Editor’s note: This article was written, and events occurred, prior to the mask mandate. Current policies and opinions for in-person events are not reflected in this article.
As evidence that business life is on its way back from the Zoom and pandemic era, the last couple of weeks have seen many more frequent in-person meetings for St. Louis-area commercial real estate professionals, with at least three organizations holding events on the same day.
At the popular annual 8 to 8 luncheon of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), colleagues learned about each other’s projects and interest in working together. Each of eight tables was hosted by an SMPS member who discussed how to pitch their business, current and planned projects and perspectives on the commercial real estate scene these days.
At The Staenberg Group table, vice president of leasing and development Sam Adler noted that construction costs are going up and retailers are paying less rent, although that trend is not necessarily caused by the pandemic. Adler discussed features of the company’s District project, which opened recently and will host a free concert on July 29. Participants agreed that pickleball is “the new hot thing” and “the biggest business there is now,” and Adler noted that there is interest in establishing a national pickleball training center as part of the project.
Staenberg is looking for local restaurants for the complex because the major chains are already well-represented in the Chesterfield area. Creating a center for local breweries, perhaps on a rotating basis, is also being considered.
Members of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) St. Louis chapter enjoyed an insider’s walking tour of the Soulard Commerce Center (161 S. Trudeau Street), followed by happy hour at McGuirk’s. The center - developed, designed and built by The Opus Group- is a 155,305-SF, speculative Class A industrial warehouse on eight acres that can host up to eight tenants.
“Before the walls went up, a good deal of pre-development work had to take place to ensure clean soils and the best possible conditions for a logistics hub,” according to a representative from ULI-St. Louis.
The evening featured the installation of IFMA-St. Louis officers for the chapter’s new year, held at Rhone Rum Bar (2017 Chouteau) with refreshments catered by Elite Cuisine.
David J. Gardin, CFM (Kindred Healthcare), has stepped up as chapter president; Michael G. Wright, CFM (Ameren), is vice president; Gary Wood (Stryker Construction), treasurer; and Patrick R. Breaux (Magellan Healthcare), secretary. Scott A. Held, CFM, FMP (Ameren), will remain involved as immediate past president. Platinum sponsors of the event were Elite Cuisine, Servpro, Kone Elevators Escalators and Kozeny Wagner.
Gardin presented Held with a plaque to “honor Scott for his ongoing commitment to our chapter.” “Scott has been involved with our chapter on many levels for the past six years, with last year being especially challenging,” Gardin said. “It’s a difficult task to keep members engaged when Zoom meetings were our only choice.”
Gardin also introduced and thanked other board members and chairs Dan Rayhawk, CFM (Square), Education; Renee LaBruyere (Horner & Shiften), Programs; Matt Huelsing (Automated Controls Equipment Systems), Sponsorship; Erin Valentine (McCarthy), Marketing; Kristie Gabel (Elite Cuisine), Golf Classic; Trish Jensen (Millicare), Membership Development; and James Delgado, CFM, CIPS (Cozad Commercial Real Estate), Advocacy Liaison.
Chapter members recognized as newly certified were Anya Robey (Centene), Facility Management Professional (FMP), and Scott Kapper (Brentwood School District), Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP).
Before the new officers were formally installed, the chapter presented a check for $1,000 to St. Louis fire chief Dennis Jenkerson on behalf of Cool Down St. Louis, which helps people for whom excessive heat is especially dangerous — low-income, elderly and disabled people, as well as families with critically ill children — pay their electric bills. The organization aims to educate the public about avoiding heat-related illnesses and deaths. The chapter has supported this nonprofit organization for several years.
“I don’t think people realize how much this organization and support does for people,” Jenkerson said.