New renderings of a proposed $80M residential and retail project by Washington University in The Loop have appeared as part of a demolition review by the City of St. Louis Preservation Review Board. Project architect is listed as William Rawn Associates. At issue specifically are 609-611 Eastgate and 6236 Enright. Both are listed as contributing buildings within the Delmar Loop‐Parkview Gardens National Register Historic District. The project would also require the demolition of two contributing buildings in the National Register district on Delmar in University City at 6241 and 6251 Delmar. The completed project would consist of 22,000 square feet of retail space and 240 apartments.   

The project spans the University City - City of St. Louis line, but as the vast majority of the project sits within the boundaries of U-City, the City of St. Louis has designated U-City as the municipality to review new building permits for the buildings and manage inspection. The recommendation of the city's Cultural Resources Office states, "That the Preservation Board approve the demolition of the two buildings as the proposed new construction equals or exceeds the quality of proposed demolitions and the project would be in general accord with the current development of the Delmar thoroughfare in the local historic district."


{south elevation - Delmar Boulevard}


{east elevation - Eastgate Avenue}


{project site plan}

Comparing the new rendering with the old:


{07/19/2012)


{02/26/10}

Photos of updated renderings and models added 09/18/12. Images were posted on the nextSTL Forum by user Tyrp. There are a few small changes in the design, but the plan appears to remain very similar to the images above.














 
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Previous story from 02/27/12:


{red - Delmar/Eastgate mixed use building, yellow - Enright apartments, green - greenspace}

As we continue to witness demolition for parking, or worse, in Clayton, Kirkwood and elsewhere, The Loop appears to continue its trend towards becoming a dense urban neighborhood. Recent development has focused on retail and entertainment (the Moonrise Hotel, Pageant), but Washington University is now proposing the first new residential construction on Delmar in The Loop in decades.

With apartments the university is calling an "innovative housing concept" for students, the project would also include 20,000 square feet of retail space. The project will significantly alter the Delmar streetscape at Eastgate. The former site of a Meineke auto repair business and past gas station. The university purchased the lot in 2008. In 2010, nextSTL covered potential development as the school surveyed students to gauge interest in living in The Loop.


{site plan for mixed use building facing Delmar/Eastgate and new residential on Enright}

While the highest profile corner is currently vacant, the project seeks to demolish two residential buildings on Delmar, a commercial storefront on Eastgate and 10 residential apartment buildings on Enright. As a result, overall residential density will not be greatly increased, while the retail component will fill a hole in the Delmar streetscape. A four to six-story building would front Delmar and Eastgate, while three buildings would be built on Enright, the easternmost two of 2-3 stories and the westernmost 4-6 stories.


{this rendering looking west toward Delmar/Eastgate accompanied a 2010 Student Life story}


{a Meineke service station occupied the site of a former gas station until 2008}


{streetview of Delmar/Eastgate corner looking northwest - 2012}

The announcement of the project follows quickly on the heals of the Delmar Loop Area Retail Plan & Development Study, released in February. That study, commissioned by the university, found that a total of 155,000 additional retail square footage could be supported in the Loop area. On a parallel track, the Parkview Gardens neighborhood plan seeks added residential and retail density as well as better transit service (an improved Delmar MetroLink station and the addition of the Loop Trolley) and investment in parks and civic space.

Both the Parkview Gardens and Loop retail study appeared more aspirational than shovel-ready just last month. With this project set to break ground in January 2013, it becomes more likely that additional development will be announced. It's anticipated that private developers will move closer to breaking ground on other projects as the Loop Trolley and university investments result in a better connected, more dense neighborhood.


{the plan for Parkview Gardens anticipated added density in the project area}


{the Parkview Gardens plan shows development very similar to the announced project}


{another view of the project site - looking north}


{the project area (blue) spans University City and the City of St. Louis (red line)}


{the two residential buildings fronting Delmar would be the most high-profile buildings lost}

Updated renderings 02/01/2013: