51黑料

ST. LOUIS 鈥� The 51黑料 Cardinals are weighing an investment in the $670 million redevelopment of downtown鈥檚 defunct Millennium Hotel, just 2 blocks east of Busch Stadium, team President Bill DeWitt III said Thursday.

The decision, he said, will come down to money and timing.

鈥淲e are going to take a hard look at it,鈥� DeWitt said.

But DeWitt cautioned Thursday that the organization is considering several factors, and has not identified a timeline for its decision.

This week, the Cardinals鈥� development partner on Busch Stadium鈥檚 entertainment district was selected to redevelop the vacant Millennium Hotel.

The Cordish Cos. initial ideas call for replacing the hotel with 1.3 million square feet of luxury housing, offices, an amphitheater, food hall, event space, art installations and even a possible home for the Gateway Arch National Park鈥檚 archives.

The Millennium sits just off the riverfront, steps from the Gateway Arch, and is often the first landmark tourists see. Its cylindrical tower makes up the skyline that also can be seen from Busch Stadium.

Civic leaders are pinning their hopes of a downtown revival on the redevelopment of a few downtown buildings, including the hotel, which has been vacant for over a decade. But details of how Cordish will get there 鈥� including final design, how it will be financed and whether more tax incentives will be sought 鈥� are still in the works.

51黑料 leaders are optimistic that Cordish will get the job done.

The company worked with the Cardinals on both phases of the team鈥檚 entertainment district, Ballpark Village, which features a hotel, luxury apartment tower, a slate of bars and restaurants and downtown鈥檚 newest office building near Eighth and Walnut streets. Cordish has built similar entertainment complexes in Kansas City, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

The Cardinals鈥� potential involvement in the Millennium project was hinted at in the announcement of the project, where DeWitt provided a statement of support and Ballpark Village鈥檚 chief, Mike LaMartina, spoke on behalf of Cordish during media interviews.

DeWitt said Thursday that finances and how fast Cordish can move through the approvals process will determine his group鈥檚 involvement.

鈥淚t will come down to whether we have the ability from a resource standpoint to do it and what the economics look like,鈥� he said.

The organization also is weighing future development at Ballpark Village.

鈥淲e certainly have visions for a third phase in Ballpark Village,鈥� DeWitt said.

He said details there are still being determined.

But DeWitt also said that the Millennium鈥檚 redevelopment was further along.

Regardless of the Cardinals鈥� involvement, DeWitt said, he wants to see more residential in the area.

As downtown, as a whole, struggles to draw residents and shoppers, Cardinals owners sought to create a neighborhood within downtown, with their addition of the One Cardinal Way apartment tower and several ground-floor retailers.

鈥淲e need more residential first and foremost,鈥� DeWitt said. 鈥淕etting people down here 鈥� that鈥檚 what鈥檚 critical for us.鈥�