Creative Village Update

(Image from Creative Village Proposal)

Orlando City council is moving forward with Creative Village, the $1.0 billion mixed-use development planned for downtown Orlando over the next 20 years. (see previous ATRD post:  Creating a Creative Village for the Creative Class).  


Their approval provides development rights and purchase options for Creative Village, Development, LLC, lead by Craig Ustler, to redevelop the 68 acres of land now occupied by the old Amway Arena.


This is an enormous project and will be a model for other cities wrestling with their declining downtowns if they can figure out how to finance the project.  The mayor originally stated that minimal public funds will be used to develop the property but has since committed money to help in the demolition of the 22 year old arena to help prepare the site.


For related articles, see the following:
Orlando Sentinel:  Orlando Looks Ahead to "Creative Village"


Bizjorrnals:  Orlando Moves Forward on Creative Village




  

Trinity Leeds Update: Tenant Spaces in Demand

(Image from Land Securities Website)

Land Securities, the developer of Trinity Leeds, the recently restarted retail development in West Yorkshire, England (see previous post:  Trinity Leeds:  A Sign of the Times?), announced recently the center is two-thirds leased.  The up-tick in retail demand continues and Land Securities continues to invest in new and existing developments.

For related article see:

Trinity Leeds Lettings Rise, Says Land Securities

  

St. Louis' Ballpark Village Hits a Double

(Image from The Cordish Companies Website)

(Image from The Cordish Companies Website)

(Image from The Cordish Companies Website)

(Image from The Cordish Companies Website)

The long stalled St Louis Ballpark Village is apparently back on track after it was announced recently that financing and tenants are finally in place.  Planning for the development started in 1999 as a mixed-use development adjacent to the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium and on the site of the previous Busch Memorial Stadium location.  The project has hit many snags along the way including the loss of a major tenant in 2008 and then effects of the recession in 2009.

The project, originally a 10-acre development covering 6 city blocks lies in the heart of downtown St. Louis, near the historic arch.  The first phase of the project includes 225,000 square feet of office and 100,000 square feet of retail space, with an investment estimated at $155 million.  This first phase covers 2 of the original 6 city blocks.

The original plans touted nearly a $1 billion office and entertainment development that was to be an urban residential environment that included such destinations as boutique alley, restaurant row, live state of the art music venues, the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum as well as multiple residential towers that would overlook the ballpark. You can get a sense of what the original development included from this 2006 video announcing the details of he project:

And here is a second video that shows a virtual tour of the original proposed development from Arnold Imaging

Ball Park Village from Arnold Imaging on Vimeo.


It is unclear if the entire development will be realized but clearly there is a lot of excitement that at least phase 1 is coming to fruition. 

The project is being co-developed by the St. Louis Cardinals and The Cordish Companies of Baltimore, MD.

For related articles see:

Ballpark Village Developer Says Financing, Tenants in Place

Ballpark Village Clears Next Hurdle

   

Qatar’s Successful World Cup Bid: 9 New Stadiums in 10 Years

(Proposed Al-Khor Stadium)

Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, a first for an Arab nation.  The small middle eastern country a tenth of the size of Ohio overcame several challenges to outbid 4 other formidable opponents including Australia, Japan, South Korea and yes, even the United States.

Two of their biggest obstacles include a lack of infrastructure (the need to build 9 new stadiums and renovate 3) and inclement weather (the temperature in Qatar at the time of the tournament averages 95 degrees and daytime highs can easily exceed 130 degrees). 

The solution?  Build 9 new open air stadiums to accommodate the competition, complete with cooling technology that can reduce the temperatures by as much as 40 degrees at field level and renovate the remaining three stadiums in the ten remaining years before the first football hits the pitch - all for a “cool” $3 Billion.

The result?  The first six designs were unveiled recently and they truly are remarkable.  Take a look at these five designs from Albert Speer and Partners:




And here is Foster + Partner’s design for the Lusail Iconic Stadium:



In addition to the 12 new and renovated stadiums proposed, Qatar will also be developing the infrastructure to host the event as it relates to hotel rooms, transportation (a new $13 billion airport opens in 2012), Team base camps and training sites as well as a myriad of other supporting facilities required to accommodate the 3 million plus visitors.  This will also create high demand for new retail development and an opportunity for Qatar to be proverbially “on the map”.  All they need now is an official song by Shakira!

In addition – the Qatar bid has proposed a carbon-neutral event supporting part of that vision by the ability of removing modular sections of the new stadiums after the event concludes and reconstructing them to create 22 stadiums in developing countries around the world.

For the full Qatar proposal – check out the:

2022 FIFA World Cup Bid Evaluation Report:  Qatar.


    

Part 4 - Ohio Lifestyle Centers: The Greene Town Center

(Typical "Main Street" View)

(View of Town Square)

(Center Directory)

As a continuation of my Ohio Lifestyle Center series, next up is The Greene Town Center located in the suburban Dayton city of Beavercreek.   The Greene (as it has come to be known), is located just South and a little East of Downtown Dayton on I-675.  This Lifestyle center opened in two phases in 2006 and 2008.

Steiner & Associates, developer of Easton Towne Center in Columbus and many other Lifestyle Center projects partnered with Mall Properties to co-develop the project.  Included in the 72 acre mixed-use development is over 1.0 million sf that includes 790,000 sf of retail, 128,000 sf of office space, over 200 residential units and over 6,500 parking spaces.  Total investment in the project was over $90 with over 100 different retailers in their store directory including these key retail, restaurant, and entertainment anchors:

Von Maur

Books & Co

Cinema de Lux

Brio

McCormicks & Schmick’s

The Cheesecake Factory

Talbots

Chicos

Coldwater Creek

Banana Republic

Sephora

Clarks

           

The Columbus, Ohio firm of Meacham and Apel was the architect for the center and created a “Main Street” themed experience that includes a Town Square at the heart of the complex.  Visitors have three parking garages to choose from as well as several surface lots (both are free).  For those looking to get in and out quickly, street-side metered parking is available where all proceeds are donated to charity.

To review past Ohio Lifestyle Centers – follow the links below:

            Part 1: The Shops at Fallen Timbers (Maumee) 

            Part 2: Crocker Park (Westlake) 

            Part 3: Levis Commons (Perrysburg)  


If you are in the Dayton area - make sure you take some time for a visit.  There is something for everyone in the family.  


Take a look at this video that promotes The Greene Town Center:


                                
                                           The Greene Town Center from Elayo on Vimeo.