Knickerbocker Lofts - 507 North 13th Street

buckethead · PostMar 09, 2006#262006-03-09T14:05+00:00

Framer wrote:There ARE no tenants, at least not in the portion I'm talking about. We're really talking about two seperate, but connected buildings here. The Eastern portion of the building, above the Downtown Children's Center, is finished and occupied, but the Western portion is not. MacroSun and Ellen Curlee Gallery are open in the first floor, but every window above them is filthy dirty and/or broken. Obviously the building has not been renovated yet. (Or is there work going on inside that I can't see?) What's the holdup?

It sounds like those "kids" that made a big splash a couple of years ago trying to be developers may have bitten off more than they could chew.

Do you mean Ben Muchoki and Ben Riley? They did quite well actually. They didn't own the building, they were just buying raw units to develop and sell. They sold every one they bought. Ben Riley still lives in the Knickerbocker building too.

They also bought and sold the building at 1709 Locust. However since then they've had a falling out and no longer are a team. There was however an article about Ben Riley and his partner Brad Waldrop in the StL Business journal not too long ago.

PostMar 09, 2006#272006-03-09T15:18+00:00

I'm not sure what the deal is with the section you're talking about but I'll try to get some info.

framer · PostMar 11, 2006#282006-03-11T03:09+00:00

Guess I jumped to conclusions about the two Bens. Glad to hear they made some money, and sorry about their falling-out. But I really am curious about the undeveloped section. Who owns it, and what are their plans for it? I know the entry area has been renovated, and the first floor shops are very nice, but come on! Let's get that building finished, already!

buckethead · PostApr 19, 2006#292006-04-19T17:58+00:00

Framer wrote:There ARE no tenants, at least not in the portion I'm talking about. We're really talking about two seperate, but connected buildings here. The Eastern portion of the building, above the Downtown Children's Center, is finished and occupied, but the Western portion is not. MacroSun and Ellen Curlee Gallery are open in the first floor, but every window above them is filthy dirty and/or broken. Obviously the building has not been renovated yet. (Or is there work going on inside that I can't see?) What's the holdup?

John Carrol still owns it and will eventually finish the condos there. Or at least that's what I've been told.

PostApr 19, 2006#302006-04-19T18:01+00:00

Framer wrote:Guess I jumped to conclusions about the two Bens.

Keep your eye out for RileyWaldrop real estate development. (One of the Ben's and Brad Waldrop). They've got some plans for Wash Ave and have quietly been aquiring property.

loftlover · PostApr 20, 2006#312006-04-20T00:10+00:00

buckethead wrote:
Framer wrote:Guess I jumped to conclusions about the two Bens.

Keep your eye out for RileyWaldrop real estate development. (One of the Ben's and Brad Waldrop). They've got some plans for Wash Ave and have quietly been aquiring property.

You've got my attention. What's left on Washington Ave to acquire?

trent · PostApr 20, 2006#322006-04-20T02:35+00:00

Vacant lots.

buckethead · PostApr 20, 2006#332006-04-20T14:15+00:00

trent wrote:Vacant lots.

And buidings that are already occupied.

oneurbanite · PostApr 29, 2006#342006-04-29T03:36+00:00

I'm thinking of renting a unit there. Any good or bad news. Ya's or na's.

Thanks for any info.

trent · PostApr 29, 2006#352006-04-29T23:21+00:00

My friend owns a loft there, and really likes the building. He's trying to rehab it all himself (bought it before the big loft boom, so it was completely recked including painted brick), so it's a bit of a wreck. But it's a nice enough place, and I've met most of the people that live on his floor (4) and they're nice people. I can't really give you the day to day, but I know he likes the building a lot, and enjoys being in the middle of everything.

thewayofthearch · PostMay 01, 2006#362006-05-01T15:29+00:00

oneurbanite wrote:I'm thinking of renting a unit there. Any good or bad news. Ya's or na's.

Thanks for any info.

I live in this building. It's pretty sweet, most people are nice. The rooftop deck is really cool, IMO, there is laundry on site, and the soundproofing is suprisingly good. My neighbor is not scared to play music at a high volume, and while it seems you can hear noise coming from some apartments into common hallways we hear nothing in our unit. We installed a door sweep (our door was lacking one of these basic features) in an attempt to further eliminate noise/and air cond. escape. Seems to be working. They also clean the common spaces at a good clip, which at first suprised me...Guess I was expecting the classic "minimize costs" plan of property management.

Some of my friends always ask about Lucas park and the homeless, but I have never had any problems, of any kind. The park is usually clear at night (I believe NLEC has a curfew for dinner/beds) unless a straggler didn't make it in. I think this is huge, because the PERCIEVED saftey (not to say it wouldn't be anyway) of not having loitering at night is there.

I've been told the Res. Assoc. is also looking at a renovation of common spaces soon, so they may be very nicely upgraded soon (probably more important to prospective buyers, but hey, I'll throw it out there).

stltapper9 · PostMay 01, 2006#372006-05-01T17:07+00:00

I heard they are contemplating a "Rusty's II" restaurant in the basement of this building. Just heresay though.

debaliviere · PostMay 01, 2006#382006-05-01T17:12+00:00

STLTapper9 wrote:I heard they are contemplating a "Rusty's II" restaurant in the basement of this building. Just heresay though.

What/Where is Rusty's I?

ecoabsence · PostMay 01, 2006#392006-05-01T18:57+00:00

loftlover wrote:You've got my attention. What's left on Washington Ave to acquire?

The Monkey Building.

debaliviere · PostMay 01, 2006#402006-05-01T19:39+00:00

ecoabsence wrote:
loftlover wrote:You've got my attention. What's left on Washington Ave to acquire?

The Monkey Building.

Apparently someone has purchased it:

http://www.urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t ... ght=monkey

trent · PostMay 01, 2006#412006-05-01T21:11+00:00

TheWayoftheArch wrote:
I live in this building. It's pretty sweet, most people are nice.

Just curious, what loft do you live in? My friend is 402, I believe. Its the corner on the 4th floor, overlooking Wash Ave and 13th.

buckethead · PostMay 03, 2006#422006-05-03T13:06+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:
ecoabsence wrote:
loftlover wrote:You've got my attention. What's left on Washington Ave to acquire?

The Monkey Building.

Apparently someone has purchased it:

http://www.urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t ... ght=monkey

It's currently under contract.

framer · PostOct 22, 2006#432006-10-22T04:25+00:00

Looks like they may finally get to work on the unfinished portion of this building. Scaffolding has gone up above MacroSun, and a hanging work-platform is in place on the uper floors.

About time. This building has been a real ugly wart on Washington for too long.

gerwitz · PostDec 15, 2006#442006-12-15T02:08+00:00

They've been painting the windows on upper floors the same yellow that the retail space (Macro Sun) has been. Work is slow but progressing.

stldtfan · PostDec 15, 2006#452006-12-15T02:31+00:00

Does anyone know if the loft owners are paying for this independently, or if the retail shops also chip in (for the work)

thewayofthearch · PostDec 15, 2006#462006-12-15T04:35+00:00

Everything above Macrosun is vacant. Its being redone right now, as lofts, and if I'm not mistaken are called THe Denim Lofts...

framer · PostJan 04, 2007#472007-01-04T05:13+00:00

New windows are going in now. It's starting to look good.

resurrectus · PostJan 06, 2007#482007-01-06T18:33+00:00

TheWayoftheArch wrote:Everything above Macrosun is vacant. Its being redone right now, as lofts, and if I'm not mistaken are called THe Denim Lofts...

You're right.

The Denim Lofts (1308 Washington Ave., Knickerbocker Jeans Factory 1899) can easily be mistaken for Knickerbocker Lofts (1300 Washington Ave., Knickerbocker Jeans Factory 1899) because of the giant Knickerbocker sign.

Framer wrote:New windows are going in now. It's starting to look good.

I took these photos on January 6, 2007. What does everyone think of the yellow?

Here is the rear of the building. Blue plastic covers the windows of The Denim Lofts.

loftlover · PostJan 06, 2007#492007-01-06T21:17+00:00

With Lucas Park and its homeless population being the "view" out back, I can't imagine either development being highly sought after. The City really needs to get involved and clean the park up or the lofts in the area will never reach their full potential.

stldtfan · PostJan 06, 2007#502007-01-06T22:17+00:00

With right pricing, they will sell. If the city clears the park, these will sell like hot cakes.

I REALLY don't know why the city leaders can't grow some b***s and get this done.

Knickerbocker Lofts - 507 North 13th Street

Choose Display Mode