Chouteau Avenue Partners will celebrate the start of construction, on Thursday, November 12th at 11am. This comes after years of planning for the former industrial area fronting Jefferson and Chouteau where Praxair once stood. The Edge District at Lafayette Square will help build-out the Lafayette Square neighborhood that has been ongoing for the past 50+ years.
The first portion of the 12-acre development to start is a 128-unit apartment building at 2200 LaSalle Street. This building, which is pictured above, is being developed by Cornerstone Development and built by Impact Strategies, both are local companies. The studio, one- and two-bedroom modern apartments will feature granite countertops, designer lighting, plank flooring, full-size washer/dryer and home offices in the larger units. The community will include a spacious clubhouse with a food and cocktail bar, package concierge, resort-style pool, fitness center, pet park, and controlled access building with underground parking. All of the common spaces are equipped with extensive sanitation air systems to ensure a healthy environment for residents. Apartments will be available for lease in April 2022 and rents will start at $900 and go up to $2500.
2200 LaSalle will be managed by 2B Residential, which was built projects such as Cortona and Encore at Forest Park, and will soon begin construction on Bemiston Place in Clayton.
"Cornerstone is very excited to play a role in bringing another residential option to this unique historic neighborhood. The chance to participate in the initial phase of this 12 acre new development that will transform this northwest corner of Lafayette Square is a great pleasure,” - Sam Chimento, Cornerstone.
Also getting under way is the new single-family home portion of the project. Lafayette Reserve LLC will build 14 custom homes in the 2200 Block of Hickory Street. The builder, a joint venture of Universatile Development and Rubicon Corporation, is offering five different models whose brick and stucco facades are patterned after nearby Victorian examples.
Designed by noted residential architect Barry Nelson, all of the homes feature high ceilings, open floor plans, gathering-place kitchens and sumptuous bathrooms. First-floor master suites, roof decks and walk-out lower levels are just some of the options.
Jeff Winzerling, President of Universatile, says the opportunity to redevelop an entire block was irresistible: “Lafayette Square is both a collection of beautiful buildings and a thriving community. The Lafayette Reserve site offers the rare chance to build more Lafayette Square.”
Construction on already-reserved lots will begin in January. Homes are still available and range in size from 2,100sf to more than 4,000sf of living area, priced from $509,900 to over $750,000.
Also beginning construction in January 2021 is "the Lagosian Apartments" at 2300 LaSalle. This project consists of 34 unique two-story New York style apartments with secure parking, a roof deck and first floor commercial spaces. This portion of the project is being developed by D&R Building Group, which is owned by Leonard and AJ Adewunmi."We are excited to bring a different flavor of apartment living to St. Louis" said AJ Adewunmi in a statement. "The Lagosian" will be ready by 2022. As this is part of "Phase 1", the total number of housing units to be completed in this phase totals 176 housing units.
The Edge District will cost $160 Million to fully develop. HOK is the master plan architect for the development but has also designed some of the buildings.
The development plan is the result of an 18-month collaboration among Chouteau Avenue Partners LLC, the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee (the neighborhood association), other neighbors, Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia (6th Ward), the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA). Steve Wilde, president of the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee, commented that “The Chouteau development will be a great step forward for Lafayette Square, a neighborhood that thrives on both history and progress.”
The development is a pedestrian-friendly environment integrated into the existing neighborhood. Lafayette Park is one block to the south. The new development will provide a wide variety of housing options, e.g., for empty nesters, young singles, couples, families and workforce housing.
In addition to completing the Lafayette Square neighborhood, the new development will also contribute to changing the nature of Chouteau Avenue from industrial use to meeting, neighborhood commercial and entertainment uses.
Paul Hamilton of Hamilton Hospitality commented: "Not only will this new development provide a location for us to expand our employee-owned hospitality group, it will also generate more revenue for all the surrounding businesses adjacent to the site while also encouraging new startups or existing business to locate in St. Louis."
Initial construction has included the demolition of the remains of the old industrial building on the site. This was completed in October, paving the way for the construction of the 2200 LaSalle Building. The next expansion of MetroLink is presently planned to go along Chouteau Avenue from 14th Street to Jefferson Avenue, where it will turn south, further connecting various parts of the city.
At full build-out, the Edge District will offer additional apartments, more retail space, a potential hotel, and parking.