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Station Plaza
The Next Stop in
Kirkwood’s History
By Linda F. Jarrett
Kirkwood has never been content to rest on her laurels. A bustling downtown area with unique retail stores, the historic Amtrak train station, and an active Farmer’s Market, Kirkwood has worked to make its city friendly to residents, merchants, and visitors.
Now, the city will be home to a new idea in city living when the $43 million Station Plaza opens on South Kirkwood Road.
With Station Plaza, the city continues to build on its reputation. A concept borrowing on the European style of city living, the 40,000-square-foot development features ground-level restaurants and retail shops with 215 apartments and 60 lofts above the businesses, and 24 Georgetown-style attached townhomes.
 CHRIS HO & ANDREW CHECKLEY
vice president of development and
commercial leasing agent,
MLP Investments |
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Chris Ho, vice president of development for MLP Investments, developer for Station Plaza, says the project typifies the “New Urbanism” concept that he sees spreading through the country. As the 18th largest residential apartment developer in the United States, Ho says the company’s bread and butter has always been garden-style apartments in the suburbs. “But about four or five years ago, we recognized that suburban markets were getting further and further out,” he says. “So there
were concerns about zoning and land availability…and the ethical concern about sprawl.”
When the seven-acre site in Kirkwood became available–formerly home to a Target store–MLP sensed an opportunity. “We studied the growing demographic of aging baby boomers who had raised their families in communities like Kirkwood and no longer wanted to take care of a single family house,” he says. “They don’t want to clean gutters and mow lawns.”
Architects for the project were Clayton-based Suttle Mindlin, and Tulsa, Okla.-based Parker & Associates. Ho says the development takes its cue from Europe. “This new plaza is very much patterned along proven urban concepts as European-type squares,” he says. “I don’t think there’s anything quite like that in St. Louis yet.”
For example, one building features 14,000 square feet of restaurant space, and will offer abundant outdoor seating on the plaza. Lofts occupy another building with retail and offices below, and an arcade-style covered front–a thoroughly European concept.
So far, interest in Station Plaza has met all expectations, according to Ho. Three restaurants are committed, including Johnny Rocket’s, a 1950s style diner, San Sui Japanese Grill and Camille’s Sidewalk Café.
| Station Plaza under construction. |
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Andrew Checkley, commercial leasing agent for MLP, says interested tenants include a florist, ice cream parlor, full-service salon and spa, tanning salon, women’s accessory boutique, and cleaners. “Other businesses negotiating leases include a regional architectural firm, two local dental practices, a local accounting firm, and a local insurance company,” Checkley says.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments range from 727 square feet to 1,437 square feet, and rent for $1,125 to $1,925 a month. One of the buildings, called the Freight Building, borders the railroad tracks that run through the heart of Kirkwood. Ho says those are garnering the highest interest –even with the 40 trains that pass by in a 24-hour period.
Below these apartments is the Cyber Café, an area where tenants can sip espresso or cappuccino and plug in their laptops. There is also a fitness room and a plasma television lounge.
MLP partnered with Fischer & Frichtel Homebuilders for the construction of the luxury three-level townhomes. At 2,600 square feet, they sell for about $500,000. Optional amenities include a personal elevator, and a dumbwaiter to carry packages from the lower level garage up to the kitchen.
Cliff Drozda, president of Milclif Corporation, which is handling townhome sales, says of the 24 built, only six remain. “Our primary market is empty nesters, and we’ve had a lot of interest from people outside Kirkwood.
St. Louis has that perpetual draw for people who once lived here and if you grew up here, especially in Kirkwood, it’s like coming home.”
With completion scheduled for fall 2004, Station Plaza stands ready to welcome businesses and residents. Kirkwood City Planner Dan Niebaum says, “I go to many conferences around the country and talk to planners. I don’t think you could find a better use for this space.” |
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