<A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... EA1EB">New downtown condos are all about the river</A>

By Charlene Prost

Of the Post-Dispatch

05/31/2005



Downtown St. Louis is about to get something it never has had before: a condominium building overlooking the Mississippi River.



What's coming also will be the first new vertical residential building constructed in downtown since Mansion House opened in 1966.



Rodgers Group LLC in Clayton intends to spend about $25 million to build the 10-level Port St. Louis. Developer Mark Rodgers said it will have 49 high-end condos on seven floors, atop three levels of parking.



All the units will have balconies designed to take advantage of the river views. The glass and brick building also will have a rooftop deck with a swimming pool, entertainment area and other amenities.



Because the land slopes toward the river, the building will be seven stories on the west side, 10 stories on the east side. The 120 parking spaces, two for each condo and then some, will be tucked into the slope.



Designing a building on top of sloping land was just part of the challenge facing the developer and Shaughnessy Fickel and Scott Architects Inc. of Kansas City.



The building will rise just west of a working railroad trestle that shares the block. The site also is in a flood plain.



The solution for both problems: Put the condos above the parking.



"The first residential floor will be slightly above the trestle," Rodgers said. The trestle won't block views, he said, but "you will see the top of trains go by. "



The building also will have sound-resistant windows to block noise from outside. And it's being specially designed to withstand floods, earthquakes, vibration from trains and anything else that comes its way.



"We will go to bedrock with our piers," Rodgers said. "Everybody's best guess is 20 feet down ... so structurally, it will be a very sound building."



If flood waters do rise, the condos should be high and dry. "We know some parking will at times be flooded," Rodgers said, "but we're making sure the residential is above the flood plain."



He and his twin, John Rodgers, own the development firm that is planning its first project downtown. They got involved after Jo Ann Keeney, a broker and owner at Independent Brokers Network LLC, called to suggest that they take a look at the undeveloped block in Laclede's Landing.



Keeney, a broker for Landing properties for years, said she was impressed with the high quality of the Rodgers' Shaw Park Villas condo project in Clayton. She said she wanted to see something similar in the Landing, now that the market for it finally is there.



Mark Rodgers said he and his brother didn't take long to go for it once they saw the vacant block. They own part of the land and have contracts to buy the rest.



"The river is St. Louis' best asset. It has the best views," he said. "We couldn't believe there wasn't something on that land."



Rodgers said construction should start later this year or in early 2006, as soon as about half the condos are reserved. Construction will take about two years.



As of this week, Rodgers said, 14 would-be buyers - from in town and out of town - have signed on.



Among them is Mary Jean Russell, development director for the Wings of Hope organization. She said she "can't wait" to move to Port St. Louis from a duplex she owns in University City, now that her daughter has grown up and moved away.



Russell, 50, said she looked at some renovated residential buildings downtown, but none was a good match. Then she heard about Port St. Louis, checked out the design and found what she was looking for.



"I'll have the history of St. Louis, the beauty of the river, the excitement of the riverfront, all right there," she said. "I wanted to find a place overlooking something beautiful. My unit will overlook the Eads Bridge, the (Gateway) Arch ... and I'll even be able to see the bend in the Mississippi to the north from my wrap-around balcony."



Rodgers Group LLC



Address: 7401 Maryland Avenue, Clayton

Founded: 1988 by twins Mark and John Rodgers

Specialty: Builds and renovates houses, mainly in west St. Louis County, Clayton and University City. It currently is building Shaw Park Villas, a 12-unit luxury condominium project at 50 and 60 Brighton Way in Clayton, and planning Port St. Louis, a condominium project on Laclede's Landing in St. Louis.





Port St. Louis

Cost: About $25 million.

Details: 49 condominiums on seven floors above three levels of parking.

Condo prices: About $628,000 to $698,000 for units with 1,800 to 2,000 square feet, respectively.

website: http://www.portstlouis.com/

I never thought I would see the day that so many developers would express so much confidence in downtown St. Louis. There has been a sea change in attitudes, no doubt about it. Especially if they are offering units that start in the $600s. It eats me alive to be so far away and not be able to take part. Thanks for this forum, because I truly am living vicariously through all of you.

Doesn't Laclede's Landing have guidelines for new construction like Lafayette Square and Soulard do?

I recently heard a developer say that they know the market demand for city living is very strong but they don't know how deep it goes. I think they are learning as they go and finding that the demand is deeper than expected.

yikes, but at over $300 sq/ft? Where does that number come from? The highest I have seen downtown is $220 sq/ft and that is in the core of the developing neighborhood. If this bird does fly, then we should see the eventual demise of the surface lot sooner than expected....

Expat wrote:I never thought I would see the day that so many developers would express so much confidence in downtown St. Louis. There has been a sea change in attitudes, no doubt about it. Especially if they are offering units that start in the $600s. It eats me alive to be so far away and not be able to take part. Thanks for this forum, because I truly am living vicariously through all of you.

I did that for several years being out West, and eventually finally just moved back about four years ago.



I couldn't have returned at a better time. Just the amount of upward changes I've seen in the mere few years I've been back alone have been incredible for me to observe. Now with the new ballpark, Ballpark Village, the Pinnacle Casino tower and Four Seasons on The Landing all coming over the next two years, climaxing with phase one completion of the Bottle District at the same time-- it will be even more exciting to see in half the amount of time.



The fact that there are investors lined-up for a $300 million project near The Landing could only peak the interest of other investors to get in on the action around there.

Thanks TruBluSTL, reading about folks that have returned or those that have discovered & moved to St. Louis from elsewhere is encouraging to me. Also makes me a bit jealous.

When regarding Laclede's Landing and just about anywhere on the riverfront, they should be able to go modern. If you ride a boat from the Tower of London to Greenwich, you see the Thames River lined up with modern, cool residential buildings that seem to fit in with the sometimes industrial and grimy setting. I find it uplifting. I say we do the same thing and call it The Docklands like they do. Or Port St. Louis would be good, too. I wouldn't agree with tearing down the few great old buildings that still exist down there but copies are not necessary.

While working as an intern at the Missouri Historical Society, i saw some of the early concept drawing and designs for the Landing area. Many of these designs had large modern high rise buildings that looked similar to the US bank building or the Mansion House apartments. Ultimately, it was decided that they older buildings in the area should not be torn down and the landing evolved as it is now, mostly an attempt to preserve and reuse the old warehouses.

With that in mind, it think it would be nice to have some newer buildings on the landing adding more of an eclectic mix. The city was right originally that the areas should not be dominated with 30 or 40 story high rises that would look awkward near the arch and require tearing down most of the landing. However, 5-10 story residential modern buildings on the vacant lots that surround the landing would make the whole area better.

The buildings in London's Docklands on the Thames are not super high rises. They are probably within the 5 - 10 floors that JMedwich mentions. They really fit in, they are not monumental.

The dockland development in London is a treat for those that can go and see it. What i think is the most interesting and most relevant part for St. Louis are the numerous apartments and condos that are strung along the old canals in the area. It is a beautiful setting with modern apartments strung along the small canals surrounded by sidewalks and small pedestrian bridges. Frankly, I wish this concept was taken lock stock and barrel for the area south of the arch grounds, as a method of linking the river, a proposed lake, and the warehouses of the area.

We are in complete agreement! Love those canals and walkways.

The landing is definately an area that should be a mix of old and new, just like the CWE or midtown or downtown, even most hoods should be. I think this will look good, even though I would like to see a better rendering than the paper has. Starting in the 600's. That may be pushing it, but if no one ever does push the bar, it will never raise. Hopefully they didn't push it too much at once.

I don't know, I like the idea of requiring new buildings on the Landing to fit in with the original ones. The district is kind of like a trip back in time, with the historic buildings, cobblestone streets, etc. - I like it that way.



I don't really have any major problem with the proposed building, but if I had a choice, I would prefer to see the heart of the Landing keep its historic look and feel, while allowing buildings on its periphery to be built in different styles.

This is on the periphery, so I think it would not hurt the historic charm. It would almost increase the historic value, by making it even more apparent that it is such a treasure.

GREAT GREAT NEWS on this project too.



It is really unbelievable how Dwontown St. Louis is developing and the renewed interest to build. This new building on Laclede's Landing in addition to the 22+ story Pinnacle Four Season's Hotel Tower on Laclede's Landing and the addition of the Bottle District and the two new residential towers being built there - the north side of the skyline is expanding rapidly in the next two years or so. Love it!

Isn't this project close to the new location that the President is trying to move to? If so, I wouldn't pay that much money to overlook a tacky casino.

When regarding Laclede's Landing and just about anywhere on the riverfront, they should be able to go modern. If you ride a boat from the Tower of London to Greenwich, you see the Thames River lined up with modern, cool residential buildings that seem to fit in with the sometimes industrial and grimy setting. I find it uplifting. I say we do the same thing and call it The Docklands like they do. Or Port St. Louis would be good, too. I wouldn't agree with tearing down the few great old buildings that still exist down there but copies are not necessary.

I have been taking some photos of the residential buildings along the Thames River here in London, and have posted them to my photo website. You can view them at:



http://www.trekshare.com/members/ozarknomad/index.cfm



To view the photos, just scroll down to ?ozarknomad?s trips? and then click on the camera icon next to ?2005 LONDON Architecture and Views?. Unfortunately, I don?t know how to post the photos on the Urban St. Louis website.



The residential buildings shown are from the Docklands and other areas in London. I also have a photo of the old Bankside Power Station, which was turned into the Tate Modern Museum. Great way to use an old building.

Markinlondon, thanks for the pics! Some of those buildings could be transplanted from the Thames to the Mississippi and look fantastic. When looking at Markinlondon's pics, please note the big, brown, muddy river and the flood/sea walls. I think many people think that since the Mississippi is a big muddy that floods it should be avoided. It is our major body of water and we should find ways to embrace it. And we already have a world-famous, modern riverfront centerpiece, the Arch. And right next door is Eads Bridge and cobblestoned Laclede's Landing. We have some good things to build on.

Port of St. Louis was mentioned in the RFT this week in an article titled,

"Laclede's Lament - Will the Landing ever get its act together?"

This summer the LLRC managed to green-light two projects, including a new 49-unit condominium complex overlooking the Mississippi River that will begin rising next April. Spearheaded by Clayton developers the Rodgers Brothers, Port of St. Louis, as it's to be called, will be the first housing built on the riverfront since before the Civil War.



The second project will be helmed by Red Brick Realty's Pete Rothschild, who is leading redevelopment plans on the 131-year-old Switzer Building, where 28 condos will be situated above street-level retail outlets.

Rodgers Group gets Pinnacle's downtown condo project



Rodgers Group Development was tapped by Pinnacle Entertainment to develop the planned condominiums on Laclede's Landing as part of Pinnacle's $400 million downtown casino project, the company said Thursday.



St. Louis-based Rodgers will develop the $25 million, 10-story condominium building, called Port St. Louis. The building will include three stories of enclosed parking, 49 condos and a roof-top pool.



The building makes up about half of the $50 million in residential housing that Pinnacle committed to build as part of its downtown casino development.



"Our vision for Port St. Louis is to develop imposing, architecturally significant condominiums that will transform the St. Louis riverfront," said Mark Rodgers, of Rodgers Group, in a statement. "With Pinnacle's high-end development just a block away, these combined projects will truly revolutionize the entire area."



Work on the building is expected to begin next spring and continue through 2008.



The downtown casino development, scheduled to open in 2007, will include a casino, luxury hotel, spa, business center, restaurants and meeting and convention space.



Las Vegas-based Pinnacle has also started work on its $375 million River City Casino & Hotel project in south St. Louis County scheduled to open in 2008.



Rodgers Group Development is also working on Shaw Park Villas and on various homes in the Clayton and University City areas.



>>Source



>>Press Release from Pinnacle with more details



Also, there are renderings on www.portstlouis.com hopefully they are refined a bit more as they look like they were drawn on a 10 year old computer.

This half of their residential obligation. Have they said how they will fulfill the other half of their obligation?