There was so much going on this year, I can’t believe I forgot to add St. Ferdinand Homes II to the list of development favorites. So I suppose this is a bonus entry…
Lafayette Preparatory Academy Expansion - Lafayette Square Neighborhood
Chippewa Park - Gravois Park and Dutchtown
The last post of our favorite developments in 2018. This one is cause for celebration. Chippewa Street, Gravois Park and Dutchtown has seen much love this year. Here’s to more smart and sensitive development that respects the built environment and the people that live in this most dense part of St. Louis.
Kranzberg Arts Foundation Rehabs in Gravois Park
The State Street Projects - Foreward
I have to do a little set up to my final two 2018 development posts. I feel these two projects could be the most impactful in years and for those who don’t live, hangout or frequent the Gravois Park area, you need a bit of commentary from someone who loves St. Louis but can see the troubling signs as well.
Soulard Optimism
I am going to be in Soulard tonight entertaining out of town family and I had some thoughts about several projects in the neighborhood that were at the top of mind a year or so ago. Thought I better drive by and see where they’re at in case I need to brag about the neighborhood seeing lots of investment and rehab activity.
Big 4 Chevrolet - Jefferson Underground - McKinley Heights Neighborhood
Forest Park - DeBaliviere Metrolink TOD
Ronald McDonald House - Forest Park Southeast
Habitat for Humanity - Carondelet and The Patch Neighborhoods
Locust Collaboration District Center and Park
Clifton Heights Park Masterplan
Mendenhall Building in Downtown West
Steelcote Crossing in the Midtown Neighborhood
I went on a long scooter ride in that weird, disconnected, railway-heavy part of the Midtown Neighborhood back in 2017. I kept dreaming of how this part of the city could somehow be reconnected. Click HERE to see that post.
It’s such an odd, underutilized area. But with the Armory and Foundry projects, maybe there is hope. Another huge preservation win is the renovation of the Steelcote and Columbia Oil buildings, collectively called “Steelcote Crossing”, these aging beauties will be renovated into apartments.
Preservation of our history and irreplaceable architecture and building materials is just such a wonderful thing to keep you optimistic on St. Louis’ trajectory.
I will keep this one short, because I wrote about this project back in October, 2018. You can read it and see all the picture and such HERE.
The reason we put this on our 2018 favorites list is because it’s in such a tough area for investment. But, if we can connect this area to Chouteau, it can become another gem of an area with an industrial feel. I’ve seen parts of town in Kansas City and Memphis that remind me of this part of Midtown. It could be so cool and strangely remote and unique.
I love preservation projects, and this one being so close to where we live is a constant reminder that St. Louis’ potential is unmatched.
Here are couple updated photos to show the progress as of publishing:
More of this kind of thing, right? I love living here and watching these long abandoned properties see new investment and life.