Blog > Blog > Archive by tag 'mixed-use'

March 2, 2010 at 7:17 pm

Even in the best of economic times, real estate developments fall through all the time. In a recession, this trend can become an epidemic. One seeming victim to this trend is the proposed Pelican Place project at 2232 and 2256 South Grand in the Compton Heights neighborhood.

The Planning & Urban Design Agency of the City of St. Louis published development details back in August of 2006. The former YMCA building at the site was to be torn down and replaced by a mixed-use development. The historic Pelican building at the corner of Shenandoah and Grand was to be restored to historic alignment, which would have seen the removal of the the ghastly 1-story addition to the north. The plans looked pretty great.

In 2007, demo began on the Pelican building and leasing signs for the finished project went up. Things looked like they were on the fast track. Unfortunately, over the following two years, nothing seemed to happen. Other than the grass at the site becoming overgrown.

In May 2009, the St. Louis Post Dispatch was reporting that the project was still moving forward with Snap Fitness as the anchoring tenant in the 37,000 Sq Ft project. Nearly one year later, the site remains untouched. The poor economy, as well as the sluggish sales at the nearby Compton Gate Condos seem to be the likely holdups.

Thankfully, the surrounding area has continued to improve in terms of residential development. Once things start top loosen up economically, this project seems to stand a good chance of actually coming together. In some form or another. South Grand between Arsenal and I-44 has become a pretty nice stretch, but a project like this could really push things over the edge. Hopefully something gels sooner rather than later. Here is a look at the current site.

February 5, 2010 at 2:47 pm

Although they have been leasing units since November, I just now got a chance to take a look at the recently completed Courtyard Lofts at Polar Wave project. Located at 2222 Gravois Ave in the St. Louis, neighborhood of Benton Park, the 14-townhome project is located in the same building as Shock City Studios and Bittersweet Bakery among other businesses.

When driving by the complex along Gravois, you might miss the residential component to the project entirely. That’s because the vehicle access to the courtyard is in the rear, via Sidney Street. There is a gate-entry along Gravois, but any tenant coming to the complex in a car would come around back. From that angle, they can access the underground garage for the project, which provides 2 parking spots per tenant as well as a bike rack.

Most of the units are 2 bed, 2 bath, but there are a few that are 1 bed due to handicap access and site restrictions. Finish levels seen to be of a very nice quality with concrete floors on the first level and carpeting upstairs. The picture gallery below does more just than I can put to words. Overall, I would say the the project is very impressive. I really didn’t notice anything that I didn’t like during my visit. It looks like the commercial and residential additions provided by the Polar Wave project are going to be a great long-term addition to the fabric of Benton Park.

Prices run from $850 for a 1 bed, 1 bath unit to $1495 for the oversized 2 bed, 2 bath. The units are currently be leased by Julia Mittelstadt of Prudential Alliance Realtors. For more on the units currently available, please click here: available townhomes.

January 12, 2010 at 6:50 pm

Things have been a little quite on the development front in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood of St. Louis this year. With Amy & Amrit Gill’s Restoration St. Louis starting no high-profile projects in 2009, changes have been slow compared the previous two years. Things might be changing to 2010.

The Post Dispatch ran a full article yesterday on the Gill’s rumored green project along Manchester. Details are similar to those previously reported, with 24 new apartments and about 10,000 of street-level commercial proposed for th vacant lots at 4190 and 4556 Manchester.

The biggest news, however, is that they intend for this project to be no only green, but totally “off the grid.” That’s right, no connection with Ameren UE at all, by using things like geothermal heat, solar panels and wind turbines. Of course, at $3.6 million per 18,000 sq ft building, this project wouldn’t be cheap. And with as much as $250,000 of the projects funds potentially coming from federal stimulus money and $400,000 from federal tax credits, those costs will partially subsidized as well.

One has to wonder if a totally “off the grid” project is really a smart option with the current financial market and limited battery technologies, but one thing is for sure At least the Gill’s can’t be accused of lacking ambition.

Link

December 4, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Gut rehabs of LRA (Land Reutilization Authority) have been few and far between in the past eighteen months, with construction financing has been virtually nonexistent in this economic climate. So you can count me surprised when I got a call from a friend saying that this 4,932 sq ft monster in Marine Villa was going to be turned into a single family home. Read more

September 25, 2009 at 11:35 am

This time last year, the commercial space at 2730 McNair appeared to be set to house a restaurant called Koronaz. Neighborhood support for the project, however, was not forthcoming and it fell apart. While that was a setback, the good news is that the wait for something to open in the space appears to be over. Read more

September 22, 2009 at 4:30 pm

You know a neighborhood is on the right track when it can support not only two business districts (South Grand and Morgan Ford), but also a hodge-podge of businesses interspersed throughout the neighborhood. That is exactly what continues to happen in the neighborhood of Tower Grove South with the soon-to-be-opened A Walk in the Park Pet Spa.

Read more

September 18, 2009 at 11:10 am

While the controversial subdivision development in the eastern half of the Botanical Heights neighborhood (formerly McRee Town) has received more fanfare, the commercial corridor along Tower Grove has been quietly gaining momentum. Read more

August 31, 2009 at 6:16 pm

It’s been nearly a year since I moved my company, Threshold Investment Properties, into my current building at 2654 Gravois and I haven’t stopped working on it for one minute. The building has quite a ways to go before its done, but the office itself is nearing completion. The best example of this transformation is the nearly complete storefront. Read more

August 11, 2008 at 10:43 am

I was hoping to post pictures of my new office and home this afternoon. I was originally set to close last Thursday on the property, but the commercial tenant still hadn’t vacated and we had to push it to today. Now it looks like we have to delay it again. For another week! Seems that the fates are against me. Sometimes real estate transactions can be so frustrating.

July 8, 2008 at 2:06 pm

I always love unexpected developments. If you have been following the death of the Fleur de Lis project at Jefferson & Arsenal, you will understand why the lack of activity at the site is so upsetting. I have really started to get used the fact the the lot might sit there for years. And then I drove by site this afternoon. The new home of a large sign displaying a new upcoming project: the Hydraulic Brick Lofts. Read more

June 24, 2008 at 1:38 pm

I’m always happy to see large scale projects go up in the City of St. Louis. Years back, when I first heard about the $5.5 million Lehman Place project in Dogtown (specifically, the Clayton-Tamm Neighborhood), I rejoiced like everyone else. Unfortunately, not all developments are created equal. Now all there is to show for the investment is a huge monstrosity of building, displaying no use of common sense in its design. And did I mention that it has been in foreclosure limbo for almost a year? Read more

February 9, 2008 at 12:17 am

The South Side Journal is reporting that this project is “a go.” Despite continued doubts from local observers, Garrison Development reps are saying that they are moving ahead. For a more detailed update, check out the full article.

January 16, 2008 at 12:00 am

Two years ago when talk of an Old North St. Louis revival was really heating up I had my doubts. Last year my doubts increased with the virtual standstill in development along North Market and the continued “talk” about the revival of the old 14th Street Mall. As a former skeptic, I’d like to make a formal apology for my doubts.

I drove through the neighborhood last week and was totally floored. Not only was construction along the mall going full steam ahead, I was shocked by the amount of work being done on buildings on nearby streets. I was well aware that construction was underway, but not to this extent. Streets were fenced off, crews were everywhere and the vibe was fantastic.

There is still a long way to go for this project and the neighborhood as a whole, but the future is looking bright. According to the “What’s New in Old North” blog the current development is set to include:

“27 buildings are being completely rehabilitated as a part of this housing and economic development initiative. 33,500 square feet of new high quality street-level commercial / retail / restaurant spaces will be created, constituting the neighborhood’s first significant new economic development in decades—and a boost to the local economy and tax base. 80 units of rental apartments, townhouses, lofts and live/work spaces – reasonably divided between affordable and market-rate units will be completed as a part of this redevelopment effort.”


The question is no longer if this project is going to happen, but what kind of impact it is going to have? Quality developments in North St. Louis have been nearly nonexistent for decades, but if this project is successful it could go a long way in correcting that trend.

A public meeting discussing this project is set for Saturday, January 19th 2008 and all are welcome to attend. For more information check out this blog. Even if you can’t attend, I recommend that you drive by and check out what’s going on in the neighborhood. Make sure to pay a visit to Crown Candy Kitchen while your there. Click here for directions.

*I previously wrote about this development in the December 2006 issue of my newsletter: Check it out.

December 4, 2007 at 9:30 pm


This is one of those properties that has been “on the verge” of being redeveloped for years. It’s one of the few local “icons” that hasn’t been either developed or demolished. A good project centered around this complex would do a lot for the area in southern Benton Park and Marine Villa. But maybe I’m just biased because I live in Benton Park. Nevertheless, its just a matter of time before something finally happens to it. I just hope this isn’t another one of those cases where the momentum builds up only to fizzle away a few months later. From the sound of the recent article in the Post Dispatch it at least seems like this proposal is being treated somewhat seriously. Take a look for yourself: Redevelopment proposal renews hope for Lemp complex

November 15, 2007 at 5:05 pm

*NOTE – This article was originally written in December of 2006 for the newsletter.

When most people hear the words, “North St. Louis”, certain images pop into their heads. Most of them, none too flattering. Unfortunately, this negative perception is not wholly unfounded. With high rates of crime and poverty, and a decaying infrastructure, the area has been in a downward spiral for years.

However, as North City has fallen off most people radar, there are still islands of prosperous businesses and communities that are holding onto the area’s successful past.

One of the most recognizable of these areas is Crown Candy Kitchen. In business since 1913, this landmark is located at 1401 St. Louis Avenue in the Old North St. Louis (ONSL) neighborhood. It still draws patrons from all over the area to one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods just north of downtown.

Once part of a vibrant commercial community known as the 14th Street Mall, Crown Candy is now an island unto itself. Changing demographics and shopping preferences have caused most of the old businesses to shut down.

Although the storied first chapter of ONSL has come to a close, the next chapter is already underway. Crown Candy Kitchen has served as a bookmark to the area’s story, and it is now the focal point of many new opportunities for investors and homebuyers alike.

Taking advantage of this new energy, many development projects have already been completed or are currently underway. The most significant of these projects is the rehab and infill construction taking place at the North Market Place project. The 30-acre development area for this project is roughly bounded by Hadley Street on the east, North Florissant Avenue on the west, Monroe Street on the south and Benton Street on the north.

The project began in 2004 through the efforts of the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group (ONSLRG) and the Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance (RHCDA). When completed, the project will feature over 100 new and rehabbed single-family homes as well as a variety of commercial and rental spaces. Many buildings have already been completed.
The early success of this project has produced an influx of much-needed revenue and publicity for the area. More and more rehabbers and developers are turning their attention to this northern neighborhood due to the low acquisition costs and respectful profit margins.

Even though progress is being made,, the ONSLRG and RHCDA have not been at rest. They are already hard at work on their next project. This time they are taking on the one-time shopping destination known as the 14th Street Mall. Just south of Crown Candy, the project is set to require an investment of approximately $25 million. The mixed-use development is set begin by the Spring 2007 and take about 18 months to complete. Whether the development could bring similar retail activity to the area as was seen until the 1970’s is debatable, but it will defiantly help the neighborhood along on its path to rejuvenation.

Local volunteers, organizations and developers have put in countless hours to bring the ONSL neighborhood back from the brink of total destruction. Thanks to their efforts, the wrecking balls have been replaced construction vehicles and scaffolding. The neighborhood’s rebirth is still in the infantile stages, but it is going full steam ahead.

Even with the recent activity in the area, there is still a lot of opportunities available for developers and businessmen. The neighborhood has a variety of resources available, which as worth a look for those interested. For more information, check out the neighborhood website at www.onsl.org.

*UPDATE – It looks like this project is finally underway. They were having trouble with the financing, but demolition and construction have started. The Old North St. Louis Restoration Group has a great blog of their own tracking the progress: newoldnorth.blogspot.com