Riverfront Plaza Building Expansion - Construction

[Rizzo]

Yah snoogit your right it kinda does... I like it.

[andrew.w]

By the metal framework, it looks like the side over by the entry will have horizontal bands of windows matched to the heights of the windows over the entry instead of the arched windows.

[jschutMTU]

it will be built the rest of the way out to campua, the first picture shows unloading of the 2nd phase of steel, if you check the webcam now you will see more steel up.

[GRDadof3]

Phase II steel (thanks JSchut):

[GRDadof3]

Here are some updates from today and from a new angle. It's interesting how the expansion looks like it is RIGHT on top of the skywalk.

[dbrok]

This project has made a lot progress over the last month:

[Greedo]

yes, the first floor is parking, let's not re-live that debate

I love that and would like to see more built this way.

[hood]

For being a relatively small building it looks like it will fill in that area quite nicely.

[blindside]

We have brick! From the webcam you can see a solid wall of brick going up on the north side of the building. I guess no windows in that section.

[downtownGRguy]

We have brick! From the webcam you can see a solid wall of brick going up on the north side of the building. I guess no windows in that section.

I think that wall will butt up against the big ugly JW Marriott parking structure.

[GRDadof3]

You're right downtownguy. It's this parking ramp seen here, that will butt up against the new Riverfront Bldg expansion (I did in brown on the picture):

[Greedo]

It's this parking ramp seen here

Wait, so prime downtown property along Campau is going to be an eight-story parking ramp? I have to say convenient parking is difficult down there, but why aren't we integrating parking into these buildings? It's not a new concept and it would save quasi-river viewable space.

Not to mention it would produce taller buildings. I don't get it.

[GRDadof3]

And..........this parking ramp will have 0 ground floor retail. The only thing appealing at ground level there will be Z's. It's really quite despicable on the part of Alticor and the city. It's what happens when city leaders see $$$ and feel they have to.

[torgo]

Wait, so prime downtown property along Campau is going to be an eight-story parking ramp? I have to say convenient parking is difficult down there, but why aren't we integrating parking into these buildings? It's not a new concept and it would save quasi-river viewable space.

Not to mention it would produce taller buildings. I don't get it.

Yeah...if you look around at many of the new projects coming up they all come with parking ramps where there should be retail space, offices, heck, anything other than parking. And on top of all these stupid ramps and parking garages, we still have a parking "problem". It's my number one pet peeve with downtown.

[Greedo]

It's just so short-sighted. Street-level retail brings in more $$$ on a consistant basis. Right now, that building's revenue is solely tied to parking revenues, which fluxuate depending on the activities nearby.

If they included retail, anything really (a Sprint or Cingular Store, or a mini-Office Max) they could produce rents from tenants that would help pay for the building.

Short-sighted and stupid.

[Greedo]

we still have a parking "problem

In 20 years there's going to be a crisis of epic perportion for space and we'll see many of these come down. Hopefully they get it right the next time. Too bad they can't do it now.

[GaryP]

In 20 years there's going to be a crisis of epic perportion for space and we'll see many of these come down. Hopefully they get it right the next time. Too bad they can't do it now.

I like that theory. I dont mind building the ramps, because they have to come down in 20-30 years anyway and hopefully by that time we'll have effective fixed route mass transit, less need for parking and more need for office and residential space.

[evac311]

And..........this parking ramp will have 0 ground floor retail. The only thing appealing at ground level there will be Z's. It's really quite despicable on the part of Alticor and the city. It's what happens when city leaders see $$$ and feel they have to.

I think the market will help to dictate when and where we see retail downtown.

[torgo]

I agree, but I would like to have space available for when that time comes (assuming it does). Now, we'll just have a bunch of blank walls.

[evac311]

I agree, but I would like to have space available for when that time comes (assuming it does). Now, we'll just have a bunch of blank walls.

Good point.

[GRDadof3]

[GRDadof3]

Some new angles:

[GRDadof3]

More updates from this morning:

I would say construction on the JW Marriott ramp has commenced Sparky05

[sparky05]

I would say construction on the JW Marriott ramp has commenced Sparky05

You know, I took those exact photos this morning a few hours after you. For once, you beat me to it.

And I agree - it would be hard to argue the the ramp isn't rolling at this point...

[DwntwnGeo]

Here are a few pics that I took this afternoon

The brick work seems to be climbing up the walls