North Broadway? Of all places! The north Riverfront business district is full on trucks and industry, and it's far fetching or not logical to create a loft district on Broadway. I don't want to be a naysayer, but I will contend that the current land use dominates and that conversion to a loft district will be a challenge. Laclede's Landing and Washinton Avenue were challenges, but they're in direct proximity to downtown. The riverfront needs to be reopened to the people, but that conflict will be solved in due course. Solidifying downtown and expanding downtown to meet with Grand Center takes first priority. The forces that cause they changes are not visibly in place for the transformation of the north riverfront business district, the near southern BD between the Poplar and Mac Arthur bridges is the most ripe for development according to the Chouteau's Landing plan by Rishard Baron.

I think the firm is on to something. We've speculated about N. Broadway for awhile. It's especially good because it is an out-of-town investor taking a risk.



North Broadway is definitely a good candidate as a new loft district especially when Pinnacle Entertainment and The Bottle District start filling out the area.



N. Broadway is a little janky around the edges, and lots of work is needed, but there are some buildings over there that look like they'll make good lofts.



However, Middendorf Meats, Mallinckrodt, and some other industrial uses are in the area and the trucks are noisy and omnipresent, which could be a drawback unless the firms are eventually bought out and relocated. The riverfront along this area is not the prettiest either, but there's lot of potential especially for infill all around the area.



It really could be the beginning of something with this project.



Citylover, I believe this is the building??but I am not sure. I took these pictures.







Here are more pictures.

I would have to agree with Archcity. The area has way too much potential to be ignored.



The only concern that I would have at this point would be the one already brought up by Archcity with noise from the manufacturing plants as well as oversaturation of the loft market potential?



Everytime I ride through there I can picture it as a retail district with national retailers as well as possibly some seedy type area with strip clubs but not another loft district with condos.

I took a drive down N Broadway from Madison to downtown at 5:15 PM a couple days ago and it surprised me how little activity was there. The buildings form a nice street canyon ala Washington Ave and would make great lofts. It'd be nice to see any sort of redevelopment along that corridor to I-70.



Most of the industrial is from North Market north. Most of the trucks in that area go between the riverfront and St. Louis Ave/North Market to I-70. The area proposed for lofts would probably have to deal with some truck noise, but that's city life. I live near that area and the worst ambience is not the noise, rather the funky smells that eminate from the industrial area when the wind blows just right.

I've been waiting for this area to blow up. I know so many people who want a loft, but they don't want the "played out" scene of Washington Ave.

N. Broadway is definitely one of those funky low down places waiting to happen (and it looks like it will if that developer's plans go through). I don't know if the area would appeal to the standard Wash Av condo buyer, but it could make for great loft apartments for artists and artists' studios in the meanwhile (who would probably be more willing to put up with smells and noises). That would be AWESOME actually, i know a lot of people who'd like to live/work in these kinds of spaces in this kind of neighborhood (mostly artist/creative types) especially if the rent's not too bad. Do you know if they plan to do condos or apartments? (it seems it could really boom if it's artist oriented for now ((thus rent out)).

If you look at the map of the PROPOSED Mississippi River Bridge you will see that some of these buildings will be demolished. I am surprised a developer has any interest given the pillaging that Modot plans for the area. The highway off ramps that go over Broadway will kill the street for any real pedestrian activity.



Though I am not against a new bridge (we certainly need more smaller bridges) I don't agree with the regional economic benefit argument - certainly not when weighed against the ravaging of existing urban fabric.



Also, no one has mentioned the entire scope of the bridge project. Just take a look at the plans for downtown. It is dreadful...

I thought the proposed bridge is to be built well south of this warehouse district?

Good question City Boy. I looked at the aerials on the City Assessor website and it looks like the bridge will take out mostly car lots though a building or two may be sacrificed. This proposed development is about 10 blocks north of the proposed bridge. Has anyone heard of a vibrant neighborhood with a 12 lane expressway going overhead? I haven't heard of one. Remember folks this bridge isn't a done deal yet. If the land gets too expensive around there, that may be a deal breaker.

Those buildings that are pictured above would make perfect starving artist studios. Its good to see developers are expanding more than ever into communities that aren't well known. Especially into communities on the north side. Good example of the growing confidence.

About a year ago I was looking at an overlay of the new planned bridge, I then drove around the area after work one day to see what would have to go. There is, as memory serves, one large, completely windowless (but well detailed) building on N. Broadway that would come down. I would like to see them redesign the off ramps from the new bridge to do less neighborhood damage and try to save some of whats up there, maybe with the right developer pressure that will happen.



I do believe this corridor is ripe for development, remember 15 short years ago any development west of Tucker on Washington was considered "undoable". In the early 90's, a family friend involved in St. Louis real estate at a high level with a large local company, told me that loft housing would never work here, the clubs would not last, and that most of the Wash Ave. buildings might be facing the wrecking ball. Well he was wrong (and now retired), time will be the proof as to wether or not the demand is there.



Also- great views of the Arch and Dowtown from up there. As plans for the the Landing push north, development of this area becomes more a reality.

Call me crazy, but wouldn't it make more sense to put the new Mississippi River bridge on the south side of downtown instead of to the north? It seems like the infrastructure in the Kosciusko industrial area is a bit more disposable [uglier] than the warehouse buildings to the north. I don't like the new bridge idea as it currently stands.

JivecitySTL wrote:Call me crazy, but wouldn't it make more sense to put the new Mississippi River bridge on the south side of downtown instead of to the north? It seems like the infrastructure in the Kosciusko industrial area is a bit more disposable [uglier] than the warehouse buildings to the north. I don't like the new bridge idea as it currently stands.

Lets keep this thread focused on the possibility of lofts on North Broadway. We don't need to turn this into another "New Mississippi River Bridge" discussion. It will bring about discussion of the new bridge, but let's keep it focused on the topic and not where the new bridge would be better off built- or why it should or should not be built. Thanks!

SMS again, and maybe I judged North Broadway to much by it's industrial presence and location on the map then it's building stock. I imagine I'm not the only one Blown away at the architecture of the sturctures pictured above! I agree that the North Broadway canyon would make a great loft district, but he case of the riverfront always depresses me since it's ...pathetic, and could use something like Providence, Rhode Island's attractive and aesthetically pleasing riverfront landscape park. Now that would jepordize the artsy people's lofts if they are poor. What can I say, it's hard to live in an area that has an amazing waterfront for a poor artist. If anything an amazing waterfront would invite a riverfront version of the Central West End with the full potential of 21st century highrises and skyscrapers like Park East. That's critical thinking, skeptical, and market realistic but visionary SMSPlanstu. I wish I could be more one sided like everyone else, but then again forces from developers and citizen groups needs to be balanced.

I'll echo everyone else's thoughts that these buildings would be perfect space for artists. A developer could shore up a building and then sell/rent raw, unfinished space that artists could finish however they want.

Those warehouses seem absolutely perfect for loft development. It would be great to see a thriving loft district develop out of this area that was strangled by industrial flight and kept isolated by I-70's multi-lane barrier.



Of course, I wish St. Louis could reclaim more of its immediate riverfront from various industries and private owners. Where, besides downtown and Riverview up north, can you get a good view of the river in the city? I know this wouldn't wash over well with the various industries, but it would be great to have a riverfront trail that spans the entire length of the city. There could be a greenway running from the south tip to the already existing greenway at the northern tip. They could add a sculpture park somewhere along the way and do other unique things, such as a pictoral history of the St. Louis riverfront.



That would certainly make the area in question (North Broadway) a very desirable place to live.

Where, besides downtown and Riverview up north, can you get a good view of the river in the city?

S. Broadway. Most notably, Bellerive Park which has an amazing view of the river and the flood plain known as the east side. Historically, the bluffs have been occupied by resplendant mansions. The last proposal I heard, however, was to tear down the Altenhiem (senior facility) and at least one adjacent mansion and build public housing (that's where the dollars are, unfortunately). Thankfully, that deal seems to have died.



Also there is a street in Marine Villa called (surprise, surprise) Marine. Unfortunately, the houses on the east side of the street back to the highway but have a glorious view of the river. Because of the ben in the river just to the south even driving down Marine affords a glorious view of the Mighty Mississip. See: http://tinyurl.com/6es4h

Cityboy wrote:S. Broadway. Most notably, Bellerive Park which has an amazing view of the river and the flood plain known as the east side. Historically, the bluffs have been occupied by resplendant mansions. The last proposal I heard, however, was to tear down the Altenhiem (senior facility) and at least one adjacent mansion and build public housing (that's where the dollars are, unfortunately). Thankfully, that deal seems to have died.

When did you hear this, I never heard it? It must have been quite a while ago. I never heard about it, and my Great Grandma lives there. It's a nice place. The nursing home next door that closed (can't remember the name) was possibly going to be bought by the Altenhiem, and torn down for a new building, but that fell through. Maybe that is what you heard?

I am not real familiar with this area, but I believe he is talking about the development Balke Brown had proposed.... those plans were eventually scrapped.



IN DEPTH: REAL ESTATE: A QUARTERLY REPORT

From the January 30, 2004 print edition



<A HREF="http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tml">Balke Brown plans up to $20 million development overlooking Mississippi</A>

Margaret Jackson



Balke Brown Associates could spend more than $20 million to develop an apartment complex overlooking the Mississippi River on the site of the former Good Samaritan Home.



Balke put the 8-acre site, which includes buildings totaling about 180,000 square feet, under contract about a month ago, said Don Land, the company's senior vice president of development. The buildings would be demolished and a new complex would be built, to include at least 200 apartments, Land said. The property is at 5200 S. Broadway at Walsh Street.



<A HREF="http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... cus16.html">>>> read more</A>

I do remember that plan, now that I think about it. It's still not public housing though.

The article mentioned Balke Brown building on the site of the former Good Samaritan Home, which is at 5200 South Broadway, while the St. Louis Altenheim is at 5408 South Broadway... Cityboy could still be talking about another development... as I mentioned, I am not that familiar with this area to know if 5200 and 5408 South Broadway are in close enough proximity to be considered part of the same 8-acres site which was under consideration.

Who knows, I guess I just have to wait for a reply from cityboy.

So are these lofts on N. Broadway going to happen?



I think they'd be great for the North Side, even if they are cut off from the rest of it by 70.