Central West End-based Lux Living, which recently presented a revised proposal for a 150-unit apartment complex at the Optimist International site at 4490-94 Lindell, is now planning a project just a block and a half east.

This time, the busy developer is eyeing the Engineers' Club site at 4359 Lindell for a 200-unit apartment building. The development comes at a time when development in the Central West End continues to move away from the Euclid corridor. The Engineers' project would also be the third large-scale multi-family development planned on Lindell between Sarah and Taylor. The building will include a mix of studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units along with a grand sky lounge with views of the Midtown and Downtown skylines. Like some of the units at the Optimist, this building will include a few units with sky terraces, offering residents a premium outdoor option accessible directly from tier units. Other units will have either a recessed, protruding, or Juliet balcony.

The single-story Engineers' Club building was built in 1959 (although a city report says it was built in 1961). A City of St. Louis' survey of Mid-Century buildings found that the Engineer’s Building, like the Optimist Pavillion, is a high-merit structure worthy of preservation. The preservation of this building plus the Optimist Pavilion, means that Lindell will remain St. Louis’s showcase street for Mid-Century architecture in varying sizes.

In its current state, the Engineer’s Building is blighted. An analysis conducted by CityScene STL revealed that the site has a crumbling parking lot with weeds growing in it, a rusty fence, lights that are nearing the end of their lifespan (and buzzing), as well as dirty windows. An interior analysis revealed that the basement of the current Engineer’s building is in poor condition with cracking foundation walls and serious leaks. Lux’s plans preserve the Engineers’ building in the long-term by filling in the basement and reducing the weight load on the walls by peeling the roof back to create an amenity deck. From the street, you won’t notice this change, but from the air you will.

Moving on, Lux Living's plans for the site call for an "L" shaped, 7-story apartment building in a modern design that's complementary to the Engineer's Club. The new design uses the same brick color as the current Engineer's Building and features a similar ground level design style as the current structure. The rest of the building would be clad in a gray brick and stucco with some metal accents. A large “blade” on the Lindell facing elevation breaks up the facade and, in a way, adds a little bit of a Mid-Century flair to the new building.

Parking will be accessed through an entrance on the Lindell elevation. The two level, underground parking garage includes 200 spaces while a smaller garage portion sits at grade along the alley, which will help for move-ins/move-outs, deliveries, and trash pickup. Additional parking is also available on that level.

Midtown-based Remiger Design is the architect on the project. Lux hopes to have the project reviewed at the Preservation Board meeting in December, or January. They also plan on holding two neighborhood meetings to discuss the project and receive feedback from the neighbors.

The dates for the meetings are:

• Via Google Meet: Wednesday, December 1st at 6PM Meeting ID: meet.google.com/ftc-brsg-ury. Phone Number: (‪US‬)‪+1 617-675-4444‬, PIN: ‪451 006 183 9887#‬

• In-Person: Wednesday, December 8th at 6PM at the Engineer’s Club at 4359 Lindell.

Neighbors, and people who are generally interested, are welcome to attend one or both of these meetings.