September 2001
House of the Month
Downtown Lofts

September 16, 2001: Downtown Open House By Jo Ann Vatcha

Great St. Louis neighborhoods have great house tours-it's a tradition! Today's feature is our newest neighborhood house tour-Downtown. Come to the Downtown Now! Marketing Center (1533 Washington) between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and take a self-guided walking tour of 13 residential properties for only $ 10, eight on Washington Avenue. Pictured here are three other nearby sites: the Louderman Lofts, at 317 N. 11th St., the Elder Shirt Building at 703 N. 13th St., and the Breckenridge Hotel/Condos at 400 South 14th St. The units here illustrate the wide range of styles, from traditional lofts to luxury condos. Not featured here, but also on the tour, are units priced from as low as $ 73,000, as well as a wide range of rental units. With so much to choose from, the result is an amazing diversity of neighbors choosing to live downtown. One new homeowner said it well: "You can feel the energy of a city returning to greatness."

The Louderman Lofts at 317 N. 11th St. is the latest downtown project by Loftworks, LLC, which earlier had developed the successful 10th St. lofts. Every one of the spacious lofts in the 12-story Louderman Building is a corner unit, most with private balconies. The sophisticated style of these modern lofts is reflected in features like pale wood floors and the glass-enclosed baths. For information, call 241-6700.

The Elder Shirt Building at 703 N. 13th St. see exposed brick and massive timbers. This remarkable conversion of an industrial building has 30 lofts around a 4-story center light well with skylight. As is true of all the sites featured today, the developers have been able to use the Missouri Historic Rehab Tax Credits to help finance the construction up to high historic preservation standards. Phone 446-2900 for information.

At the Breckenridge Hotel/Condos at 400 South 14th St., developer Don Breckenridge's vision included not only a Sheraton Hotel for the massive 1 Million square foot building, but also 80 condominium units on the top three floors. Each home has a private atrium patio and between 1,500-2,964 square feet. Options include glass block walls and tiered ceilings. Imagine a new lifestyle, with every hotel amenity, inside the fabulous trompe l'oeil mural warehouse building so familiar to travelers on Highway 40. The location, adjacent to the Savis Center, Metrolink and Union Station, is at the very crossroads of downtown. Phone 231-1300 for more information.

The Downtown St. Louis Partnership has implemented several initiatives, including the Ground Floor Occupancy Program, designed to fill all street level spaces with restaurants and retail shops. Other programs work on beautification and enhanced safety plans. An incentive for many employees of participating companies is the special Fannie Mae "Downtown Employer-Assisted Housing Program", which grants buyers a down payment of $ 2,000-$ 5,000 forgivable over 5 years. Vihar Sheth, Program Manager, notes that "Downtown is being transformed into a wonderful neighborhood."

Downtown is home to more than 8,800 people, and new residential developments could increase that number to over 10,000. Today's tour features lots of surprises. The Cardinals and Rams both play today, and the tour is expected to draw over 1,000 people, so parking will be limited, and use of public transportation is encouraged.

Come find out why Downtown St. Louis is a great place to "live, work, and play". For information about the Downtown Open House, call 314-436-6500, Ext. 500. For general information on Downtown living, visit www.dtslp.org. Explore other City of St. Louis housing opportunities and homebuyer assistance programs at our web site.

Downtown