St. Louis’ Fall Arts season is definitely hitting a high note with everyone this year. In this month’s St. Louis Magazine, Culture Editor Stefene Russell delivers a striking 15-page art events listing that can be folded up and taken with you as you attempt to respond to Stefene’s challenge: go to one art event or more that is a bit outside of your comfort zone. And in case you are daunted by her “mouseprint” event listing, Alive Magazine breaks it out further and recommends an event for every day from September 1 to November 30.

Already, the calendars of Chivvis team members are filling with the long list of options, but if you think there is something we shouldn’t miss let us know.  Link to our news section and leave a comment for us, what is on your must see list? Or, for fun, check back with us often and recommend a show that challenged your expectations and perspective … a venture outside your comfort zone as Stefene Russell recommends. In return, we will post about our trips around town, and if you were there, you can tell us what you thought as well.

Craft Alliance at the Kranzberg Art Center
The Lieutenant of Inishmore At The Repertory Theatre
Hot City Theatre: Killing Women
Jazz at The Bistro: Brian Owens
The Birth of Cool at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
Howard Shore’s Lord of The Ring’s Symphony
Trash to Art at Koken Art Factory
A Slice of Life at Marbles Yoga Studio
The Second City: Deface The Nation at the Touhill
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - Webster Film Series

If we have forgotten something, please let us know in the comments section of our website.

As plans for the Chouteau’s Landing Art Center gain momentum, we at Chivvis hear more and more concern about artists getting the boot as St. Louis neighborhoods experience a boom in redevelopment. While everyone is excited about the redevelopment, it seems artists are always the first to be pushed out as rents rise.

It’s not as if St. Louis is alone in trying to find a middle ground to gentrification.  Even on a recent trip to NYC, illustrator friends were telling us about the latest artist hub - not in SoHo, NoHo or anywhere in Manhattan for that matter - they recently migrated to their second Brooklyn neighborhood.  It makes one wonder if artists are doomed to be eternal nomads in search of new studio space after they help a neighborhood succeed.

Chivvis Development is trying to find a way to continue to offer affordable space to working artists while also building the Chouteau’s Landing district with strong commercial activity and diverse inhabitants.

What examples have you found in your travels or your studies that illustrate ways in which city planners, developers and artists worked together successfully to create an exhilarating district that included artists?

Respond by clicking the Comments link.

No worries, the building signage will return soon to the future home of the Chouteau’s Landing Art Center. Sadly, the signs were vandalized by people interested in keeping Powell as their palette. However, the signs are being repaired and facade work is still scheduled to begin this fall.

Until then, be sure to sign up at clacstl.com to keep pace with the project.  Encourage friends to sign up as well and note on the signup pages if they are interested in event opportunities, potential live/work spaces, renting studio space or employment opportunities.  We will contact you directly when more info is available.

Thanks for your interest and your support!

Crowds milled through the nearly 15 artist booths and displays at the Contemporary’s Open Studios Alternative Space at 750 S. Fourth Street in Chouteau’s Landing last Sunday, July 20.

It was great to receive such positive feedback from guests and artists at the Contemporary’s Open Studios Alternative Space in Chouteau’s Landing this past weekend. Everyone seemed pleased to have the garage doors up and access to see inside another building on Historic Fourth Street. Would you like to see more events of this nature along Historic Fourth Street or in other parts of Chouteau’s Landing? Post your comments below on what events you would like to attend.

If you would like to learn more about the Chouteau’s Landing Art Center that will begin this fall, please sign up at clacstl.com.  Please be sure to note on the signup pages if you want to know about event opportunities,  potential live/work spaces, renting studio space or employment opportunities.  Then, we can contact you directly when more information is available.

Thanks for your interest and your support!

The facade and windows are all installed in 904 S. Fourth Street.  White box construction will be starting soon with tenants expected to fill all three retail bays by the year’s end. If you are interested in leasing one of the office spaces still available or would like to know about other Chouteau’s Landing leasing options, please contact Andy Murphy at 314.994.4093.

In light of recent headlines on big St. Louis redevelopment projects and the national economic climate, our June Urban Questions seek to determine if you remain optimistic about development progress in the City of St. Louis and in Chouteau’s Landing.

How did the unexpected downfall of Pyramid Properties and the news of Centene’s departure from Ballpark Village deal affect your viewpoint of redevelopment projects in the City of St. Louis?

Post Your Comment Below.

Headlines Behind The Question
A May 23, 2008 article by the St. Louis Business Journal’s Lisa R. Brown reads:

Nearly two-thirds of beleaguered developer John Steffen’s residential projects are being transferred to two local management firms.

More than $88 million of the $142 million Pyramid Cos.’ portfolio assembled by Steffen in recent years is expected to be transferred within a month. The St. Louis Equity Fund, headed by John Wuest, is taking on the largest chunk: 345 units in several projects, including the 300-unit King Louis Square mixed-income project south of downtown. The Sansone Group will manage the 213-unit Paul Brown Apartments downtown.

Read the full articles on Pyramid and Centene:
May 23, 2008 St. Louis Business Journal Update
May 2, 2008 St. Louis Business Journal Update
April 25, 2008 St. Louis Business Journal

March 26, 2008 St. Louis Business Journal article on Centene and Ballpark Village

As Bushwoods On Fourth Street opened its doors for service at 758 S. Fourth Street and Chivvis Development relocated its offices to 756 S. Fourth Street, construction commenced on two Historic Fourth Street buildings.

750 S. Fourth Street, (rendering pictured top right) with its striking open floor plan and skylight, will reach grey-box status by early July.

904 S. Fourth Street (rendering pictured bottom right) reentered construction in May with roof repairs and the installation of all the windows. The storefront should be complete by mid summer in preparation for new tenants.

Riley’s Flower and Gifts will be moving into the middle bay on the retail level of Historic Fourth Street. Also, G4: Gallery on Fourth Street will open early fall. Gallery on Fourth Street will be managed by Nido, (pronounced Nee-doh) a

St. Louis-based arts consulting and management company led by Elaine Gluck and Kate Duncan.

Watch for more details in July about new tenants and construction progress.

ChivvisDevelopment.com Redesign

Check out the revamped Chivvis Development Web site. Here you will find more news on the construction, leasing and progress of Chouteau’s Landing.

Art Center Changes Name

The Chouteau’s Landing Art Center (CLAC), formerly referred to as The Artery, formally changed its name in May 2008. CLAC will be housed in the 122,000-square-foot Powell Square building, thereby changing the St. Louis skyline. The Art Center will be modeled after The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA and will include working artist studios, educational centers, a rooftop event facility, galleries and boutique businesses.

Improvements to the facade are scheduled to start this year. Business and Space Planning proposals are in development and nearing completion. Watch for more news in the next few months as more details regarding the operation and design of the Chouteau’s Landing Art Center take shape.