After "more than a decade of talk, work is expected to begin this fall" on the 10-acre Ballpark Village project adjacent to Busch Stadium, and officials are "aiming for a spring 2014 opening date," according to a front-page piece by Elizabeth Crisp of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The Missouri Development Finance Board yesterday "approved its share of $17 million in state and local incentives for the first phase of the project -- one of the final steps before construction could start." Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III said, "It's been a challenge." Crisp notes future phases of the project also "could receive city and state subsidies -- up to $183.5 million total -- as long as benchmarks on retail, office, residential and other offerings are met throughout Ballpark Village's completion." The first phase of Ballpark Village is a "dramatically scaled-back plan from the original concept and covers only two of the project's eight square blocks." It will "include a Cardinals Hall of Fame, Anheuser-Busch-themed restaurant, shops and an event plaza with a retractable roof to host concerts and other programs." Other tenants are "expected to be announced in coming weeks." DeWitt said, "I think there will be a lot of interest, and some of those conversations we've had over the years will pick up once we start turning dirt and get to work." Crisp notes, "Under the latest outline, office space could be added in phase three and the first residential units in phase four." Those are "targeted for 2016 and 2017, respectively" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/19). The Cardinals yesterday announced that they anticipate breaking ground on Ballpark Village in mid-November. The first phase of the project will be called Cardinals Nation, and will total over 30,000 square feet on three levels. Among the features at Cardinals Nation are a two-story restaurant and a 300-plus-seat deck with views into Busch Stadium (Cardinals).
