The Ram’s proposal for the Edward Jones Dome in Downtown St. Louis has finally been revealed to the public. It looks nice, but it also looks expensive. If this is what the team expects the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) to provide St. Louisians might want to start pondering what it will be like to lose another NFL team. What do you think of the plan?

via STLtoday.com

I am happy to report that the 2011 real estate market was kind to us & 2012 is projected to be even kinder. We are currently looking for 1 or 2 individuals who are interested in a career working in real estate. No experience is necessary & the compensation structure is negotiable. In short, we are willing to be creative & open minded.

The most important thing is to find a trust-worthy individual who shares similar business values & mindset. Basic details for the position include the following:

• Interest & enjoyment in working with people & fostering relationships (must be a “people person”)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment & to respond quickly to changing situations
• Availability to work some evenings & some weekend days
• Interest in real estate — Things such as single family & multi-family housing, architecture, rehabbing/renovating, real estate investing, “match-making” people with properties, etc.
• High familiarity with Internet & technology-based software/programs
• No experience is necessary, but you absolutely MUST be able to demonstrate that you are a competent, capable, diligent, and hard-working individual with a can-do attitude. Additionally, if you don’t already have it, you must be willing to obtain your real estate license.
• We offer a positive work environment with successful professionals who are ready, willing, and able to share their knowledge. Our training is based on an apprenticeship-style program whereby individuals work alongside one of our agents on a daily basis to form a cohesive team.

Serious applicants may submit their resume, brief outline as to why they are interested in the position, and any other additional information that they feel is relevant for consideration to Riahna Meyer at riahna@stlresociety.com.

When it comes to the real estate, you can never build to accommodate everyone’s tastes. But it never hurts to try. One issue that seems to be hard to get a true grasp on is people’s feelings towards electric and gas appliances and utilities. Stoves, furnaces, water heaters… that kind of thing. We get calls from people looking for all-electric units from time to time and it is always a question just how common this is.

On the pro-gas side, gas furnaces tend to be cheaper to run. While increases in natural gas costs and improved efficiencies for electric air handlers have narrowed the gap, gas furnaces are still cheaper to run. Gas ranges are also unparalleled for cooking. Unless we are taking about super expensive cook-tops, you never gas a more even and consistent burn than with gas.

On the electric side, depending on your school of thought, an electric air handler is more efficient than most gas furnaces. They tend to be a little more expensive to operate though. The big perk about going all electric in a house is that you don’t have to deal with the gas company. No gas bills, no gas inspection, no possibility of gas leaks… it can be nice.

So what do you think? Are you pro-gas, pro-electric, or do you simply not care? Feel free to elaborate.

The trend towards living in in a small (as little as 200 square feet), economic and well designed house is huge right now. The old lady who lived in a shoe was apparently ahead of her time. If it were not  for all those kids, she may have enjoyed the benefits of being a tiny house homeowner. Downsizers are buying into the notion that less is less: less maintenance, less stuff, less cleaning, and little to no mortgage to pay, which all adds up to having more time. Of course, there is the down side of down sizing, as a recent  MSN article  about the trend points out. Zoning issues may prohibit your elf crib dreams, for example, and social butterflies are left with mostly outdoor entertaining options. But if you believe that time is the ultimate asset, than you may consider moving to teensy town.

Think the St. Louis Zoo is too small and that it doesn’t have enough parking? Apparently the Zoo agrees with you. To remedy the problem, they now have the former Forest Park Hospital under contract to purchase. The 13.5 acre site is located at 6150 Oakland Ave. in the Clayton-Tamm neighborhood (part of Dogtown) of St. Louis.

While the Zoo would be tearing down a number of old buildings for surface parking at the proposed development, the existing buildings are not very interesting. And there is no doubt if the project moved forward it would bring traffic and attention to the surrounding neighborhood and businesses. The Zoo has 120 days due diligence to review the plan, but by July, we should know whether this proposal should become reality.

For more on this potential expansion, check out the St. Louis Zoo website.

The recent real estate development most people associate with the far-southern reaches of St. Louis City seems to be the the new River City Casino. While there is no doubt that the casino has brought a lot of attention to that area of South St. Louis City & County, there is actually another large-scale project that is even more noteworthy: The Temtor.Never heard of it? While you are not alone, clearly someone has taken notice as nearly all the 77 apartments and commercial spaces are now leased in this mixed-use development.

On the residential end, the apartments start at $595 and range from one to three-bedroom. All of them are loft-style and have top-notch finishes. As you can tell from the picture gallery below, the finishes have a distinctive flair not often seen in this part of town. On the commercial end, there is roughly 27,000 square foot of space. Current tenants include Perennial Artisan Ales, Goebel & Co Furniture, Davis Street Market Deli, and SouthSide Fight Club (a mixed-martial arts gym) among others.

Formerly a syrup-plant for Coca-Cola, the $27 million project was developed by Steins Broadway and Rothschild Development. While the commercial aspect of the Temtor will need to mature a bit more with time, the project has really been a great anchor development in an area of the City of overlooked. The buildingt is officially located in the Patch neighborhood, but is very close to Carondelet. Both neighborhoods have been given a  boost by this project. Hopefully it will continue to be a success for the the area and developers alike.

For a closer look at the inside and outside of the project, take a look at the picture gallery below.

With St. Louis’ new love affair with microbreweries, it is nice to see the far south-side of the City is not being left out of the fun. Since September 2011, Perennial Artisan Ales has been brewing beer in the former Coca-Cola syrup plant at 8125 S Michigan in the Patch Neighborhood (near  Carondelet). The redeveloped industrial plant is now a $27 million mixed-use development, rebranded as The Temtor.

All brewing takes place on site, with beer available at both their tasting room and at many local bars. The folks at Perennial seem to love to get creative. The have a interesting rotating cast of brews to go along with mainstay styles. Here is how Perennial phrases it:

Our philosophy is to brew beer with the adventurous craft beer drinker in mind—focusing on hand-crafted, small batches of beer, using local, seasonal and organic ingredients as much as possible.

A welcome addition to the local microbrewery lineup. Visit Perennial Artisan Ales website for more information on the brewery. For a closer look at the interior of Perennial, check out the picture gallery below.

Originally started in late-summer 2010, Civil Life Brewing Co. is now officially open for business after about a year of construction. Located in the South St. Louis neighborhood of Tower Grove South, the brewery is owned and operated by the former owner of 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar in Lafayette Square, Jake Hafner. The company is currently producing ten different beers, some of which are being be distributed in bottles and kegs.  The establishment has a large indoor and outdoor tasting area for sampling. Light food is available, in addition to the beer.

One of the most interesting things about the development is that rather than being along the more widely known South Grand or Morganford corridors, the brewery is actually be located on the southern end of the neighborhood at 3714 Holt Avenue. Since the facility is just north of Chippewa, nearby the now defunct Bleeding Deacon and the new storage facility at the old railroad bridge near Morganford and Chippewa, it doesn’t get a lot of drive-by traffic. Considering the off-the-beaten-trail location, the likelihood of anything resembling a true brew-pub is small. But bring on the beer.

For more info, visit the Civil Life Brewing website. For a closer look at the interior and exterior of the facility, check out the gallery below.

While much of the construction at the Georgian (formerly City Hospital) has been complete for years, the project has been slowly growing since it began in the mid-2000′s. Nestled between the Lafayette Square and Soulard neighborhoods, the complex is very visible and has huge potential. Despite this, while most of the 104 condos at the site are now complete, (A number of  condos are currently available for sale), the building does not draw as much attention as the developer Gilded Age might have hoped. That might have something to do with the fact that there is little to draw non-residents into the facility.

That could be changing though, with the recent announcement that a new rock climbing wall, fitness gym, and two restaurants will soon be opening in the complex. Operating under the name Climb So ILL, the new business will include several rock climbing walls and a bouldering wall, along with 24-hour fitness center, two restaurant spaces and a banquet area. The gym and climbing walls will be opening in the old City Hospital Power Plant in mid-March with the restaurants soon to follow.

via St. Louis Business Journal

The St. Louis neighborhoods of Benton Park and Soulard are what most would consider a success story. Both have come a long way in the last 10 years, to become two of the area’s premier neighborhoods. Which is why the rotting husk of a building  at 1836 Gravois Avenue stands out so much. Tucked away in the very northeastern corner of Benton Park, next to Interstate 55 and the border of Soulard, this property is one of the biggest eyesores in the area.

Condemned and slated for demolition in 2006, the property was saved when the owners pulled permits for completely renovating the building. The general building permit alone was valued at $250,000 so the work was to be significant. Construction soon began, and although the architectural style was a bit nontraditional, it was good to see the investment in this prominent building. Unfortunately,  just after framing and drainage plumbing were completed construction stopped. Nothing has been done at the property since. What is worse, the was never properly secured and sealed, which has allowed water to continually leak through openings in the roof and whatever human or animal wanderers walk straight into the building via the unsecured rear door.

Tax records show that the property is owned by 1836 Gravois Properties LLC. According to the Missouri Secretary of State, this LLC is based out of 816 Geyer Ave., and is tied to the owners of Molly’s in Soulard. One would assume that they had planned on using 1836 Gravois as a restaurant or lounge prior to shutting down the project. Why they stopped or whether they intend on returning to the project is uncertain. What is certain is that the area will certainly be much better off when something new happens at the property. The status quo simply cannot continue.

Despite the continued legal appeals over losing out on $390 million in tax increment financing (TIF) money for infrastructure improvements, St. Louis mega-developer Paul McKee is pressing forward on his ambitious Northside Regeneration Project. Just this morning, City officials quickly approved McKee’s offer to purchase 1,233 city-owned parcels and option on the neglected Pruitt-Igoe for roughly $3.2 million. All these parcels are located on the Near Northside of St. Louis, just north of Downtown. With this expansion, McKee will now hold around 2,200 parcels, totaling over 250 acres.

Both lauded and panned, there is no doubt that this project could prove a game changer for North St. Louis and the City as a whole. But up to this point, work virtually no actual work has occurred. Many have expressed concern over McKee’s poor track record of maintaining existing structures in addition number of issues raised over how this has been handled by St. Louis City Hall and the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) (read more on that here). Unfortunately, those concerns seem beyond addressing now that the plan has been quickly approved. Hopefully Mr. McKee will prove worthy of the trust that is being put in him.

via Building Blocks

The renovation of the former Loretto Academy at 3407 Lafayette Avenue in the St. Louis, Missouri neighborhood of The Gate District is finally wrapping up. Formally used as a school among many other uses, the building has been converted to housing for the local Dominican Friars, who have not have a local home of their own since 1981. The new facilities are called the St. Dominic Priory.

Most recently operated by Intercommunity Housing, the building was boarded up in early 2010 after that organization vacated the building. Now owned by the Dominican Friars, the building’s occupants include friars studying for the priesthood, priests, and brothers (friars not studying to be priests).  For more info, check out the St. Dominic Priory Building website. A great addition along Lafayette, which along with the townhomes at 3201 Lafayette, are really helping to improve the borders the Gate District. You can also see pics of the finished project as well as construction progress in the gallery below.

While St. Louis University continues to expand further north and south across the Midtown area of St. Louis, it seems that are also setting their sights on invading Downtown as well. Come August 2012, SLU Law School will be moving it’s 1,100 students, as well as associated faculty and staff, to 100 Tucker Boulevard. Donated by Joe Scott, of Scott Properties, the 2 million square foot commercial building will soon begin it’s transformation. There has been some doubt whether the 11-story property can be ready to house the entire law school by the 2012-13 school year, but for the moment, that remains the timetable.

via STLtoday.com

Just north of Interstate-64 in the Midtown neighborhood of St. Louis, sits the Council Tower Apartments. You probably don’t know the name, but if you frequently drive through the area you have most likely seen the building with the half-destroyed, brick mural on eastern side of the structure. The last piece in a $40 million historic renovation of this iconic piece of real estate, the property now home to 225 low-income senior apartments. Work is currently wrapping up on the structure with lighting to come soon.

via STLtoday.com

The recession of 2008 was certainly not kind to many areas of South St. Louis. Neighborhoods like Marine Villa and Gravois Park certainly have had their growing pains following the slide. But one of the best things they have going for them are the iconic old buildings that still stand tall throughout the area. Buildings like the 3-story mixed-use property at 3600 S Jefferson Ave. , which is on the border of both neighborhoods at the intersection of Miami Street.

While the building has suffered from a number of failed attempts to be renovated through the years, it is still an eye-catcher and seems salvageable. Unfortunately, neighboring business-anchor, Concordia Publishing, seems intent on tearing the building down to create a new green space for it’s employees. The need for such space is debatable, but the fact is that the company has a hearing with the Preservation Board on Monday, January 23rd, to seek approval for demolition. Hopefully this historic structure can still be saved, but we will know more this week.

For more on the current situation, check out this article regarding Concordia’s hearing. For a better look at the building’s exterior, take a look at the picture gallery below.

No street in the Shaw Neighborhood of St. Louis has the deck stacked against it quite like DeTonty. While some areas in the neighborhood need more work than others, none has to address the challenge of facing a highway. Unfortunately, DeTonty runs along the southern end of Interstate-44 for it’s entire length. Existing properties have largely been allowed to slip into disrepair, with plan after redevelopment  plan falling apart through the years. That may finally be changing though, with the now-completed renovation of 4100 DeTonty by developer Courtney McCray.

This historic 4 bed, 2.5 bath rehab home went under contract almost immediately after being put on the market for $205,000. And it is not even finished when it was listed. Considering this level of interest, the developer has been working on securing the currently-vacant neighboring lots owned by the St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority (LRA). In fact, they will actually soon be beginning construction on two new infill townhomes next door to 4100 DeTonty very soon. If demand is strong, we might soon see the entire 4100 block of Shaw finally getting developed.  For an exterior look of the finished product and construction progress at 4100 DeTonty, check out the image gallery below.

Few neglected buildings in South St. Louis have received more attention than the former Avalon Movie Theater at 4225 Kingshighway Boulevard. Opened in 1935 and closed in 1999, this 1000-seat movie theater has been home only to pigeons and decay since. Nestled on the northeast edge of the South Hampton neighborhood, many an urbanite and developer has dreamed of redoing the facility. And some may actually have been able to do it, if not for the stubborn owner who has had an over-inflated sense of it’s worth for years. Unfortunately, we will never know now because by the time you read this, the Avalon will have been torn down.

The property was actually listed on the St. Louis MLS for $1 million for the better part of the last two years. While the structure appeared to be in adequate shape, there is no doubt that price was too high considering the top-to-bottom renovation the 8,500 square foot building needed. The property was relisted at a much more marketable $249,900 in September 2011. But a buyer was not found and the owner sought a permit for demolition. Surprisingly, without any review from the Preservation Board the building was demolished this week.

The number of hurdles facing any developer taking on this project would have been massive, but given the proper the chance, the project should have been doable. We will never know now. Instead, we will most likely either see a parking lot or an ugly modern infill-project. Goodbye Avalon, you will be missed. For more on the history or the Avalon, check out the theater’s profile on CinemaTour. Take a look at the picture gallery below for a closer look at the last days of the theater.

The renovation of the pair of mixed-use properties running from 3201 to 3211 Lafayette Avenue, located along the edge of St. Louis’  Gate District Neighborhood, is finally entering the final phase. Another former DHP Investments property finally getting a long-awaited rehab, Metamorphi Development has completed work on two of the five townhomes at this 17,492 square foot complex on northwest corner of Lafayette and Compton. Best of all, of the five townhomes, four are either already sold or are under contract. The only one left is the unit at 3207 Lafayette, which is listed for $249,000 (see actual MLS listing here).

Each townhome is roughly 2,500 square feet and priced around $250,000. These 3 bed, 2.5 bath homes all have contemporary, higher end finishes. The finished product really is top notch and is hopefully the start of a trend in this section of the neighborhood. With this project and the ongoing renovation of the former Loretto Academy happening down the block, this stretch of Lafayette is really coming around. Check out the latest pics below:

Lead can not only be hazardous to your health, it can also be hazardous to your pocketbook. If you are a real estate investor or owner occupant of a historic building, chances are the building is full of lead paint. Depending on the severity, lead abatement can be expensive and time consuming. Assistance from Federal and State governments has been available for years, but the method of reimbursement has been inconvenient and the program rules less than owner-friendly.

Realizing that they have a major problem on their hands, in the late-2000s the City of St. Louis Building Division created a new window replacement program in order to remove old lead-covered windows in multi-family units.  The Multi-Family Window Replacement Program is designed to help eliminate lead hazards in multi-family rental units, which are being marketed to low and middle-income families. Under the program, multi-family buildings with lead-painted, wooden windows can qualify for a $200 per window (possibly higher for historic windows) reimbursement credit for replacing their old windows with new double hung windows. The City of St. Louis will reimburse the owner for up to 10 windows per unit, for a potential total of $2000 per unit.

Vacant units, for which an owner wishes to seek the credit, will be inspected by the City’s Building Division. This inspection, normally costing as much as $400, is offered free of charge. If lead is detected around the windows, the owner will then replace the problem windows. Anyone can install the windows, as long as they take the free 1-day class in Lead Safe Work Practices through the City. Note that the rules for occupied units are more strict. After the windows have been installed the City’s Lead Inspector will return to perform a lead clearance test. If the unit does not pass the test, the owner will be instructed on what other steps need to be taken to complete the lead abatement. When clearance is granted, the owner will submit copies of their receipts and the City of St. Louis will reimburse the owner under the previously described criteria.

If used properly, this program could be of huge benefit for multi-family investment property owners. With potentially $8000 in window credits per four-family, this one is really worth a look. However, before taking the leap, be aware that there are some restrictions to the program. Most notably, that the landlord must not rent the finished apartments for more than HUD’s annual “Fair Market” rents. For 2012 those rates are $638 for a single-bedroom, $792 for a two-bedroom and $1,020 for a three-bedroom in the City of St. Louis. Not exactly low-end. Plus, these rates can be raised annually in compliance with HUD’s annual “Fair Market” rate increases  (HUD Rates). A landlord would be required to keep within these rates for 36 months after completion of the project.

Obviously there are other qualifications for the program, but the most important question at any time is whether or not any funds are available for the program. Since the answer to this question seems to constantly be changing, it is probably best to contact the City of St. Louis to discuss the program. You can find out the latest information on the program, as well as who the current contact is at Lead Safe St. Louis. They should be able to tell you whether or not your project could qualify and when funds might be available for assistance. Note that if this program is of interest to you, it might also be a good idea to check out it’s sibling: the Multi-Family Lead Remediation Program.

In addition to the Multi-Family Window Replacement Program, the City of St. Louis recently also has a  called the Multi-Family Lead Remediation Program. Where the window program only compensates landlords for the replacement of up to 10 wood windows per unit ($200 for normal windows and $400 for historic windows), this program has broader implications. Rather than compensating rehabbers just for windows, the financial benefits of this program can be applied to any lead abatement work.

If a landlord owns a multi-family rental property in the City of St. Louis with lead paint issues (almost all of them do), and decides to rehab the property, the assistance could be significant. According to the City:

Qualified projects will receive $5,000 per unit for the first two units in the property, and $1,000 for each additional unit (assuming the costs of lead remediation equal or exceed the total amount of subsidy provided by the City). The developer will be reimbursed once all of the conditions of the application have been met, including but not limited to: investment of at least $30,000 in project costs (excluding painting not associated with lead paint and floor coverings), obtaining a building permit, and some major system upgrade.

The biggest qualifier listed above is that the property must be undergoing a substantial rehabilitation exceeding $30,000 in total costs and/or two major building systems must be replaced (electric, plumbing, HVAC, etc.).
Another significant qualification, just as with the Window Program, is that the landlord must not rent the finished apartments for more than HUD’s annual “Fair Market” rents. For 2012 those rates are $638 for a single-bedroom, $792 for a two-bedroom and $1,020 for a three-bedroom in the City of St. Louis. Not exactly low-end. Plus, these rates can be raised annually in compliance with HUD’s annual “Fair Market” rate increases  (HUD Rates). A landlord would be required to keep within these rates for 36 months after completion of the project.

Obviously there are other qualifications for the program, but the most important question at any time is whether or not any funds are available for the program. Since the answer to this question seems to constantly be changing, it is probably best to contact the City of St. Louis to discuss the program. You can find out the latest information on the program, as well as who the current contact is at Lead Safe St. Louis. They should be able to tell you whether or not your project could qualify and when funds might be available for assistance.  Note that if this program is of interest to you, it might also be a good idea to check out it’s sibling: the Multi-Family Window Replacement Program.

Can Paul McKee and the St. Louis Board of Alderman put the 17-acre Bottle District project in Downtown St. Louis be put back together again? Despite the fact (or maybe because of it) that his massive Northside project has yet to gain enough traction to get off the ground, developer McKee seems to think so. And more importantly, it now seems that the Board of Alderman agree with him. The Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee gave preliminary approval to move forward in a 9-0 vote. Should the full Board of Alderman approve, the plan would be for McKee to buy the site from current owner Clayco, and create a $190 million mixed-use development

Located just north of the Edward Jones Dome (home of the Rams) along Interstate-70, the site is one of the most desirable development locations left available Downtown. Once the new Mississippi Bridge is complete,  its location next to the bridge will make the site even more visible and accessible than it already is. While it seems that the currently proposed plan is a scaled-back version of what was being discussed in 20o6, it is good to see that this highly visible eyesore might soon be getting a major upgrade.

Still the plan might still hit opposition by many who see it as simply a way to leverage existing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and other tax credits to help fund the stagnant Northside project. Should be hearing more soon.

via Building Blocks

If you drive down South Grand in South St. Louis, you might have noticed the idle property at the northeast corner of Grand and Sidney. This property at 2350 South Grand is in the Tower Grove East neighborhood, just across the street from Shaw. While there is nothing remarkable about this building, the thing that is remarkable is that it has sat vacant and idle while everything else around it has been redeveloped. In fact, other than Pelican Place, you’d be hard pressed to find another property along Grand between Arsenal and Interstate-44 that is in worse shape.

Sitting across the street from an Alps Supermarket, Beauvais Manor On the Park, and Tower Grove Park, according to tax records, the property last sold for $173,000 in August 2008. There has no permit or construction activity on the property in the time since then. Considering the site’s former use as a gas station there are likely environmental concerns, but hopefully the owners will eventually find a work to make something of the site.

On the northern border of the St. Louis Metro Area, spanning the Mississippi River between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois, is the iconic Clark Bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge, opened in 1994 (replacing an old truss bridge of the same name). The 4-lane bridge carries Route 67 over the Mississippi and is the farthest northern bridge spanning the river in the area. Costing $85 million when constructed, particular attention was paid to creating a bridge that was not only functional, but beautiful. And it shows.

On the Missouri side of the river, West Alton is home to scenic wetlands and the historic Confluence Point State Park at the intersection of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. In Alton, Illinois you’ll find attractions such as the beautiful Great River Road running along the Mississippi, the monument to Robert “The Alton Giant” Wadlow, and Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. A viewing of the landmark Clark Bridge and the surrounding areas makes for a great day-trip for anyone wanting to explore the St. Louis area.

If you frequent Chippewa near it’s intersection with Kingshighway, you have most likely noticed the glut of large apartment buildings on the western side of the intersection. While these buildings could be turned into an asset for the area, the general lack of upkeep at most of the buildings tends to create more problems than it solves. That’s what makes the gut renovation of the 12-family at 4920 Chippewa in the Southampton neighborhoood of South St. Louis so noteworthy.

Totaling 7,200 square feet, One Vision Homes Inc. bought the property for $85,000 in July 2011. Demolition started soon thereafter with nothing but bricks and studs left of the original building. The rear garages seem like they will survive construction though. The property’s 12 units are actually spread out over two 6-family buildings and backs up the the historic and infamous Avalon Movie Theater along the alley. No word yet on the makeup of the finished product, but whatever it is will be an improvement for this busy corridor. Should be interesting to see what comes of the finished product.

Construction is finally underway at the City of St. Louis’ newest park in the Forest Park Southeast (The Grove) neighborhood. Dubbed Chouteau Park, the park is located on the northern side of the 4300-block of Chouteau. When complete, the park with feature a multipurporse sports field, playground, and outdoor amphitheater. The first phase of the park should be completed in the early-2012 with some featured added as funding become available.

via Blog 17

With their waterways spanning across most of the United States, the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are the two largest rivers in the country. While they are no longer the transportation corridors they once were, there is no doubt that their commercial importance helped make St. Louis what it is. Unfortunately,  most St. Louisians take these waterways for granted. But if you would like to see their place of joining up close and personal, you can do so at Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park.

Privately owned until recently, before this park opened you could only see this amazing spot from a boat in the middle of the rivers. Now, the State of Missouri owns the site on the northern confluence point so you can see the swift and muddy waters of the Missouri and the relatively clear and calm Mississippi smash into each other up close and personal. It really is an amazing site and certainly makes you realize just how different these great rivers are.

Access to this area is on the Missouri side of the Alton Bridge (another great view) about 20 minutes north of Downtown St. Louis. Its a great afternoon trip if the weather is nice. It’s pretty clean and well-kept so you don’t have to be as adventurous as Lewis & Clark to pay a trip to the site.  Just make sure to check the flood stage of the rivers as the area is prone to flooding. For more info check out the park website. For a better look at the confluence, check out the picture gallery below.

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In 1981′s Escape from New York, felon Snake Plisskeen (played by Kurt Russell) traverses some pretty rough looking places in the post-apocalyptic New York setting. In this grim future  (1997 in the film), New York had become a maximum security prison and pretty much left to rot. When an airplane carrying the President of the United States crashes on the island, Snake is charged with rescuing him in exchange for his freedom.

While the special effects are quite dated by today’s standards, the grim abandon buildings which served as the backdrop for filming were the best kind of special effect: they were real. Director John Carpenter really made you feel like you were in a city which had been virtually abandoned. And did I mention that the movie was filmed in the City of St. Louis?

Being the shooting location for most films is usually considered an honor, but for this particular film it was anything but. St. Louis was chosen as the filming location, not for its scenic skyline or spacious urban park, but for its barren and desolate urban landscape. This was an era prior to the loft conversions of Washington Avenue; prior to the building of the Edward Jones Dome; even prior to the renovation of the Fox Theatre and Union Station. In fact, a careful viewing of the film reveals many of these structures for the dilapidated structures they once were.

St. Louis still has it’s fair share of problems, but we sure have come a long way in years since this movie was filmed in 1981. We might be moving slowly in repairing ourselves as a region, but you can’t argue that we haven’t made any progress. If Escape from New York were to be remade today (an idea that seems to be resurrected annually), any filming scouts visiting St. Louis would be met with an entirely different landscape than during the filming of the original. What was once a dangerous eyesore has become an increasingly desirable residential and commercial area. We might not be an urban mecca that rivals the nation’s finest, but at least we are no longer a stand-in for a warzone.

Other than possibly St. Louis Marketplace, there is really no other development project in St. Louis that reeks of failure more than St. Louis Centre. Doomed from the start, this urban mall faltered almost immediately after it opened. Who knew that nobody wanted a suburban mall shopping experience in the shadow of the Arch? Failure though it was, developer Spinnaker  is about to give the complex, as well as the neighboring Dillard’s Building, a new start.

Dubbed the Mercantile Exchange, the first phase of the project is about to come online at the old Dillard’s Building, now called the Laurel. This first phase will include:

Three floors of apartments are scheduled to open October 1. Four days later, a 212-room Embassy Suites hotel will open in the Laurel’s lower five floors. More apartments will open in November on the floors above the hotel, bringing the building’s total to 205 residences.

The next phase will focus on the St. Louis Centre building with a new 3-screen movie theater, Pi Restaurant, a 25,000 sq ft blues history museum, and other establishments coming in early-Summer 2012.

Check out the Mercantile Exchange website for more information.

via Build Blocks

Late each summer, in South St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park, nearly 150,000 people come through the park to sample a bit of merchandise, culture and food from countries around the world. Countries in attendance range from as familiar as Mexico and Scotland, to as obscure as Eritrea and Congo. It’s an interesting experience and a good way to exercise your pallet.

For the 12th annual Festival of Nations on August 27-28, 2011, the weather was perfect and the people were out in force in the park and the surrounding neighborhoods of Tower Grove South and Shaw. The next event is still almost a year away, but if you have never been, be sure to put it on your calendar for 2012. You can read more about the event on the Festival of Nations website. In the meantime, take a look at the picture gallery below for a closer look at the festivities.

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It seems the end is near for the former American Eagle Credit Union (which was a Taco Bell before that) at 2101 S Jefferson Avenue and neighborhing vacant buildings at 2123-27 S Jefferson Avenue . Located on the southwest corner of Jefferson and Russell, these Fox Park neighborhood building will soon be demolished. Purchased by the South Side Day Nursery (SSDN), the sites and neighboring parking lot will eventually be home to the SSDN’s new early childhood education building.

SSDN is a licensed and accredited early childhood program serving children and families of South St. Louis since 1886. No word yet on when construction is going to break ground, but St. Louis City and Missouri State officials have already signed-off on demolition and other project specifics. The Fox Park Neighborhood Association has also given it’s blessing. Seems a shame to waste those nice looking buildings at 2123-27 S Jefferson, but in a town fond of tearing down historic buildings for cookie-cutter developments, why should we be surprised. Pics of the these properties on death-row can be seen below.

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