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Kirkwood Pulse • January 06, 2026

Autogenerated on Tuesday, January 06, 2026 at 12:07 UTC • 2 stories from the last 36 hours.

Kirkwood Pulse • January 06, 2026

project_overview: developer: Double Eagle Development location: Former Public Works site, Kirkwood housing_units: 202 building_details: Six four-story buildings parking_spots: 247 new_street: A new through street connecting Taylor to Fillmore zoning: Proposed new R-7 Planned Multifamily zoning code project_features: housing_types: -: ranch -: townhome layouts amenities: -: pool -: fitness center -: lounge -: grill stations -: professionally maintained grounds design_elements: Architectural elements reflecting historic Kirkwood homes with modern features community_features: -: pedestrian-friendly streets and sidewalks -: gathering spaces -: art installations -: robust trees/plantings criticisms: hotel_absence: No hotel included despite original RFP requirement retail_exclusion: No ground-floor retail allowed under new zoning, seen as shortsighted building_design: Six blocky, mostly identical buildings lacking human scale parking: Extensive surface parking reminiscent of suburban developments, missed opportunity for structured parking and public spaces development_phasing: Lack of phased development by multiple entities limits diversity in vision potential_impact: connectivity: New through street improves downtown Kirkwood walkability economic: Missed opportunity for retail to serve new residents and trail users, impacting local sales tax base unknowns: Details on project appearance and city financial returns remain unclear overall_opinion: The proposal has some positive aspects but is generally disappointing with significant concerns about design, zoning, and missed opportunities. context: The article discusses the proposals submitted in response to Kirkwood's Public Works Request for Proposals (RFP) process, focusing on those not selected by the City Council. It provides insight into the Council's preferences and feedback, as well as an overview of the rejected proposals. city_council_preferences: -: Include a hotel in the project -: Majority owner-occupied residential units -: Flexible structure height and unit density with contextual architectural design -: Consider including KPAC surface parking lot with careful phasing and maintaining or increasing public parking -: Consider incentives to increase purchase price (excluding Tax Increment Financing) -: Include structured parking to minimize surface parking -: Preference for traditional architectural design with Council involvement in review proposals_overview: Keeley: description: Two-stage project with 233 homes including 32 for-sale townhomes, a 150-unit multifamily building, a 51-unit addition, and a 477-stall parking garage shared with KPAC patrons. Optional third stage for boutique hotel or 24-unit mixed-use building with retail. Included public pocket parks and good integration with Kirkwood street grid. features: residential_units: 233 parking_stalls: 477 phases: 2 optional_third_stage: boutique hotel or 24-unit mixed-use apartment with retail public_parks: True street_grid_integration: True Ridgehouse: description: Proposal included 30 for-sale townhomes, two 100-apartment buildings, 9,000 sqft retail, and a 654-space parking garage behind KPAC. Total parking spaces 760. Did not include a through-street as requested. features: residential_units: 230 retail_sqft: 9000 parking_spaces: 760 through_street: False Savoy: description: Most retail-heavy bid with a 100-room hotel on KPAC surface lot, 62 homes (villas, townhomes, mixed-use), ~15,000 sqft commercial space, a new water feature integrated with adjacent creek for storm runoff retention, and trails/paths. features: hotel_rooms: 100 residential_units: 62 retail_sqft: 15000 stormwater_management: True trails_paths: True Mehlman: description: Plan for a 126-room hotel (Marriot A-Loft or similar), 15,000 sqft retail, 27 villas, and 148 parking spots. No revised proposal submitted. features: hotel_rooms: 126 retail_sqft: 15000 residential_units: 27 parking_spots: 148 additional_notes: Three hotel-including proposals were rejected despite city leadership's emphasis on attracting a hotel downtown. This follows previous rejections of hotel proposals on city-owned Jefferson lots, highlighting a paradox in Council decisions.

Vibe-O-Meter

  • Score (0-100): 50
  • Sentiment (-100..100): 0
  • Mood: Even Keel
  • Why: Mix of 0 positive, 2 neutral, and 0 negative stories. Average sentiment lands at 0.

Stories worth a look

  • 202 Homes Proposed for Former Public Works Site (Kirkwood Gadfly) — project_overview: developer: Double Eagle Development location: Former Public Works site, Kirkwood housing_units: 202 building_details: Six four-story buildings parking_spots: 247 new_street: A new through street connecting Taylor to Fillmore zoning: Proposed new R-7 Planned Multifamily zoning code project_features: housing_types: -: ranch -: townhome layouts amenities: -: pool -: fitness center -: lounge -: grill stations -: professionally maintained grounds design_elements: Architectural elements reflecting historic Kirkwood homes with modern features community_features: -: pedestrian-friendly streets and sidewalks -: gathering spaces -: art installations -: robust trees/plantings criticisms: hotel_absence: No hotel included despite original RFP requirement retail_exclusion: No ground-floor retail allowed under new zoning, seen as shortsighted building_design: Six blocky, mostly identical buildings lacking human scale parking: Extensive surface parking reminiscent of suburban developments, missed opportunity for structured parking and public spaces development_phasing: Lack of phased development by multiple entities limits diversity in vision potential_impact: connectivity: New through street improves downtown Kirkwood walkability economic: Missed opportunity for retail to serve new residents and trail users, impacting local sales tax base unknowns: Details on project appearance and city financial returns remain unclear overall_opinion: The proposal has some positive aspects but is generally disappointing with significant concerns about design, zoning, and missed opportunities. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more
  • Public Works Site: The Rejects (Kirkwood Gadfly) — context: The article discusses the proposals submitted in response to Kirkwood's Public Works Request for Proposals (RFP) process, focusing on those not selected by the City Council. It provides insight into the Council's preferences and feedback, as well as an overview of the rejected proposals. city_council_preferences: -: Include a hotel in the project -: Majority owner-occupied residential units -: Flexible structure height and unit density with contextual architectural design -: Consider including KPAC surface parking lot with careful phasing and maintaining or increasing public parking -: Consider incentives to increase purchase price (excluding Tax Increment Financing) -: Include structured parking to minimize surface parking -: Preference for traditional architectural design with Council involvement in review proposals_overview: Keeley: description: Two-stage project with 233 homes including 32 for-sale townhomes, a 150-unit multifamily building, a 51-unit addition, and a 477-stall parking garage shared with KPAC patrons. Optional third stage for boutique hotel or 24-unit mixed-use building with retail. Included public pocket parks and good integration with Kirkwood street grid. features: residential_units: 233 parking_stalls: 477 phases: 2 optional_third_stage: boutique hotel or 24-unit mixed-use apartment with retail public_parks: True street_grid_integration: True Ridgehouse: description: Proposal included 30 for-sale townhomes, two 100-apartment buildings, 9,000 sqft retail, and a 654-space parking garage behind KPAC. Total parking spaces 760. Did not include a through-street as requested. features: residential_units: 230 retail_sqft: 9000 parking_spaces: 760 through_street: False Savoy: description: Most retail-heavy bid with a 100-room hotel on KPAC surface lot, 62 homes (villas, townhomes, mixed-use), ~15,000 sqft commercial space, a new water feature integrated with adjacent creek for storm runoff retention, and trails/paths. features: hotel_rooms: 100 residential_units: 62 retail_sqft: 15000 stormwater_management: True trails_paths: True Mehlman: description: Plan for a 126-room hotel (Marriot A-Loft or similar), 15,000 sqft retail, 27 villas, and 148 parking spots. No revised proposal submitted. features: hotel_rooms: 126 retail_sqft: 15000 residential_units: 27 parking_spots: 148 additional_notes: Three hotel-including proposals were rejected despite city leadership's emphasis on attracting a hotel downtown. This follows previous rejections of hotel proposals on city-owned Jefferson lots, highlighting a paradox in Council decisions. Impact: Impact unclear based on automatically extracted text. Sentiment: neutral (0) Priority: medium Read more

Keep an eye on 202 Homes Proposed for Former Public Works Site from Kirkwood Gadfly.