects there.

MattnSTL · PostApr 07, 2005#32005-04-07T13:31+00:00

There was an article in the Biz Journal that I have been meaning to post for a while.

Developers line up for two major Grand Center sites

Heather Cole

At least six developers are interested in two Grand Center sites up for redevelopment.

A joint pre-bid conference on the properties, which include a vacant site owned by Saint Louis University on the northeast corner of Grand and Lindell and the Metropolitan Building on the northeast corner of Grand and Olive owned by Grand Center Inc., drew several developers or teams of developers.

Continue reading here

thewayofthearch · PostApr 07, 2005#42005-04-07T16:45+00:00

Yeah, I knew the Met was now linked to the lindell site. From what I've heard from the proposals the Gills were'nt involved, but someone should be getting the rights soon. The Met is being donated via lease by some Trust for fifty years, which makes it less desirable i think. Just like the Royal Family, have property, lease it for a half or full century, let other people improve it and raise the value...

Its probably a good thing that it was tied to the lindell site, that was smart thinking...

sshoe · PostSep 22, 2005#52005-09-22T17:26+00:00

Today there was a large sign up on the Metropolitan building advertising for 63 condo units priced at $125K. The developer is pyramid. No clue as to when they plan on starting the rehab.

MattnSTL · PostSep 22, 2005#62005-09-22T19:01+00:00

I took a pic this morning while the sign was going up. I will post it when I get home this evening.

jmedwick · PostSep 23, 2005#72005-09-23T12:56+00:00

I love that pyramid is trying to single-handedly rehab every avaible building in St. Louis, but sometimes it would be nice if the wealth of projects was spread around a bit more, because it seems like Pyramid gets a project and then it waits in the pike while they work on there other earlier projects.

brickandmortar · PostSep 23, 2005#82005-09-23T15:59+00:00

This was on the P-D website

Lofts coming to Grand Center

POST-DISPATCH

Grand Center will be the next city corridor to convert its older building stock into lofts.

The old Metropolitan building will be the first on the block. Grand Center Inc. and Pyramid Construction will develop the old office building into 63 loft condos, with first floor retail and restaurant space.

suburban lou · PostSep 23, 2005#92005-09-23T17:34+00:00

There is an article in Business Journal the price range will be $125,900 for a one bedroom to $415,900 for a penthouse. There will be a 90 space parking garage built to the east facing Olive.

stlgasm · PostSep 23, 2005#102005-09-23T18:06+00:00

I hope the parking garage will have streetfront retail, but this is St. Louis, but knowing how things work around here, I'm sure it won't.

Great news nonetheless. It's about time!

debaliviere · PostSep 23, 2005#112005-09-23T18:16+00:00

So I guess the garage will be squeezed in between the Metropolitan and the Medinah/Centene Building? If so, I guess it would be pretty unobtrusive.

suburban lou · PostSep 23, 2005#122005-09-23T18:17+00:00

Actually Gasm the garage will have retail space.

laboubet · PostSep 23, 2005#132005-09-23T18:17+00:00

Has anyone noticed the SLU pillars going up at the vacant lot at grand and lindell. Also they have installed what looked like irrigation pipes. This gives me a bad feeling that they have no intentions for anything to happen on that site for a while. Anyone know anything more about this? I hope it isn't another SLU sculpture park.

jeff · PostSep 23, 2005#142005-09-23T18:48+00:00

Great news! The building is getting redeveloped, retail's going into the parking garage, and momentum continues in Grand Center.

Sometimes I have the same concerns about Pyramid as you do, Medwick, but at the same time, they eventually come through big time on their projects.

debaliviere · PostSep 23, 2005#152005-09-23T19:01+00:00

Honestly, I think the work that SLU is doing is just a quick fix. From what I can tell, they realize the value in putting a nice building on that lot.

Expat · PostSep 23, 2005#162005-09-23T21:38+00:00

Can't wait to see a picture of this building and really excited to see Grand Center get attention. Any company that wants to rehab every building in St. Louis has my support. Thanks Pyramid. And 1 bedroom for $125,900 is a good deal.

suburban lou · PostSep 24, 2005#172005-09-24T03:39+00:00

Curtain goes up on plans for arts district condos

By Tavia Evans

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/23/2005

Grand plans are in the works to convert vacant buildings in Midtown's arts and entertainment corridor into the next crop of condominiums.

The old Metropolitan building, 500 North Grand Boulevard, will be the first candidate. Parking for the condos may be built on a grassy lot on the southeast corner of Olive Street and Grand currently owned by St. Louis University.

Grand Center Inc., the development and promotional arm of the arts district, on Friday announced an agreement with Pyramid Construction to refurbish the property.

And more housing is on the way, said Grand Center President Vince Schoemehl Jr. "We would like to add upwards of 300 housing units for sale in the next four years," he said.

Schoemehl said he hopes to increase residential presence in the arts district, home to several galleries and the Fox Theatre.

Read More

MattnSTL · PostSep 24, 2005#182005-09-24T04:28+00:00

The sign alone will have a huge psychological effect on people coming into the area. The Metropolitan is the posterchild of abandonment in that area, simply because of its placement. With construction looming, the people coming in from the suburbs will see some signs of progress. Actual construction will have a bigger effect.

PostSep 24, 2005#192005-09-24T04:52+00:00

Nother random thought, with the Metropolitan being renovated soon, the Woolworth building is a big key to this area now, in terms of standing structures. While all those surface lots destroy the area, the Woolworth Building is the last building on the Grand strip that is without a firm plan. Something really needs to happen there to make the appearance of Grand not so shabby looking.

jeff · PostSep 24, 2005#202005-09-24T16:55+00:00

Hmm, this (the post dispatch) article mentions a parking lot, and not a parking garage complete with retail space. Let's hope its not just another ugly lot for grand center.

framer · PostSep 25, 2005#212005-09-25T04:35+00:00

I'm concerned about the parking plan too. The article says the "Southeast Corner of Olive and Grand". That's a pretty freaking important location within the urban context of Grand Center. Let's hope its not a surface lot. And how does this effect the rest of the now huge open space along Grand from Olive to Lindell, particularily the corner of Grand and Lindell?

MattnSTL · PostSep 25, 2005#222005-09-25T19:27+00:00

Here's the pics I took while the sign was going up Thursday morning.

Expat · PostSep 26, 2005#232005-09-26T00:33+00:00

Thanks for the pics. It will be great to have that building put back into service. I can't believe how empty the foreground is. I hope this building will help get things started and inspire new building.

suburban lou · PostSep 26, 2005#242005-09-26T04:37+00:00

Pyramid to debut condos at the Met in Grand Center

Lisa R. Brown

Grand Center Inc. chose Pyramid Construction to develop a $27 million condo project at the century-old Metropolitan Building at Grand and Olive. The first for-sale condo units in the arts district are expected to serve as a catalyst for other development in the area.

Pyramid will be assuming the master lease and purchasing the property this winter.

The eight-story, 100,000-square-foot building at 500 N. Grand will have 63 condos ranging from $125,900 for a one-bedroom unit to $415,900 for penthouse units

Read More

xing · PostSep 26, 2005#252005-09-26T04:49+00:00

Good! Good! Get these biggies going, then fill everything in between.