City Foundry STL, the $220M project in the Midtown Neighborhood has repurposed the former 15 acre Federal-Mogul, former Century Foundry that has been part of St. Louis for over 100 years.
City Foundry STL has been reimagined as a retail, office space, food hall and entertainment facility. While tenants have changed over the years, it is thought that a Fresh Thyme grocery store (first in St. Louis) and Alamo Drafthouse will be among the larger tenants. The current list of planned tenants can be found here.
Their website reported 95% of the current office space as leased.
Great Rivers Greenway is moving from the East Loop to the Foundry, which makes sense since they will be in the heart of the Brickline Greenway that will take flight in the coming decade.
One of the fears or criticisms of this project that I’ve read is that City Foundry STL will be a musical chairs of already existing St. Louis businesses moving here. While I share that concern, I think it is too premature to pass that judgement.
We’ll have to wait and see. I’ve been reading about this project for years. It made our short list of 2016 Development Favorites. The opening time has been pushed back a couple times, but man is it getting close as tenants are starting to move in.
I rode around the site for a quick look as tenants are starting to move in.
First, it is amazing how much investment this part of the city has seen. IKEA is right across Vandeventer, the mixed use building including a Westin extended-stay hotel across Forest Park Parkway and the two massive St. Louis University dorms recently built on Laclede Avenue a block north of the Foundry are a massive investment in the area.
The Foundry will be a fantastic destination for SLU students and visiting families. The addition of a grocery store will be an asset for residents. The place will be another fun destination, possibly exactly what the city needed depending on how much retail will be available.
The idea of a bike and pedestrian trail connecting this part of town with Downtown to the east and Forest Park to the west is thrilling. The Foundry could be one of the places connected to this greenway.
Image source: Great Rivers Greenway
The finished product could be quite striking. The interior facing businesses will likely get much attention in the way of window treatment, lighting and landscaping to brighten it up.
The view from I-64 is amazing, along with the Armory renovation on the other side of I-64 livens up a formerly dead part of St. Louis.
The view from Forest Park Parkway is improving but as of today, needs attention. I’ve read that local muralists were commissioned to brighten it up and add some local flavor and soul. Here’s what you’ll see today.
Trees or dense plantings in place of the grey rocks would go a long way to making it a pleasant walk from SLU to IKEA and Cortex.
Signage will be prominent from Vandeventer as well.
The interior corridor is a mix of historic rehab and modern industrial-materials blending well to create an interesting setting that will likely be quite memorable. The two stories are densely packed and there is an elevated path for customers.
The focus on al fresco dining could prove timely in the COVID-19 era where social distancing is being creatively addressed by so many responsible small business owners.
The Alamo Drafthouse is the large structure, visible from Forest Park Parkway.
The landscaping that is taking shape is beautiful, and hopefully a harbinger of things to come for the central corridor area.
Earlier renderings suggest as much.
The blend of materials and historic structures retained from the factories are cool and really make the place special and St. Louis in every way.
Imagine an elevated path extending from the property and becoming part of the greenway.
I can’t wait to check out the interior spaces and get a feel for what this welcomed addition on the verge of opening will bring to our great city.
