Grove Resident 🇺🇦
@smb-grove.bsky.social
I mostly share updates about STL development & historic preservation
Here's the dull parking lot we're getting instead of promised Convention Center park. Note that bollards appear to close off 9th street - future outdoor events on pavement?
drive.google.com/file/d/1cjB2...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ysaf...
drive.google.com/file/d/1cjB2...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ysaf...
December 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Here's the dull parking lot we're getting instead of promised Convention Center park. Note that bollards appear to close off 9th street - future outdoor events on pavement?
drive.google.com/file/d/1cjB2...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ysaf...
drive.google.com/file/d/1cjB2...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ysaf...
Curious to know what Bi-State/Metro plans to do with 222 S. 21st after Union Station tunnel repairs are finally finished. Bought in 2019 for $1.7M & tore down 1963 laundry building for use as construction staging area. Hopefully not permanent surface parking 🫠
December 8, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Curious to know what Bi-State/Metro plans to do with 222 S. 21st after Union Station tunnel repairs are finally finished. Bought in 2019 for $1.7M & tore down 1963 laundry building for use as construction staging area. Hopefully not permanent surface parking 🫠
Donate to Quick Fix Pet Clinic: they provide subsidized spay & neuter services to help reduce number of unwanted and homeless cats and dogs. All 3 of their vehicles destroyed by a reckless driver plus building damage
stlspayneuter.org/contact/
stlspayneuter.org/contact/
December 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Donate to Quick Fix Pet Clinic: they provide subsidized spay & neuter services to help reduce number of unwanted and homeless cats and dogs. All 3 of their vehicles destroyed by a reckless driver plus building damage
stlspayneuter.org/contact/
stlspayneuter.org/contact/
The Saint Louis Art Museum has a largely hidden underground wing for art storage and conservation
December 7, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The Saint Louis Art Museum has a largely hidden underground wing for art storage and conservation
Indian grocery Silk Road Market opened on West Pine recently between Vandeventer & Sarah: "A haven for international students, offering a wide variety of Indian goods and a welcoming space to connect with their heritage and each other through the love of food"
buff.ly/gPNSE2t
buff.ly/gPNSE2t
December 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Indian grocery Silk Road Market opened on West Pine recently between Vandeventer & Sarah: "A haven for international students, offering a wide variety of Indian goods and a welcoming space to connect with their heritage and each other through the love of food"
buff.ly/gPNSE2t
buff.ly/gPNSE2t
Top-10 global architect HOK wants a prominent sign for their HQ on an uninspiring & controversially constructed bldg they didn’t even design. Signage to be reviewed by Board of Adj. on Dec 17
www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d...
www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d...
December 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Top-10 global architect HOK wants a prominent sign for their HQ on an uninspiring & controversially constructed bldg they didn’t even design. Signage to be reviewed by Board of Adj. on Dec 17
www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d...
www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d...
Developer Khemlani testified to the city that 3224 S. Kingshighway was condemned, "not safe," & "been on fire multiple times." Demo photos show a sturdy concrete structure. Ald. Velazquez supported demo for the drive-thru plan
youtu.be/mmYr7nOzrQ0?...
youtu.be/mmYr7nOzrQ0?...
December 6, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Developer Khemlani testified to the city that 3224 S. Kingshighway was condemned, "not safe," & "been on fire multiple times." Demo photos show a sturdy concrete structure. Ald. Velazquez supported demo for the drive-thru plan
youtu.be/mmYr7nOzrQ0?...
youtu.be/mmYr7nOzrQ0?...
Tantalizing - Shaw & Kingshighway
December 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Tantalizing - Shaw & Kingshighway
Viola dispensary across from Energizer Park and police HQ is now “Cookies” as Viola brand apparently exits STL market. Viola STL was partnership between former NBA players Larry Hughes and Al Harrington
www.stlamerican.com/news/local-n...
fox2now.com/news/missour...
www.stlamerican.com/news/local-n...
fox2now.com/news/missour...
December 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Viola dispensary across from Energizer Park and police HQ is now “Cookies” as Viola brand apparently exits STL market. Viola STL was partnership between former NBA players Larry Hughes and Al Harrington
www.stlamerican.com/news/local-n...
fox2now.com/news/missour...
www.stlamerican.com/news/local-n...
fox2now.com/news/missour...
Sultan Mediterranean interior looks greatly improved after their 3 month closure for renovations
December 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Sultan Mediterranean interior looks greatly improved after their 3 month closure for renovations
Goodwill bldg at 18th & Locust sure looks good at night
December 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Goodwill bldg at 18th & Locust sure looks good at night
Tilfords converting recently reopened CWE Session Taco location into newer elevated concept “Lapez Mod Mex”
www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news...
www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news...
December 2, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Tilfords converting recently reopened CWE Session Taco location into newer elevated concept “Lapez Mod Mex”
www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news...
www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news...
National multifamily vacancy rate at highest level since 2017:
“St. Louis saw the biggest quarterly jump in tenant interest […] ‘The Midwest, in particular, drew more attention than ever, signaling that many of its ‘hidden gem’ markets are no longer a secret”
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/a...
“St. Louis saw the biggest quarterly jump in tenant interest […] ‘The Midwest, in particular, drew more attention than ever, signaling that many of its ‘hidden gem’ markets are no longer a secret”
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/a...
December 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
National multifamily vacancy rate at highest level since 2017:
“St. Louis saw the biggest quarterly jump in tenant interest […] ‘The Midwest, in particular, drew more attention than ever, signaling that many of its ‘hidden gem’ markets are no longer a secret”
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/a...
“St. Louis saw the biggest quarterly jump in tenant interest […] ‘The Midwest, in particular, drew more attention than ever, signaling that many of its ‘hidden gem’ markets are no longer a secret”
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/a...
Best guess...a Lamborghini slid into a G-Wagon
December 1, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Best guess...a Lamborghini slid into a G-Wagon
You're gonna want to avoid ROADS this afternoon
December 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
You're gonna want to avoid ROADS this afternoon
Progress on the Tower Grove Connector along MoBot
November 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Progress on the Tower Grove Connector along MoBot
"A Farewell to Gibson Heights Presbyterian Church" held Sept 28. Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery (of Pres. Church USA) claims to own any local church property despite name on the deed, which has been heavily litigated. I didn't realize Giddings-Lovejoy sold their 2236 Tower Grove HQ to MoBot in 2018
November 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"A Farewell to Gibson Heights Presbyterian Church" held Sept 28. Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery (of Pres. Church USA) claims to own any local church property despite name on the deed, which has been heavily litigated. I didn't realize Giddings-Lovejoy sold their 2236 Tower Grove HQ to MoBot in 2018
My guess is that Gateway South ends up looking more like the $500M industrial park that replaced Chrysler in Fenton, but with 90% tax abatement 🤑
November 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
My guess is that Gateway South ends up looking more like the $500M industrial park that replaced Chrysler in Fenton, but with 90% tax abatement 🤑
2) Hauck Foundation: Seems to be slowly winding down operations from $32M in assets in 2011 to nearly $0 in 2025 after giving away last $12M in 2024. Jack Hauck founded Tubular Steel Inc in 1953, which was sold by the family in 2015.
projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/o...
(2/2)
projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/o...
(2/2)
November 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
2) Hauck Foundation: Seems to be slowly winding down operations from $32M in assets in 2011 to nearly $0 in 2025 after giving away last $12M in 2024. Jack Hauck founded Tubular Steel Inc in 1953, which was sold by the family in 2015.
projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/o...
(2/2)
projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/o...
(2/2)
Two local foundations I hadn't heard of:
1) Schwan: $425M of assets dedicated to Lutheran church causes bequeathed by ice cream billionaire Marv Schwan in '93. Down from $1B, the foundation's shady trustees lost $400M of assets investing in Costa Rican&Caribbean real estate 15 years ago
(1/2)
1) Schwan: $425M of assets dedicated to Lutheran church causes bequeathed by ice cream billionaire Marv Schwan in '93. Down from $1B, the foundation's shady trustees lost $400M of assets investing in Costa Rican&Caribbean real estate 15 years ago
(1/2)
November 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Two local foundations I hadn't heard of:
1) Schwan: $425M of assets dedicated to Lutheran church causes bequeathed by ice cream billionaire Marv Schwan in '93. Down from $1B, the foundation's shady trustees lost $400M of assets investing in Costa Rican&Caribbean real estate 15 years ago
(1/2)
1) Schwan: $425M of assets dedicated to Lutheran church causes bequeathed by ice cream billionaire Marv Schwan in '93. Down from $1B, the foundation's shady trustees lost $400M of assets investing in Costa Rican&Caribbean real estate 15 years ago
(1/2)
The first real project in Gateway South (Chouteau's Landing) was recently said to be moving forward soon and not related to the historic warehouse complex: new construction industrial
constructforstl.org/first-buildi...
constructforstl.org/wp-content/u...
constructforstl.org/first-buildi...
constructforstl.org/wp-content/u...
November 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The first real project in Gateway South (Chouteau's Landing) was recently said to be moving forward soon and not related to the historic warehouse complex: new construction industrial
constructforstl.org/first-buildi...
constructforstl.org/wp-content/u...
constructforstl.org/first-buildi...
constructforstl.org/wp-content/u...
A shame how much downtown’s urban environment was hurt by bank drive-thru lanes built in the 70s/80s
November 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
A shame how much downtown’s urban environment was hurt by bank drive-thru lanes built in the 70s/80s
November 28, 2025 at 6:14 PM