Downtown Belleville sports lofts for city living
BY SCOTT WUERZ
News-Democrat
The director of Belleville's Main Street Program has a lofty goal for the downtown shopping, dining and entertainment district.
Rick Ortiz said now that the once-dead area has begun to revive with shops and restaurants at street level, he wants to see the upper floors of downtown buildings fill up, too.
Ortiz said he plans to introduce people to the idea of renovating and moving into one of the second- or third-floor apartments by holding a tour May 13-15 of lofts already being used.
"There is a lot of potential in that space, and we want to see people start to utilize it," Ortiz said. "We're going to get together with some realty companies to try to market it."
It was popular when many of the downtown buildings were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s for merchants to have their shop downstairs and live upstairs. So history has proved the loft idea can work, Ortiz said.
Ronnie Phillips owns seven buildings along Main Street, including one with a second-floor apartment, where he lived.
"It's a great space," Phillips said of the loft at 104 E. Main St. "I really enjoyed it."
The apartment has a spacious living room in the front with three huge windows overlooking the Lincoln Theatre. A bathroom with a tub on a riser is in the center of the apartment and a bedroom and kitchen are in the back.
Phillips said he plans to open his own businesses on the first floors of the buildings he owns. He would then make the second level available to renters.
Jeff Bedard owns the Belleville Martial Arts Academy at 221 E. Main St. He said he is in the process of renovating the apartment above his shop and will move his family there.
"Right now, we have a house in Oakville, Mo., right across the Jefferson Barracks Bridge," Bedard said. "But we're going to move downtown because I think it will be a great place to live."
Living where he works will stop Bedard from spending "junk time" commuting to and from work. He also said living in downtown Belleville is more interesting than living in a cookie-cutter neighborhood in the suburbs.
"We have a house with a yard, but besides going to a neighbor's house, you can't get around without a car," Bedard said. "I'm looking forward to being able to walk down the street to get some coffee and to being able to get on the MetroLink to go to a ball game. Pretty much everything we need will be right there."
While downtown has its share of perks, Bedard said there are a few amenities he would like to see added. Bedard said the area needs a grocery store, more retail shops and family-oriented restaurants that are open at night.
"A pizza parlor would be great," Bedard said.
While downtown Belleville used to be a tough sell for business people, Ortiz said he thinks it's about to become prime real estate.
"There has been a lot of development downtown in recent years," Ortiz said. "But it still has so much potential. I really think it is becoming one of the hippest places in the St. Louis area to live."
For loft tour information, call Belleville Main Street Program at 239-9428.
Contact Scott Wuerz at swuerz@bnd.com or 239-2626.
BY SCOTT WUERZ
News-Democrat
The director of Belleville's Main Street Program has a lofty goal for the downtown shopping, dining and entertainment district.
Rick Ortiz said now that the once-dead area has begun to revive with shops and restaurants at street level, he wants to see the upper floors of downtown buildings fill up, too.
Ortiz said he plans to introduce people to the idea of renovating and moving into one of the second- or third-floor apartments by holding a tour May 13-15 of lofts already being used.
"There is a lot of potential in that space, and we want to see people start to utilize it," Ortiz said. "We're going to get together with some realty companies to try to market it."
It was popular when many of the downtown buildings were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s for merchants to have their shop downstairs and live upstairs. So history has proved the loft idea can work, Ortiz said.
Ronnie Phillips owns seven buildings along Main Street, including one with a second-floor apartment, where he lived.
"It's a great space," Phillips said of the loft at 104 E. Main St. "I really enjoyed it."
The apartment has a spacious living room in the front with three huge windows overlooking the Lincoln Theatre. A bathroom with a tub on a riser is in the center of the apartment and a bedroom and kitchen are in the back.
Phillips said he plans to open his own businesses on the first floors of the buildings he owns. He would then make the second level available to renters.
Jeff Bedard owns the Belleville Martial Arts Academy at 221 E. Main St. He said he is in the process of renovating the apartment above his shop and will move his family there.
"Right now, we have a house in Oakville, Mo., right across the Jefferson Barracks Bridge," Bedard said. "But we're going to move downtown because I think it will be a great place to live."
Living where he works will stop Bedard from spending "junk time" commuting to and from work. He also said living in downtown Belleville is more interesting than living in a cookie-cutter neighborhood in the suburbs.
"We have a house with a yard, but besides going to a neighbor's house, you can't get around without a car," Bedard said. "I'm looking forward to being able to walk down the street to get some coffee and to being able to get on the MetroLink to go to a ball game. Pretty much everything we need will be right there."
While downtown has its share of perks, Bedard said there are a few amenities he would like to see added. Bedard said the area needs a grocery store, more retail shops and family-oriented restaurants that are open at night.
"A pizza parlor would be great," Bedard said.
While downtown Belleville used to be a tough sell for business people, Ortiz said he thinks it's about to become prime real estate.
"There has been a lot of development downtown in recent years," Ortiz said. "But it still has so much potential. I really think it is becoming one of the hippest places in the St. Louis area to live."
For loft tour information, call Belleville Main Street Program at 239-9428.
Contact Scott Wuerz at swuerz@bnd.com or 239-2626.