The building at 5630 Pershing Ave. (probably 5 stories, 50+ units) will be converted into condos from apartments by Mills Properties. It's part of the Metropolis West End project.
Completion date expected to be Spring 2006.
This is the 3rd development on that street that they are doing.
This area is really hooked up with Metrolink. If anyone sees a website for this building or others in the area, I hope they will post them. Pics, too, if they are available.
i've been looking in the debaliviere place neighborhood recently as some of the newer condo constructions (metropolis) as well as some resales, such as the randolph condominiums. i'm not very familiar with the neighborhood or the properties and would appreciate any feedback one could give on things like safety, quality of construction, positive/negative experiences, etc.
I lived in the neighborhood for several years - up until this past July - and absolutely loved it. It has so much to offer.
My condo building was a 1980's rehab, and as such, I had to make many updates to the kitchen and bath. From what I've seen of the Randolph, the rehab seems to be high quality, and the building was converted to condos only a few years ago. It's a great building in a great location in the neighborhood.
The Metropolis condos look pretty nice as well, but I've only been through a couple of display units for those, so I can't really speak for the quality of construction there.
I lived in DeBaliviere place for 2 years before moving to Skinker-DeBaliviere, and I loved it too. It's a great location adjacent to Forest Park, very diverse, easy access to transit (both bus and Metro), and excellent variety of housing styles.
Car break-ins seem to be the biggest nuisance crime in the neighborhood, but I never felt unsafe.
Ther neighborhood could use a few more amenities, but it's perfectly centered between the Loop and the CWE.
My wife and I live in a condo on Waterman redone by Mills. It was also a rehab in the 80s and then Mills came in last year and did a partial rehab--new floors, kitchen, bathroom, landscaping, etc. Floorplans stayed the same. So far we have been pretty happy with our place. We love the area and the people who live around here. Young, old, professionals, students. Most of our immediate neighbors are medical students.
Mills owns over 1000 units and has coverted and sold around 200 so far (I think). The only problem we've had with crime was when my Mother-in-law's SUV was broken into. Oops, lesson learned. Don't leave expensive-looking stuff in plain view.
Some things we love: Forest Park, Metrolink, St. Louis Workout around the corner, CWE & Loop close by, and hopefully the Loop Trolley in a few years!
Some things we don't like: Corner of Pershing and DeBaliviere (we call it Pee-Trash Corner), no snow plowing on Waterman, some sewer-gas smells in the neighborhood.
PullyMan wrote:
Some things we don't like: Corner of Pershing and DeBaliviere (we call it Pee-Trash Corner), no snow plowing on Waterman, some sewer-gas smells in the neighborhood.
Overall, we think it's a great place to live.
good to hear the overall impression is good. of all the areas i've been looking in the city, it's my fav so far (love those buildings).
no snow plowing though on waterman... is that a problem for the whole neighborhood or just that street? if just the street, do you know why?
Pershing gets plowed and is usually in good shape when it snows. I used to live on Clara and never had any problems getting to Pershing when it snowed.
A note on the snow plowing issue, especially if you are new to STL:
Not all streets in the city are plowed. Only streets marked as snow routes (I think) are plowed by the city. A few of the private streets are also plowed by their associations, similar to how many suburban subdivisions HOA have their streets plowed when it snows. So if you are going to be living on a side street, don't expect your street to ever be plowed. Honestly though, I can only remember once or twice from when I used to live in the city that this was ever a problem.
I heard you have travel only three blocks at the most to find a plowed street.
Granted the snow here melts quickly, but I remember in 2002 we had snow on the ground for a couple weeks. I had to find an alternate route home since at one point there was a stop sign on top of a hill. Without snow removal I couldn't get my front wheel drive car moving again(forward at least).
A positive though of not getting your street plowed is that you don't have to worry about getting you car plowed in. However, I'd hate to drive through a foot of snow to get home.
NewbSTL, I don't know how familiar you are with STL weather, but I wouldn't make a buying decision based on plowed streets. It would only be a problem a few days out of the year. Unless you were buying a house on a steep, hilly street, I would see it as a non-issue. I lived in DeBal too many years ago to feel comfortable making recommendations, however, I have known many people that have lived there and live there now.
I toured a couple of Metropolis condos over Christmas break as the neighborhood tops my list of living options when I get back.
The rep told me of a mutli-million dollar project including streetscape improvements along Pershing and landscaping around the neighborhood. Budsports is apparently going to sponsor changing the tennis courts to sand volleyball. The Debaliviere-Pershing intersection is also apparently the focal point of a massive overhaul. She said that Joe Edwards has communicated an interest in getting rid of the strip plaza on the west side of Deb and building new construction entertainment/retail/residential. The goal is to play up the fact that that area was at one time the main entrance to Forest Park (and maybe the World's Fair, I can't remember) and give it a little more character. It would also help his streetcar line have more options at the east end rather than just the MO history museum.
Anyone know any of this, can confirm it, or add to it? It sounded pretty great and would really build up a neighborhood that already has a lot going for it.
I have a condo on Pershing but have not heard of those improvements. It would be a very good thing if they take place, especially if they include better street lighting.
It would be interesting to see if Joe Edwards could pull off that project because there are a few businesses in that strip mall that appear to stay busy. I'm sure it would be a 5-year plan at least but would really add a lot of value to the area and spur the area's "rebirth".
With the Metrolink station nearby it's hard not to imagine a few new higher rise condo/apartment buildings than those existing being proposed. So, I hope Joe Edwards does not settle for less than a high quality TOD (streetcar and Metrolink).
i live in this neighborhood. i hadn't heard of the possible improvements...i am definitely looking forward to warmer weather so i can sit on my balcony and enjoy the wonderful leafy/urban ambiance of pershing. ive walked to the loop several times, and it's nice stroll down lindell or cutting across the northeast corner of forest park to get to the cwe. the commercial along pershing could use further development, though a good chunk of it is devoted to this project. i assume that eventually more neighborhood oriented amenities will replace these offices.
Get rid of the Papa John's plaza and Talayna's (or at the very least make Talayna's get an f-ing permanent sign rather than that banner that has been there for how many years now?) and do something with the empty corner retail of Clara/Pershing like a gym or, I know this one is a stretch, but maybe like some sort of grocery store? Maybe?
Talana's is the most ghetto ass pizza place I've ever been, while the pizza itself was actually OK. Didn't that place used to be Riddle's? They should tear down anything suburban and rebuild this neighborhood.
Maybe I should look at buying a condo in this neighborhood. Across from Forest Park, metrolink, CWE and Loop/ Clayton on either side.. quite a location. I know people who moved down here from Brentwood Forest. Maybe we could get MORE of the st. louisans in their 20's who flock to Brentwood Forest to consider an attractive neighborhood like this area..
The Talayna's was actually a pretty decent place back when it was Redel's. I'm not sure why Mike Talayna doesn't seem to mind the fact that his restaurants are dumps.
As for the neighborhood, I'd recommend it to anyone. It's a great place to live, and the location is unbeatable. I have friends who live/lived in Brentwood Forest, and it doesn't even compare to DeBaliviere Place.
