The transformation of the former Federal-Mogul foundry into City Foundry STL—an urban center with a Food Hall, retail space, and office buildings—is underway at 3700 Forest Park Avenue. The Lawrence Group offered a first look at City Foundry STL to invited guests last Thursday, November 3.
The Food Hall will be the “anchor of this development,” said Lawrence Group CEO Steve Smith. The Food Hall is set to open in fall 2018 as part of a $134 million first phase. The Food Hall will feature approximately 20 different eateries, with a focus on local chefs and establishments. (A tentative lineup is in the works.) By focusing on local vendors in both food and retail, Smith said he hopes to cater to millennials and bolster the economy.
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City Foundry STL will have access to Great Rivers Greenway’s planned trestle trail, as well as two Metrolink stations. Access to public transportation will make it more feasible to be car-free here.
Cortex CEO Dennis Lower was enthused about the project, saying, “I’m overwhelmed at the continued expansion of the vision.” He emphasized that although buildings are important, it is what happens inside those buildings that matters. Lower cited creativity, inspiration, and entrepreneurship as tenets of City Foundry STL’s vision. “We’re continuing to evolve the vision and implement the vision,” Lower said.
“If you have an opportunity to be involved in the project, you should be,” said Alderman Joe Roddy, whose 17th Ward includes the City Foundry STL site.
Mayor Francis Slay also attended the event. “This is where people are going to want to be,” he said. “If anybody can do it, it’s Steve Smith and the Lawrence Group.”
