iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

I forgot that a building across the street from the now data center was demolished about a decade ago for surface parking for the company (NSI/Ansira) that's no longer around. That property is in a different TIF... Paul McKee's infamous Northside Regeneration. What a knucklehead city we live in.

2017 streetview of a two story circa 1920s commercial brick building with some nice detailing but concrete blocked first floor window openings. Several buildings on the street have been renovated in recent years removing similar blockings.

0101

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 5h

oh, man, this reminds me that a building across the street was torn down for parking for the former company that's not even there anymore.

140

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 5h

Here's a newly converted data center in Downtown West with ground floor ghoulishness in a mixed-use area. The otherwise handsome 1914 warehouse building is still under a TIF passed in the 00s for an office HQ.

6 story red brick building (originally a warehouse) with the large ground floor window openings blocked in with a black material.

4122

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 23h

This new build is in St. Louis Hills, btw. That's rare for the neighborhood as it has very few lots available and the costs of acquiring existing homes for demo is prohibitive. Numerous additions, though. I'll post on The Hill soon, where demo and replace is common.

020

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 23h

yup. not many lots like that to build on around there.

010

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

May the new homeowners get bombarded with trick and treaters telling earnest Halloween jokes.

250

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

A fitting how it started/how it turned out post for Fill-In Friday. Left: an April 2025 streetview of a home with a side yard and a for sale sign. Right: a new home now sits on the former side yard and is ready for Halloween. (The buyer of the older home subdivided the lot and sold to a builder.)

Two story brick home with a fenced sideyard with what appears to be some planting containers. A for sale sign is in front of the 1960s home. Next to the side yard, part of a 1940s two story brick home is visible. Aprile 2025 google streetview.

New 2 story brick home with pitched roof an Halloween decorations in front.

3110

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

thanks for the ID of the auto!

010

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I should mention this was a long vacant - but not necessarily unoccupied - building - that was sold at tax sale. The new owner planned a rehab but a devastating fire this winter was a setback. We'll see if it can be overcome.

050

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Not quite sure what’s in store for this imperiled 1800s four-fam hottie on S. Jefferson. A permit has been issued for renovation, and it would be a spectacular save. But there’s also a permit application for demo. I’m rooting for a rehab.

Fencing and a dumpster by a partially collapsed three story red brick residential building.

1110

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Benton Park West Wednesday! A tiny fun mobile parked on the street in front of a recent gut rehab/single family conversion of a 19th century brick baller.

1100

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Calum looks like he is in danger in that one.

080

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I recall seeing some kind of permit application awhile ago for foundation repair. Can't remember if it was issued.

010

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I think this is an addendum to an earlier approval. Something may have happened with foundation work which started last year.

020

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The tabloids would have great fun with this one: "I let the dogs out."

010

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I was sure it was "I vape and I vote."

110

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

will be interesting to see what they go for. there's some pros and cons I think to this location so we'll see if the attraction of new construction fetches a premium here.

010

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Here’s what the new townhomes replaced.

One story auto repair shop building with Tower Grove Park in the background. The property was a used car lot for many years before the redevelopment.

170

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It’s Morgan Ford Townhome Tuesday! This four townhome project is wrapping up at Arsenal & Morgan Ford. The corner unit just listed this week at $950,000.

Four three story townhomes with brick exterior and balconies on the second and third floors above the entrances.

3110

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Moar Morgan Ford Monday! A four-fam that had modest rents before a new owner vacated the units for a planned, but failed, reno several years ago thankfully is finally in new hands. The vacant building had mile-high grass this summer. We’ll see what’s in store.

Two story four-fam with arched entryways with high grass in front.

Same building but with a mowed front lawn. A new construction apartment building is next door.

090

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Stella Blues re-opened recently after recovering from a fire that closed it down for a year or so. On right, both oldies are now fully back online after a major fire several years ago. (The two-story split-use on the left is one of the oldest buildings in Tower Grove South.)

1120

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It’s a Morgan Ford Monday! A red bricker is getting a commercial/residential gut rehab with an addition while something called crave appears to be opening soon in the rear space of a corner commercial building.

1150

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

oh, wow, that tapped into the recesses of my mind. I don't recall that siren from the show but wasn't it about a future society where people turning 30 or something like that were in trouble? I'm surely over the age whatever it was. Am I in trouble?

120

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A very rare and unfortunate loss in Soulard. The 1800s brick baller on left (pic from Srpibg) has been demolished.

040

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A pair of brick ballers; one under renovation:

170

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Soulard Saturday! Three oldies but goodies on 7th getting renovations. (One day I’ll have enough courage to show the other side of 7th St. -the splendor of urban renewal - but that day is not today.)

A former split-use is getting turned into a four-family. The commercial space had been a barber shop.

A red brick four-family under renovation.

A long vacant brick baller under renovation. This may have originally been an attached townhome but is now adjacent to a cleared lot poised for a redevelopment.

1100

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

McKee's TIF will also capture the increment from the AHM developments; iirc those have 25% PILOTs that will get dumped into the dumb TIF fund. I think it has about 10-12 years left but it really needs to be terminated now.

141

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I'm still banned from stepping foot in Indy but the Chamber of Commerce graciously allows me to pass through town on 465.

020

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Yeah, the stadium and fields/admin area were stripped out of the McKee TIF and granted 25 yr abatement but the garage site was bought after the Board Bill. While it doesn't have abatement those taxes are going to the McKee TIF fund. SLPS would have received $250K in 2025 tax w/o the outrgeous TIF.

221

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The latest horror story I've come across is McKee's notorious Northside Regeneration TIF is capturing some Downtown West property taxes that it had nothing to do with. eg. the new parking garage for the soccer stadium. That TIF needs axed asap.

130

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

looks like SLU gave em 5 yr 100% tax abatement ending in 2027. that was a pretty good nextstl article btw.

120

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

oops... my bad. It still has that under the side lot program for lots less than 4,000 sq. ft., which are "too small to support new construction" and are "non-buildable" lol. That's like half of St. Louis lots if not more.

031

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Looks like that “non-buildable” language for normal sized lots is out but there’s still a 4,000 sq. ft. minimum for new construction.

130

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I don't know what dumb ass Missourian may need to hear this but just in case: on February 3, 2024, Kaitlin Clark scored 38 points along with 12 assists and 6 rebounds as the Iowa HAWKEYES defeated the Maryland Terrapins 93-85.

1101

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A deep reading of the statute surprisingly reveals a prohibition of State innovation zone incentives for data centers. So I don't think the local ban on incentives would be preempted.

130

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

just wait until the odd wards election: "7 8 9!"

040

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This is the same "Community Improvement District" btw that refuses to shovel sidewalks. It's a liability, it says. Some community.

161

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I think she took a government job and is thus less vocal.

120

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Yup, Missouri simply doesn't value public education. Shameful. (And again the school funding formula not only is underfunded, its structure disadvantages districts like SLPS & KCPS.)

1146

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Can you imagine if STL political twitter was still a thing?

160

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Oh how I wish we lived in a state that valued public education. It's shocking how little Missouri funds public schools and it hardly funds KCPS and SLPS at all. I don't have much hope that things will change.

070

Reposted by STLrainbow

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Strong endorse. Will say it again: the pundit class's choice (and it was a choice) to overread 2024 as a seismic cultural shift was a catastrophe for this country, emboldening Trump to go full fascist and encouraging institutional surrender in the face of it. This lives on amid his total collapse.

331105269

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The new downtown "innovation zone" law may also supercede the prohibition on local incentives for data center proposals located within whatever the boundaries will be. In the same way the city won't be able to require affordable housing inclusion, etc. as a condition for approving abatement.

1101

STLrainbow @stlrainbow.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

There are four hundred more four-fams in TGS… I could go on forever!

050