November 10, 2002
House of the Month
Continental Building

By Jo Ann Vatcha
Community Development Administration

The Continental Building, located in the heart of Grand Center's cultural attractions and university atmosphere, will be open to the public from noon until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 10, 2002. Developer Steve Trampe of Owen Development commented, "This has been a truly rewarding project. Not only has a great St. Louis landmark been preserved for the community, but, for the first time in the building's history, is available for apartment rental." The Continental has had an amazing past and is sure to have a future as spectacular as the view from high above the St. Louis landscape.

Every one of the 107 new apartments in the 23 story building has nine to ten-foot ceilings and large windows. Each floor and all the apartments have been designed to utilize a wonderful variety of spaces, offering luxury and convenience to tenants. Rents range between $550, for a one-bedroom apartment, all the way to $6,000, for a two-level penthouse.

The Art Deco display model open today has a large living room with views of Dowtown, an exceptional bathroom, a spacious bedroom, and a light-filled kitchen with sleek new appliances and a bar/countertop that provides a great space for entertaining. Every unit has several large closets, and some have space for a home office or guest bedroom. Residents have their own entrance from the new 200-car parking garage through the second floor concierge lobby. A private clubroom is also available for tenants and their guests, plus a new swimming pool and sun deck, health club and outdoor courtyard. Other available amenities include high speed internet service, cable and food service. Experienced on-site management is provided by The Lipton Group, including 24-hour emergency maintenance.

The ornate lobby was orignally part of the Grand National Bank, site of our city's biggest unsolved bank robbery. Edward Mays, owner of both the bank and the Continental Life Insurance Company, built the Continental in 1929, and topped the building with a luxurious three-story penthouse for his family. The unique marble and granite floor of the Fountain Room is still intact and has been incorporated into the renovation. The opulent penthouse featured secret doors, roof terraces, and landscape murals depicting Mays' hometown in Arkansas. More intrigue and history about the building will be revealed in an upcoming Channel 9 documentary, which will premiere at the St. Louis Film Festival on November 17.

The "Superman Building" is just a short walk from the Fox and Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis University's wonderful campus, the Pulitzer and Contemporary Art Museums, Channel 9, the Black Repertory, and much more, like the brand-new Cardinal Ritter High School being built on Delmar. The old Woolworth Builidng will soon have new retail, restaurant and apartment space next door to the Continental. Nearby, private developers are building new single-family homes, attracting a diverse mix of homeowners. From St. Alphonsus Rock Church to St. Louis University, plans are being implemented to stabilize and enhance this vital neighborhood.

Built at the same time as the Empire State Building, the Continental Building was a statement of faith in a new era. Today, it's an incredible building brought back to life, signaling the promise of St. Louis' future. To reach the Continental Building from Highways 40 or 44, take Grand Avenue north to Olive. For information about new and renovated housing in St. Louis neighborhoods, go to our City of St. Louis website. For information about apartments in The Continental, contact The Lipton Group at (314) 652-3615.