Restoration St. Louis bows out of Heer's competition

In a news release, the city called the firm’s choice to withdraw from the process a “corporate decision” made in its best interest.

Restoration St. Louis principals Amrit and Amy Gill did not return calls, but company spokesman Richard Callow released a statement from Amrit Gill following the late-breaking April 4 announcement.

“Heer’s is a wonderful building that could be an important part of revitalizing Springfield some day,” Gill said in the statement. “We wish the city the success it expects.”

City Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said city officials were “very, very surprised” by the Gills’ decision, but efforts began immediately to move forward with McGowan|Walsh, also of St. Louis.

“We’re going to move as fast as we can through the negotiation process,” Smith said. “We’re going to be working with (Kevin McGowan) on the deal points of his building acquisition and his construction schedule, and we hope to have something to council very quickly.”

Restoration St. Louis had hoped to reinvent Heer’s with a mix of loft condominiums and apartments, a lower-level banquet facility replete with a restaurant and bar, a rooftop garden and observation deck in the building’s distinctive tower and possibly a boutique-style bowling alley in the basement.

The Gills also had said they were prepared to buy and renovate the Woodruff and McDaniel buildings on Park Central East in conjunction with the Heer’s project, but the offer is no longer on the table.

Brett Loethen, who owns the buildings, said he was surprised when Amrit Gill contacted him April 4 regarding the firm’s decision to withdraw its Heer’s proposal.

“I know (the Gills) were frustrated with the process,” Loethen said. “It’s nobody’s fault, but I know they were chompin’ at the bit. They wanted to get in there, and they wanted to do something.”

Loethen said he’s continuing talks with two other prospective buyers and exploring a possible partnership to redevelop the multistory office buildings.

He said he hasn’t spoken with McGowan|Walsh regarding the Woodruff and McDaniel buildings.

“They haven’t contacted me; I haven’t contacted them,” Loethen said.

Attempts to reach McGowan|Walsh principal Kevin McGowan were unsuccessful, but during a recent visit to Springfield, he spoke highly of Restoration St. Louis.

“The Gills have done tremendous things in St. Louis,” he told city officials and City Council members. “No matter who’s chosen, you will not lose.”

Building plans

McGowan|Walsh’s proposal for Heer’s calls for an upscale boutique hotel or for-sale loft condos overlooking a spruced-up square, a Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood Restaurant on the ground floor if a hotel is confirmed, and a banquet hall on the top floor, which would include an all-glass eighth-floor addition with a walk-out viewing deck.

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., the Gills said they broached a similar design feature with John Sandor of the National Park Service.

Sandor, who oversees historic preservation tax credits program for Missouri, said a proposed eighth-floor addition would receive a healthy serving of scrutiny.

“A building of that size can take an addition on the roof, but the issue becomes whether the addition is large enough or different enough that it changes the character of the building,” he said. “It becomes a problem when they’re too different, because you’re going to notice a shiny glass box up there … so I would be a little concerned if somebody’s proposing a glass top on the building.”

Another facet of the McGowan|Walsh proposal that remains up in the air is Park Central Square, which McGowan described as “awful” during his firm’s March 23 presentation. McGowan|Walsh is willing to partially fund a facelift of the square if the city meets the commitment with its own, he said.