urbanSTL

I live on Gibson and doubt (based on her comments) that she'd feel safe in FPSE. Her quote about "five years from now . . . " certainly fits this area. That being said - I've been here 6 months and feel perfectly safe. The last time my dad visited he parked his Miata in the garage and mistakenly left the garage door open. Inside: three nice bikes, multiple power tools, my car and the aforementioned Miata. It was left open over night and nothing was missing!



I would absolutely encourage her to buy there - it is nice and getting nicer. Not to mention, you can't buy a free-standing home any closer to Forest Park for the price.

I should clarify, because I failed to do so earlier, that she's looking to rent, not buy. The place she was looking at in FPSE said 'from $750/mo' which is in her price range.



Thanks again for all your input.



-RBB

I had a 4wheeler stolen from my garage 1 year ago. And I live in one of the most secure (so I thought) neighborhoods in the city (Epiphany Parish, off Ivanhoe). When you live in a densely populated area something is always going to happen, and it's not always positive. If someone is scared of people being around them, and moving around them, they should avoid the city. It sounds like she would be happier somewhere in the county . I don't think this particular lady would feel safe in the city. $750 a month would get her a nice apartment in west county. The city is not for everyone, scared single women especially. Just my opinion.



Rich by Lindenwood Park.

One of my coworkers used to work as a property manager for the Gills, and she said that all those FPSE units on the frontdoorstl.com website are already filled. In fact, all the Grove units had leases before the rehabs were complete. If you want to rent something from them in FPSE you will probably need to call them to get something set up before the renovations are complete.

Good to hear that demand for the neighborhood is high. I just got off the phone with the nice people at Frontdoorstl and they do have one 1br available at 4400 Chouteau (The Sycamore) and 6 1br's and 2br's that will be available in November. I can't wait for a little density to return to the neighborhood. If I remember correctly there are ~3,000 residents now and the target is ~6,000.

I see gangs of street

toughs still hangin' with the homies.

What, would you say, were the defining characteristics that aided you in the indentification of these "gangs of street toughs" and their "homies"?

RBB wrote:Her exact words regarding Soulard:

right now, it's still a little scary where you have 1 nice home admidst 5 vacant and torn down homes. It's a place that will be nice 5 years from now when the prices are through the roof, I'm sure

She checked out a few different apts in the Soulard area she found on Craigslist the last time she was in town, but maybe she just hit the wrong streets.



She did add:

The Grove is definitely a thought. It's someplace I'll probably like to visit next trip.

So, we'll take her there next time she's in town.



-RBB

I'm guessing she wasn't in Soulard. Sounds more like Benton Park. People get confused with that. Where is she moving from? Maybe we could identify a neighborhood that is similar to what she already knows.



Many people find the city neighborhoods "scary" as they drive through. They seem less scary when you walk through and not scary at all once you've lived there awhile.

I have personal experience in situations like this. When I first moved to U City on Cates Ave. from Creve Coeur (where I grew up), many of my friends where scared to visit me at night. Many where scared that something would happen to them while others where worried about their cars. After much convinceing they all began to realize that there was nothing to worry about and that city life is much more interesting. I believe that this fear stems from the fact that: 1. The only news people ever hear about the city is crimes (mostly in high crime neighborhoods). 2. The areas look and feel so different from the suburbs that they are naturally apprehensive in the new environment. 3. Because different areas of the city look similar (compared to the suburbs) they add 1 & 2 together and assume that all urban areas are high in crime.

stellar wrote:

RBB wrote:Her exact words regarding Soulard:

right now, it's still a little scary where you have 1 nice home admidst 5 vacant and torn down homes. It's a place that will be nice 5 years from now when the prices are through the roof, I'm sure

She checked out a few different apts in the Soulard area she found on Craigslist the last time she was in town, but maybe she just hit the wrong streets.



She did add:

The Grove is definitely a thought. It's someplace I'll probably like to visit next trip.

So, we'll take her there next time she's in town.



-RBB

I'm guessing she wasn't in Soulard. Sounds more like Benton Park. People get confused with that. Where is she moving from? Maybe we could identify a neighborhood that is similar to what she already knows.



Many people find the city neighborhoods "scary" as they drive through. They seem less scary when you walk through and not scary at all once you've lived there awhile.

It's very possible she was in Benton Park - I wasn't with her when she went. My wife did, but she's not familiar with that part of town.



She's coming from Memphis - ironic, IMO, because most of that town is worse than what you'll find in STL. She's in a suburb there currently, though, and her part of town is nice.



Thanks,



-RBB

Ihnen wrote:Not sure, but the Gills will be at Five this Friday at 5:30pm to answer whatever questions we have - should be fun. Anyone else planning to go? If anyone's looking into the neighborhood I'd be more than happy to take a tour - there's always something new to see, or show you our place.

Is anyone else going to this event? I'd like to hear about the future of The Grove.

The Gills didn't have a lot to say tonight at Five, but there was lot from speaking to others . . .



The Grove will concentrate on restaurants, being a "culinary destination" first and then add retail. It was suggested by more than one person that Trader Joes may be an option soon.



The northwest corner of Manchester and Taylor is going to be a cajun restaurant - a displaced New Orleans couple coming home.



The open lot across from Five will be two-level infill - retail first floor, apartments above. Several similar infill projects are being planned.



The first for-sale home by the Gills will be open (on Witchita I believe) this weekend during Grove Fest. The majority of properties are rental, but more for sale will be coming soon.



They have completed 6 properties to-date, 20 more will be completed in one year, 30 the next year. They own ~70 properties, 28 vacant lots and are purchasing property at the rate of 1/two weeks.



The alderman officially announced (though it's been on this site already) that a $2M grant has been awarded for the Manchester streetscape. This may not take place for several years as 40 will redirect a lot of traffic down Manchester.

Ihnen, you are lucky to be in the Grove and see all this unfold. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

OK - I passed some time ago into the completely obsessed, so here goes . . . starting to keep track of things happening in the hood - by no means comprehensive, just view of where some of the things are happening.



http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/show/24400

I remember going to La Dolce Via with my brother just to try the food and see what the Post-Dispatch called an Italian bakery (east of the Hill)

It was fine with good tasting food and the blocks surrounding looked well-kept and safe two years ago.

Ihnen wrote:The first for-sale home by the Gills will be open (on Witchita I believe) this weekend during Grove Fest. The majority of properties are rental, but more for sale will be coming soon.



They have completed 6 properties to-date, 20 more will be completed in one year, 30 the next year. They own ~70 properties, 28 vacant lots and are purchasing property at the rate of 1/two weeks.

Thank you, I was just about to ask whether or not they had plans for anything besides rental housing, since that is all I have seen so far. Do you know whether the owner-occupied housing will be single-family or condo, new construction or rehab? I might be interested in buying there at some point in the future, but an overabundance of rental properties might be a concern.

I would guess (and this is only a guess) that they will be houses. Their rental units are at a condo quality of finish, which leads me to beleive that that could be their long term fate. If they wanted to ell condos, they would just sell thir rental units. That mkaes some sort of sense doesn't it?

The Gill's first FPSE home for sale:



http://www.cbgundaker.com/search/advanc ... num=665551

The "Castle Bulding" (corner of Boyle/Manchester) will be open from 11am-2pm this Friday to show off rental units. The Gills move tiger fast!







This is across the street. There are more intact buildings along Manchester than I realized. It seems that another one is 'uncovered' by the Gills every week.

can we clone the Gills?

Yes. You gotta love a few people almost singlehandedly bringing a district back like this.

Could they try their hand at a district north of Delmar?



Hyde Park, upper CWE, or Fountain Park would all be good ones.