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Orchard's Trianon proposal is OKed by Clayton alderman
(by Mitch Schneider - April 16, 2008)
With some changes approved by the Clayton Board of Aldermen, the proposed mixed-use Trianon project in the eastern end of Clayton is one step closer to becoming a reality.
At their meeting on April 8, the Clayton aldermen agreed to amend a Planned Unit Development for the project. The aldermen had originally approved the plan in October 2006 and then granted an extension in October 2007. Since that time, the project’s developer, Orchard Development Group, made changes to the scope of the project and requested an amendment to reflect the redesign.
The site of the proposed development is on Forsyth Boulevard, across from Washington University’s West Campus, north of the Ritz-Carlton and to the north and east of the Plaza in Clayton. The site is currently a vacant lot.
The original plans for the project called for three buildings — a mixed-use development to contain office, condo and retail spaces anchored by a 26-story tower.
The approved changes reduce the number of buildings from three to two and the number of parking spaces from 618 to 557.
The high-rise tower will remain. However, two planned floors of office space within it have been eliminated and replaced by additional condo units, taking the total number of condos to 275. The amount of retail space on the building’s first floor has also been increased.
A second building fronting Forsyth would include 175 apartment units and retail space.
The project will also include a public plaza at the corner of Forsyth and Carondelet.
As to the reasons for the changes, documents relating to the project state, “Over the past 12 months, both the residential real estate and the capital markets have changed dramatically. As a result of the continued due diligence, [Orchard has] concluded that the redesign ... is not only best for Clayton but results in a project with a high probability of success.”
Jay Case, president of Orchard, told the aldermen that the company hopes to attract a national restaurant chain, as well as a number of smaller “boutique” shops, to make up the residential portion of the site.
One aspect of the project that Case believes is a major selling point is its designation as a transit-oriented development by the city of Clayton.
“[One major aspect of this designation] is the access to and use of a transit station. In this case, it is literally right across the street,” said Case, referring to the Forsyth MetroLink station near the site of the proposed development. “We can’t predict exact numbers, but we think there will be a definite reduction in the usage of cars” by people in the area, he said.
The project will also complement Mehlman Property’s recently completed Crescent building and its proposed retail “village,” which is still being discussed by Clayton officials.
“There is a strong hub for this station,” Case said. “Where you have density, you have usage.” Case cited the example of the Central West End MetroLink station, which has seen an increase in ridership as the Barnes-Jewish Hospital complex has added jobs.
Case said that Orchard hopes to begin work on the project this summer, and that the company expects construction to take two years.
However, one step of the approval process that must still be achieved is approval from University City officials; a small section of the eastern edge of the site is part of University City.
The initial plans went through University City’s review successfully, but the recent changes also have to be approved.
Julie Feier, University City city manager, said the plan commission will look at the issue on May 28; it will be reviewed by the city council on June 23 and could be finalized at a public hearing on July 21.
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