Citizens for Modern Transit has initiated a new series, Living near MetroLink. Throughout the next year, CMT will highlight new and rehabbed residential development opportunities minutes from MetroLink.

Living Near MetroLink in the Bankers Lofts

The next stop on the Living Near MetroLink Series is the Bankers Lofts located at 901 Washington Ave. in Downtown St. Louis. This new residential development is a quick walk to either the Convention Center or 8th & Pine MetroLink Stations. The building designed by architects Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge dates back to 1892. It was originally commissioned by Edward Mallinckrodt for use as a dry-goods retail store and warehouse. Its original purpose was to service the rail corridor that ran down Washington Ave.

In 1940, the first floor was converted to a bank which was taken over by the Bank of St. Louis in 1951. In June 2003, Pyramid Construction acquired the historic structure for renovation and conversion into residential loft condominiums. The building should open in the Spring of this year.

The Bankers Lofts are for sale condominiums ranging from 1500 square feet to about 3500 square feet. There are still several units available. Amenities in the building include: restored turn of the century façade; indoor, heated parking included; elevator access to all floors (2); private residential entry & lobby; and common rooftop decks (2). Units have open loft-style floor plans with 11' ceilings, exposed timber construction, in-unit washer/dryer hookups, maple slab cabinetry with extended height, large islands, and many other amenities. For current availability and pricing, please contact our sales office at 314-446-2900 or visit www.bankerslofts.com.

\Living Near MetroLink at The Boulevard

St. Louis’ latest mixed-use development, The Boulevard, offers residential, retail and commercial within walking distance of the future Richmond Heights MetroLink Station. Phase I of The Boulevard located on Brentwood Blvd. in Richmond Heights offers luxury apartments for lease. Condominiums will also be available in the future.

The 74 luxury apartments which will be located on the second floor or above include 10 foot ceilings with crown mouldings, stainless steel appliances, washer/dryer, ceramic tile, walk-in closets, security, wood floors in entry and kitchen, and expansive oversized windows. The rooftop also has a veranda with barbecue facilities and an entertainment area. Within walking distance to the new MetroLink Station, this development provides quick access to Clayton, Downtown St. Louis, Illinois or Shrewsbury – all without needing a car.

Other features of the mixed-use development include retail stores such as Crate and Barrel, Bombay, and restaurants including PF Chang’s, local Kayak’s Coffee and Maggiano’s Little Italy. For more information, contact apartmentleasing@theboulevard.com or 721-8300.

Living Near MetroLink - The Paul Brown Building

Located in downtown St. Louis a block from the Eighth and Pine MetroLink Station at 206 North Ninth Street it is hard to live much closer to MetroLink than the soon-to-open Paul Brown Building. Opened in 1927, the Paul Brown Building originally served as a pre-eminent location for many attorneys, accountants, and other businesses. It also held numerous retail businesses, most notably many small jewelers and furriers, as well as several restaurants and stores.

However, with the decline of downtown in the 1970s and 80s, the building emptied out and weathered a clumsy renovation. After being vacant for much of the 1990s, Pyramid Construction bought the building in 2000 for renovation and conversion to loft apartments, interior parking, and retail space. Paric Corporation began construction on December 30th, 2003. In June 2005, a new chapter in the building's history will begin, when it becomes a vibrant residential community in the heart of Downtown St. Louis.

The redevelopment includes one and two bedroom apartments, a portion of which are rent subsidized. Features include a rooftop getaway, a wading pool and sundeck with chaise lounges, cafe tables, a gas barbeque grill, and flower planters - providing a "backyard" feel in the middle of the city. The building boasts great views of the Arch and the Old Courthouse. Other public rooms include the Four Seasons Room which overlooks the pool area and downtown skyline. Inside, the Club Room provides couches and chairs, a wide-screen television and kitchenette/bar. The Fitness Center offers a full range of cardio and weight-training equipment. The first floor boasts an Executive Business Center and Residents' Lounge. A variety of retailers will do business from their storefronts accessible from the outside of the building and from the ornate lobby.

LOFT RENTS

• One Bedroom 588 - 1108 s.f. From $800/mo
• Two Bedroom 873 - 1400 s.f. From $1200/mo
• Two Story Lofts 877 - 1741 s.f. From $1445/mo

PARKING Garage parking from $ 120/mo (subject to availability).

For more information on the Paul Brown Building.

Living Near MetroLink in the Bell Lofts

CMT continues its Living Near MetroLink Series in 2005 with rental space in the downtown St. Louis area, the Bell Lofts at 920 Olive. The Bell Lofts are located in the S.G. Adams/Bell Telephone Company Building which was built in 1891 and was a $6.2 million renovation project.

The Bell Lofts has loft-style apartments for lease. Apartments range from 742 square feet to 1265 square feet, and rental rates go from $785 a month for a one bedroom/one bath to $1495 a month for a 2 bedroom/2 bath corner apartment with a balcony. The building was redeveloped by Loftworks, LLC. The building is also home to City Grocers on the first floor. This two-level, 6100 square foot grocery store is the only one in downtown St. Louis.

For leasing information on the Bell Lofts, contact info@loftworks-stl.com or call 314.241.6700.

Living Near MetroLink - LoftStyle

Over the last year the opportunities for living near MetroLink have taken on many different looks from suburban single family residential housing in Illinois, to condominiums in the Central West End and now to residential lofts which are springing up all over the downtown St. Louis area. The Louderman Lofts located at 317 N. 11th Street, a Loftworks project, have proven that residential lofts are in high demand. With construction almost complete, there is only 1 loft out of the 21 for sale remaining.

The building located at the southwest corner of 11th and Locust Street has retail on the first floor, office space on floors 2 through 5 and the residential starting on the 6th floor. The building is only a few quick blocks to the 8th and Pine MetroLink Station and is situated in an area saturated by MetroBus service. Some of the amenities include private residential entrance with camera and coded entry, a common roof deck, large individual storage assigned to each loft, and heated garage parking. Interior features of each loft include oversized energy efficient windows, new maple hardwood flooring throughout, large private balconies, high speed internet outlets, satellite TV outlets, GE profile series appliances in kitchen, and ceramic floors in baths to highlight a few.

"Urban living is about the overall function. As developers we emphasize on the facilities around urban living, we create retail space in our buildings to provide people available services such as a grocery store, a hardware store, hair salon, prepared foods and office space. All of our developments are located within blocks of the Metro station. Our residents are thrilled to be able to walk 2 blocks jump on Metro and go to the airport or venture to Forest Park, the Science Center and the list continues on and on. As Metro Link expands, Downtown St. Louis Residents have the luxuary of a Big City conserving on gasoline and Live Well by Living Urban," said Kelli Knopf, Loftworks LLC.

For more information on the Louderman Lofts or other residential loft properties available by Loftworks, contact Kelli Knopf at 314.241.6700 ext.17 or www.loftworks-stl.com.

Edison Condominiums located adjacent to MetroLink

The new Edison Condominiums in downtown St. Louis provide a prime location for all modes of public transportation. Located at 14th and Spruce, the former warehouse building, is adjacent to the Civic Center MetroLink Station and the new Metro Bus Transfer Facility. What’s more, nearby will be the new Multi-Modal facility that will house Amtrak and Greyhound.

The condominiums sit atop a Sheraton City Center Hotel. All hotel amenities are available to condo residents on an a la carte basis. Prices range from the high $200-thousands to the low $400 thousands. Square footage ranges from 1500 to 2500.

The building opened in 1928 as a warehouse for J.C. Penney. It later was donated to the University of Missouri-St. Louis who leased it to the Edison Brothers Stores. In 1983, Edison Brothers stores commissioned New York muralist Richard Haas to design the trompe l-oeil mural that covers nearly three acres on 3 sides of the building. Developer Don Breckenridge rehabbed the building in 2001, creating 268 hotel rooms and three floors of condominiums. The project has won numerous awards for its commitment to urban living and a unique lifestyle, including CMT’s 2002 Sandra Kling New Initiatives Award. For more information . . .

Living near MetroLink in Skinker DeBaliviere

Perhaps the greater St. Louis neighborhood with the best MetroLink access is the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood on the western edge of St. Louis. Nestled, between Skinker Ave. on the west, DeBaliviere Ave. on the east, Delmar Boulevard to the North and Forest Park on the south, the neighborhood is served by both the Forest Park and Delmar MetroLink Stations. By 2006, a third station at Skinker and Forest Park Parkway, will be added as part of the cross county MetroLink extension, giving residents quick access to destinations in downtown, Clayton, Illinois and the airport.

Skinker DeBaliviere is a diverse, multicultural neighborhood with wide-ranging activities for residents of all ages. Youngest children enjoy the proximity of playground in the Greg Freeman Park at Four Corners; many other residents benefit from proximity to Forest Park and its cultural institutions. Young and old participate in outdoor concerts, the Wintermarket and an annual Breakfast Garden tour. The neighborhood offers a variety of housing options from new single family infill development, to state historic single families, to condos and multifamily affordable housing.

For instance at the Rosedale Square Apartments, one bedroom units average 795 square feet with rent from $475 to $600 per month. Two bedroom one bath units with 800 square feet range from $600 to $650 and 1,000 square foot units $650 to $725. There are 20 two bedroom units and 42 one bedrooms. Currently there are four one bedroom units available. Some units have washer/dryer and/or dishwasher in the unit.

Rosedale Square Apartments is in the 6100 block of Washington and about one block from the Delmar Station. The Kingsbury Apartments are located in the heart of the neighborhood and about a block south of the Delmar Station. These two bedroom two bath units with washer/dryer, dishwasher and gas fireplaces have character and competitive rates. For either of these properties contact Personalized Property Management at 781-0303. Most of the area is in the 63112 zip code. For sale housing can be viewed by going to www.realtor.com, then entering the zip code. In addition to being able to walk to MetroLink, residents also can easily walk to Forest Park or the burgeoning Delmar Loop retail and entertainment area. Many neighborhood children walk to school at St. Roch's and Washington university students find the neighborhood's location very convenient to campus and served by the Washington University Shuttle. For more information on Living Near MetroLink in Skinker DeBaliviere.

METROLOFTS in the CENTRAL WEST END

The just opened MetroLofts is a 213 one and two bedroom loft-style development, three minutes walking distance from the Central West End MetroLink Station. The development is at 4535/4545/4555 Forest Park Parkway at Euclid.

Apartments range from 1,340 to 2131 square feet. Units feature an open floor plan with nine-foot eight inch ceilings, fully carpeted bedrooms, ceiling fans in living room and all bedrooms and private balcony or patio.

MetroLofts are within walking distance not only of MetroLink, but also of BJC Medical Complex and dozens of restaurants,

shops and bars in the Central West End. The developer is Conrad properties of St. Louis. A limited number of units are reserved for moderate incomes.

For more information, visit MetroLofts.

SULLIVAN FARMS

Sullivan Farms provides the opportunity for suburban living within minutes of downtown St. Louis by MetroLink.

This 150-homesite neighborhood located in Swansea, Illinois, represents surburban living opportunities within a short distance of downtown St. Louis by MetroLink. The development consists of 44 acres and features six models from the value-engineered Americana Collection.

The community is just seven minutes from St. Clair Square shopping center, and Sullivan Farms is about a 10 minute walk to the Memorial MetroLink stop. Although the walk currently is along the shoulder of Drake Road, sidewalks are in the process of being installed. The subdivision is a part of the Belleville School District.

Base plan prices start from $186s-$228s. Sullivan Farms is a Jones Company Development. Sales office hours are Mon. 12 to 5 p.m. and Tues.-Sun. 10 to 5 p.m. Office number is 618.257.2782 or visit Sullian Farms online.

THE RESIDENCES at FOREST PARK

Sitting in the heart of the Central West End, less than a five minute walk to a MetroLink Station, is a piece of St. Louis history, the Residences at Forest Park Hotel.

The circa 1923 Hotel was designed by Preston Bradshaw, the same architect as the Chase Hotel on Lindell and Kingshighway. The building operated as a hotel until the 1980’s when it closed. With the advent of historic tax credits, the building was renovated and reopened late last year with more than 100 apartments, ranging from studios to two bedrooms. The building has been restored to its previous elegance, the lobby area and club rooms revisit a grander time in the history of the Forest Park Hotel.

Within a few steps of Forest Park and the Central West End, The Residences at Forest Park Hotel combine modern convenience with a historically preserved icon of the past. Prices range from: $795-$954 per month for studios; $955-$1345 for one Bed/one Bath apartments; and $1375-$2080 for a 2 Bed/2 Bath.

Some of the many amenities include air conditioning, a patio or balcony, elevators, disability access, extra storage, an alarm system and a courtyard. Outside the hotel is all the advantages of the Central West End with restaurants, cleaners, shops, movies and all the 2004 activities of Forest Park itself within walking distance.

For more information, The Residences at Forest Park Hotel 4910 West Pine Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108 or forestpark@jesmith.com or 314-367-3300