July 14, 2002
House of the Month
2336-38 Louisiana

By Jo Ann Vatcha
Community Development Administration

The Tower Grove East Neighborhood boasts fine architecture, a connection to stately Tower Grove Park, and a hometown atmosphere hard to match. Our featured house invites you to make this neighborhood "Your Hometown in the Heart of the City." 2336-38 Louisiana will be open Sunday, July 14, 2002, from Noon to 4:00 p.m. for viewing the two spacious townhomes which have been created from this former four-unit building by developers Marvin and Diana Kley. Each home has over 2,000 square feet of finished space on two floors, plus a full basement. The first floor has beautifully refinished pine floors and a period fireplace mantle in the gracious living room, which is linked by original pocket doors to the entry hall and also to a formal dining room. The kitchen features new cabinetry, range and microwave with built-in range hood, as well as a dishwasher, garbage disposal, and a handy penninsula counter. Beyond a well-planned laundry room and convenient half-bath, a family room has been created, overlooking the back yard.

On the second floor, there are three bedrooms and 2 baths, as well as a bonus computer room, which has extra wiring and phone lines already installed. The floor plan has been redesigned to include a true master bedroom suite, cleverly using the original pocket doors to lead to a large walk-in closet and private bath. Outside, wood privacy fences and new steps and sidewalks lead to lots of private parking for the new townhome owners.

2336-38 Louisiana is one of the first rehab projects to be designated as part of the "Tower Grove East Rehab-A-Rama." Mayor Francis G. Slay, Alderman Lewis Reed, and Alderman Stephen Conway have kicked-off a year-long rehab program to spotlight over 30 properties being rehabilitated in this neighborhood. The program will feature many single-family rehabs, which will be for-sale to homebuyers of varied economic levels, to increase owner-occupancy and further revitalize this fine old St. Louis neighborhood. A brochure and map of all the properties will be available at the featured home on Sunday.

The Tower Grove East Neighborhood was built in the late 1890's by the prominent German families who built the mansions in nearby Compton Heights, and their favored architectural trends influenced the designs of the classic all-brick buildings, which still today line the streets off South Grand from Compton Heights south to Gravois. The interiors of the homes are often surprising, with fine woodworking, stained-glass windows and wonderful staircases. Tower Grove East's very active neighborhood association includes many hard-working committees, raising funds every year with a booth at Fair St. Louis. The organization was founded in 1965 to fulfill its mission: "To achieve an outstanding urban neighborhood characterized by a diverse population, unified in an atmosphere of trust, respect and friendship."

The townhomes at 2336 Louisiana are listed at $199,900 each and carry a Homeowner's Warranty, as well as 10 year tax abatement. For more information, call Shelley Donaho at Vintage Realty, (314) 664-3400.

To learn more about other homeownership or development opportunies in the Tower Grove East Neighborhood, visit our City of St. Louis website at "stlouis.missouri.org/development/residential" or call Housing Analyst Sam Green at CDA, (314) 622-3400. To reach the featured home from Highway 40 or 44, take the South Grand exit to Shenandoah, go left, then right on Louisiana.