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Neighbors express skepticism about proposed new hotel in Clayton
(by Mitch Schneider - March 12, 2008)
A proposed $100 million-plus development project in Clayton’s central business district took a small step forward recently but is drawing concerns from some in the area.
At its March 3 meeting, Clayton’s Plan Commission recommended several zoning changes for the project being proposed by developer RJ York. York’s plan would encompass the southwest and northwest corners of the intersection of Central and Maryland avenues.
At the southwest corner, York is proposing to replace the current building, which houses offices as well as the Il Vicino restaurant, with a 22-story tower, which would include a hotel, condo units and retail space.
At the northwest corner, York is proposing to build a parking garage that would also have retail space. There are currently three small parking lots on the site. One is a public lot owned by the city, one is owned by York and serves its building, and the third is owned by the St. Louis Archdiocese and is used by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which abuts the area.
“There have been some concerns [in the city] about development on the periphery of the central business district, but this is right in the core,” said Tyler Stephens of Core10 Architecture, which is working with York on the project.
“The reason for rezoning what’s been there, is that the three lots operate inefficiently and independently.
They are taking up a lot of land and not using it effectively. A lot of people think it’s one big lot. This is a prime opportunity to build the garage and tie it to the hotel in a three-way partnership,” Stephens said.
The aldermen must make the final approval for the zoning change. The Plan Commission’s recommendations would bring the three lots all under the same zoning category, and then place the three lots, along with the other building, into a Planned Unit Development District.
Stephens told the commission that while the hotel would have meeting space, it would not be a convention hotel, because it is “too small” for that, and that his firm and the developer had attempted to create as narrow a building as possible so as to not cause problems with shadows, or obstructed views for other buildings.
The issue of shadows, however, was a recurring one during the public-comment portion of the meeting.
“How the shadows affect our stained glass windows is an issue,” said Monsignor John Shamfeller, pastor of St. Joseph’s. “The church has been there 165 years, longer than any of the other buildings. We want what is best for both the church and Clayton ... but we would hate to be totally cut off, and a few things [about the project] need to be understood better.”
Sharon Burke, a Clayton resident and a member of the church, said, “It looks like much of the year the church will be in shadows and one of the joys of attending early services is seeing the sunrise through the windows.”
Matthew Geekie, deputy general counsel for Graybar Electric, also expressed concerns. The proposed hotel would back up to Graybar’s headquarters.
“We think this will have a definite negative impact on our building,” Geekie said. Geekie said that Graybar had concerns about traffic around the site, as well as safety issues related to having two large buildings in such close proximity to one another.
Geekie also questioned the city’s donation of the city parking lot to the project. “Will the city be getting its money back on the value of the lot? ... I am grateful that there will be more meetings on this. Perhaps more studies should be done,” Geekie said.
Jim Kerley, a resident who lives north of the proposed project, said, “Rezoning at this point in time, without knowing the project’s full scope, is wrong. What is the financial viability for the city?
“We don’t need another hole like we had on the other side of the city for 20 years,” he said, referring to the difficult-to-develop area near the Ritz-Carlton.
Wade DeWoskin owns the building that houses Portabella restaurant, just south of the proposed development on Central. “I’d like to see more detail on the project, but I’m all for it because it is good for Clayton,” DeWoskin said. “It would bring in fresh money and fresh people, which the city needs.”
Harold Sanger, chairman of the Plan Commission, indicated that financial aspects of the project would be dealt with by the Board of Aldermen, and that the role of the Plan Commission was to make judgments on the zoning of the area, whether or not the proposed appearance of the buildings is appropriate.
In September 2007, when York representatives gave an informational presentation on the project to the aldermen, they asked the city to consider use of a Transportation Development District order to help pay for the project. The aldermen have not yet taken any action on the item.
The commission held off on a thorough review of the project’s development and site plans. Sanger said both the Plan Commission and the aldermen would hold additional meetings on the topic before final approval would take place.
As currently planned, the 22-story tower would have 40 condo units on seven floors and more than 200 hotel rooms on 11 floors. The additional space would be filled by hotel common space and retail space.
There would also be an 85-spot garage under the hotel for use by condo residents. Current plans call for the garage across the street to have 412 parking spaces over six floors, with some of the spaces dedicated to public parking; three levels would be below ground and three above. The garage would also have three retail spaces facing Maryland Avenue.
Original plans for the garage included space for classrooms for the church on the top level, but Stephens of Core10 told the commission that further studies showed that the space was not needed. Office space would be included in its place.
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