This one is all about the look of the building and the potential for a more densely compacted Cortex Innovation District with more jobs and opportunities to make St. Louis a magnet for tech savvy employees and citizens.
Cortex K Development - Southeast Cortex Addition
Micro-Apartments and a Grocery Store Right on the Delmar Divide
Artizen Residences - Central West End
Chouteau Greenway - Stoss Landscape Urbanism Chosen as Design Team
The design and architecture firm to lead us toward the future of a fully realized Chouteau Greenway was chosen this week. Here are some quick thoughts and high-level considerations given to the jury report and strengths/weaknesses discussed. Well done Great Rivers Greenway! This city is doing things right an headed in the right direction.
Formerly Dead Parts of the City Starting to Feel Alive Again
A recent night out in the Central West End made us realize just how far the southeast section of the neighborhood has come. This post includes a photo tour of Laclede Avenue and West Pine Boulevard between Vandeventer and Sarah Street, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of whether this part of the city is become a neighborhood again after years as a light industrial stronghold.
One Hundred Kingshighway - 2016 St. Louis City Talk Favorite
Last but certainly not least on my list of twenty favorites from 2016, the skyscraper proposal at One Hundred Kingshighway Boulevard between West Pine and Lindell in the Central West End Neighborhood.
This one was announced in December, so I had already assembled my list of top twenty projects when this one came in. That list had to change when I saw this rendering for a 36-story residential tower on a current surface parking lot, overlooking the jewel of the Midwest-Forest Park I was blown away.
Schlafly Branch of the St. Louis Public Library
The Central West End was formerly served by the Lashly Branch which opened in July, 1968 at 4537 West Pine Boulevard. The building was designed by the William B. Ittner, Inc. architectural firm and Talisman, Inc. served as the chief contractor. The building was named in memory of Jacob Mark Lashly, a St. Louis lawyer and library leader who served 26 years on the St. Louis Public Library Board of Directors (source).
Taylor Park
Previously it was a grass field. Per a 2010 article by Sarah Fenske in the Riverfront Times, Taylor Park was formerly the CWE Dog Park. The city obtained development rights of the site as part of a recent deal that allowed Barnes Jewish Hospital to take over Hudlin Park, which was technically part of Forest Park, but located across Kingshighway Boulevard to the east. You may remember the park that included tennis courts and playground equipment. (source)
Samuel Kennedy Park
This park can accurately be described as a pocket park based on the small, irregular strip of land that it was built upon. The sliver of space is between Olive Street and Washington Avenue, just east of Kingshighway.
The Central West End Neighborhood
CWE is arguably St. Louis' greatest, most vibrant neighborhood. It's got so much to offer that almost any right-minded city lover would desire to call the CWE home. Geez where do I start?
How about the location? CWE has direct proximity to Forest Park, easy access to I-64, the previously mentioned Metrolink/MetroBus access, a world-class hospital complex, multiple independent and chain restaurants, independent shopping/galleries, bars, mixed architecture, civilized movie theatre, public library branch, walkable streets, mid-century mod buildings, history, economic/racial/ethnic diversity, you name it....CWE has it all. It's the perfect neighborhood for a date night, a must-stop on visitor tours of St. Louis and a great spot for lunch/dinner or a snack before heading to Downtown, Forest Park or many of the other nearby draws of Grand Center, Midtown Alley, etc. The presence of Barnes/Jewish, Children's Hospital and Washington University Medical School also make this a powerhouse employment area.
