Cherokee street retail development

debaliviere · PostMay 22, 2009#262009-05-22T15:42+00:00

Cool:

Renovator bringing new life to Cherokee

By Corinne Lestch

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

05/22/2009

ST. LOUIS — Sprinkled among the independent storefronts and Mexican eateries along Cherokee Street are empty buildings waiting for young entrepreneurs to live and work.

The street has experienced a revival of sorts in the past year, and went from vacant and decrepit buildings to loft apartments and art galleries.

Will Liebermann started renovating buildings on Cherokee about four years ago, separating them into studios and advertising them as "live-work spaces." He started before that by renovating a few buildings in Dogtown, Gravois Park and Benton Park West but said none of them has been as successful as those on Cherokee Street.

He said that despite — or perhaps because of — the recession, more people are moving to St. Louis, and, more specifically, to Cherokee Street.

Since he opened his business in 2005, Liebermann has filled about 20 live-work units that were previously unoccupied, bringing in about 40 new people to the street. He is working on filling 14 more.

Link

alphalfa · PostMay 22, 2009#272009-05-22T22:59+00:00

Way to go Lieberman. I read the whole article and agree completely with his low cost way of filing space. I'm guessing his building is the 3 or 4 story job next to the Mexican market. Looks great.

St Louis has tons of commercial properties with apartments above that can be used for start up companies needing cheap space.

Now to rag a little. Too many times I read on this board about people complaining about a strip mall or what is perceived to be bad development. Correct or not I gather these gripes to be emanating from people banging on the key board and not a hammer reworking a building.

Folks need to get out there and grab these building for cheap living. It can be a key to a successful future of independent living not tied to a big mortgage.

Check out the story next to Lieberman's which I saw last week had a for sale sign out. Most unique old sewing supply store I think.

gone corporate · PostMay 23, 2009#282009-05-23T18:37+00:00

^^ And with that, let me give a referral to Mississippi Mud. East of Jefferson on Cherokee around the antique stores, it's under new ownership and is quite possibly the best coffee shop & boutique cafe in StL. And, the garden is awesome, a great place to just sit back, eat some fresh pastries, drink some very good coffee, and relax. I highly recommend.

innov8ion · PostMay 28, 2009#292009-05-28T17:25+00:00

stellar wrote: There aren't any headshops left but the name harkens back to a simpler time when people of all types could coexist in peace.

Simpler, more peaceful times like the Vietnam War?

markofucity · PostMay 28, 2009#302009-05-28T20:16+00:00

Largely because of this thread I checked the "district" out last Saturday. (I only live a few miles away but I rarely go there). I'm definitely going more often. That street has SERIOUS potential. Hell its already cool. My only complaint is that all the bars seem to live on the East side of the street (near lemp). and all the stores were closed by 7 (on a Friday no less). It could use some development dollars - but like I said - its got a great vibe and its very cool. could be south city's loop (tough I hope it never loses its Hispanic flavor).

putting in that north south metro line sure would make it boom - no?

even the housing off the street - the "infamous" state streets - seem to be in good condition and relatively intact.

debaliviere · PostJun 11, 2009#312009-06-11T18:00+00:00

STLToday's video tour: Link

How long until this area gets some streetscape improvements?

tge-atw · PostJun 11, 2009#322009-06-11T20:48+00:00

markofucity wrote:Largely because of this thread I checked the "district" out last Saturday. (I only live a few miles away but I rarely go there). I'm definitely going more often. That street has SERIOUS potential. Hell its already cool. My only complaint is that all the bars seem to live on the East side of the street (near lemp).

This should change now that the liquor license ban has been removed.

Edit: Check out the comments at the side of the video. First one:

"progressiveOne said:

the reporter Diane really has a face for radio!"

Ouch!

dweebe · PostJun 12, 2009#332009-06-12T19:30+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:STLToday's video tour: Link

How long until this area gets some streetscape improvements?

Here's a non-video link.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entert ... enDocument

Great to see this sort of stuff in the newspaper: it can only help.

leeharveyawesome · PostJun 12, 2009#342009-06-12T22:04+00:00

If right now was ten years ago and St. Louis was New York City this would be Brooklyn.

wabash · PostJun 12, 2009#352009-06-12T22:35+00:00

I can attest.

leeharveyawesome · PostJun 15, 2009#362009-06-15T20:50+00:00

If and when I get settled down off Cherokee I'm going to knock on every neighbor's door in a three block radius with a wheelbarrow of Elephant Ears (the plant not the culinary delight) and a wheelbarrow of Busch beer in cans and ask two questions:

1) May I plant this Elephant Ear someplace of your choosing in your yard?

and,

2) Please accept this ice-cold can of Busch beer.

I can't explain it. I just want to do this really bad.

debaliviere · PostJun 18, 2009#372009-06-18T13:26+00:00

^

I would totally support you in that effort.

Looks like streetscape improvements are in the works:

Link

leeharveyawesome · PostJun 18, 2009#382009-06-18T15:19+00:00

I think people should be aware of this so I will share. There is a program out there through mhdc.org that basically gives you 15K right off the price of a foreclosed home and you don't pay it back if you own the property for 5 years. Plus, you get your 8K credit on this years taxes. The house must be in foreclosure and vacant one year. That is the tricky part. Simply finding them is also tricky for a regular person because there are people out there all over these types of places. It seems like a good program and a way to get alot of vacant buildings occupied. 15K is a substantial amount right off the top it seems to me. There is no shortage of these places right around Cherokee. Anybody think this a good plan? Anybody taking advantage of this?

debaliviere · PostJun 18, 2009#392009-06-18T15:28+00:00

$15k will buy a lot of elephant ears.

dweebe · PostDec 03, 2009#402009-12-03T16:25+00:00

Its nice to see the Cherokee Street TV ads running. (Last night during Conan O'Brien) I know its pushing the antique side east of Jefferson but it's still encouraging.

blzhrpmd2 · PostDec 06, 2009#412009-12-06T21:33+00:00

Quickly drove through Cherokee and stopped in at Snowflake yesterday. What a great area. East of Jefferson to Lemp seemed especially impressive. Nice to hear STL-STYLE will have their own store. Can't wait to get back to try Foam, Mudhouse, and others.

doug · PostDec 08, 2009#422009-12-08T13:59+00:00

What's your vision for Cherokee Street? What would changes, if any, would you like to see occur?

matt drops the h · PostDec 09, 2009#432009-12-09T03:29+00:00

Just a small point, Doug:

Crazy, over the top, colorful signage. Not necessarily neon, but just really cool, wacky projecting signs. Everywhere.

bgeldy · PostDec 09, 2009#442009-12-09T15:11+00:00

Matt Drops The H wrote:Crazy, over the top, colorful signage. Not necessarily neon, but just really cool, wacky projecting signs. Everywhere.

I would agree. Something to make it look like less of every other neighborhood in the area. Give it something to stand out. Maybe go the Washington route and string up lights from building to building across the street. Better signage.

urbanpioneer · PostApr 18, 2010#452010-04-18T17:53+00:00

...Expect to see a small addition to La Vallensana and a renovation of the existing patio...

If you haven't been there before check it out. Best tacos in town.

conurbation · PostApr 20, 2010#462010-04-20T18:01+00:00

UrbanPioneer wrote:...Expect to see a small addition to La Vallensana and a renovation of the existing patio...

If you haven't been there before check it out. Best tacos in town.

If only they served beer and margaritas... it might be the best place in the world. Now that the moratorium is gone, any chance we might see that happen?

framer · PostApr 21, 2010#472010-04-21T03:58+00:00

Heck, I can't even find a six-pack to-go on Cherokee.

innov8ion · PostApr 21, 2010#482010-04-21T13:51+00:00

Framer wrote:Heck, I can't even find a six-pack to-go on Cherokee.

You can thank Craig Schmid (and the neighborhood?) - http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyr ... rdinan.php

tge-atw · PostApr 21, 2010#492010-04-21T15:54+00:00

Globe Drug sells beer.

conurbation · PostApr 21, 2010#502010-04-21T22:29+00:00

innov8ion wrote: You can thank Craig Schmid (and the neighborhood?) - http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyr ... rdinan.php

I could have sworn I read somewhere on these very boards that the wholesale ban of alcohol was lifted. I don't doubt that it still is hard, but I thought Alderman Schmidt started to open his eyes towards reality. Anyone know for sure?

Cherokee street retail development

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