St. Louis eyes $232 million revitalization plan with a private sector boost

Following the St. Louis Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles, a $790 million settlement was reached, with $250 million allocated to the City of St. Louis. Recent discussions have focused on utilizing these funds, with $232 million proposed for revitalizing downtown St. Louis and supporting needy neighborhoods. A key element of this plan is a pledge from the private sector to significantly enhance the city’s investment.

Greater St. Louis Inc., a prominent regional business organization, has announced plans to contribute at least $200 million in private funds to complement the city’s proposed investments. This public-private partnership aims to strengthen infrastructure, housing, and economic activity downtown and in neighborhoods on the north and southeast sides. These areas are critical to driving long-term economic growth and addressing pressing community needs.

The proposed allocation of funds would designate $102.5 million for downtown improvements and $130 million for projects in underserved neighborhoods. Greater St. Louis advocates for focusing on downtown as a vital economic hub, citing its role in generating substantial tax revenue that benefits the entire city. By directing resources toward downtown and beyond, the organization aims to spur development and attract additional federal and private funding.

City officials have also emphasized the importance of aligning investments with community priorities. Earlier this year, residents participated in a public voting process to outline their top funding needs, which included water main replacements, traffic calming measures, city worker pay raises, and childcare subsidies. Downtown infrastructure improvements were also considered a priority, though they ranked slightly lower.

Discussions have continued between the city’s leadership and business groups to ensure that plans reflect both immediate economic opportunities and long-term benefits for residents. While different strategies have been proposed, the overarching goal is to maximize the impact of the settlement funds on the city as a whole. Like those proposed by Greater St. Louis Inc., collaborative efforts aim to replicate successful models in cities such as Pittsburgh and Denver, where public-private partnerships have amplified local investments.

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Header image: Construction is underway to connect two major Downtown anchors with 7th Street between Ballpark Village and America’s Center on Washington Ave. Image courtesy of Greater St. Louis Inc.

Kaemmerlen Electric marks 100 years of innovation and growth

Kaemmerlen Electric Co. was founded in 1924. It was born from the growing need for appliance repairs in St. Louis during the early 1900s as electrical infrastructure developed. Initially focused on small appliance repairs, the company serviced 50,000 plug-in clocks, toasters, and radios annually, becoming the most recognized small appliance repair shop in St. Louis. Alongside these services, Kaemmerlen established itself as a major electrical contractor that handled lighting and fan repairs in downtown offices.

The company was founded by Thibault Casper (TC) Kaemmerlen and his foreman, Gil Kramer, who each contributed $150 to start the business at 22 North 2nd St. Kaemmerlen, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, moved to Missouri to escape political turmoil in his home country. After studying at Ranken Technical College, he worked at Frank Adams Electric Company, where he met Kramer.

Kaemmerlen’s shift from a small repair shop to a more prominent electrical contractor began in 1927 when the company secured its first major contract to wire Gilster Milling in Steeleville, Mo. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, the company continued to grow, performing warranty work for department stores while expanding into electrical contracting. In 1937, Kaemmerlen bought out Kramer and moved to a larger location on Lafayette Ave.

Post-World War II, Kaemmerlen relocated to its current address at 2728 Locust and benefited from the post-war economic boom. It became a signatory contractor with IBEW Local 1 and co-founded the National Appliance Repair Association. In the 1950s, the company was repairing 25,000 appliances annually, which doubled over the next decade. However, by the 1970s, the company shifted away from appliance repair as consumers began replacing appliances instead of repairing them.

Above: The current Kaemmerlen Electric leadership team from left to right; Bob Kaemmerlen Jr.,Tracey Trembath, principal, and BrianTrembath, chief financial officer. Photo courtesy of Kaemmerlen Electric

Today, Kaemmerlen Electric has diversified its services, focusing on commercial, retail, and institutional projects. Its work spans educational institutions, healthcare facilities, retailers, and businesses like Nike, Mastercard, and World Wide Technologies. With 95% of its work from repeat clients, Kaemmerlen continues to evolve, offering expertise in low-voltage projects, data centers, and audio/visual technology. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in October 2024.

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Header image: Founder Thibault Casper (TC) Kaemmerlen flanked by two employees circa 1946. Image courtesy of Kaemmerlen Electric Co.

Sealy & Co. renews 1.6M SF lease with World Wide Technology in Edwardsville

Sealy & Co. has secured a lease renewal for two buildings with World Wide Technology (WWT) at Lakeview Commerce Center II and III in Edwardsville, Ill., covering in excess of 1.6 million SF. WWT, the company’s largest tenant, has maintained a long-term relationship with Sealy.

Lakeview Commerce Center II, located at 3971 Lakeview Corporate Dr., comprises 539,877 SF and includes a variety of enhancements. The facility, which was delivered in 2006, features 29,900 SF of office and laboratory space, T5 specialty lighting, and generators for emergency backup.

Lakeview Commerce Center III, a distribution center located next door, encompasses the bulk of the square footage with 1,109,830 SF. Originally completed in 2008, it was expanded in 2015 to add more office space, custom trailer stalls, and enhanced security measures. This building also recently earned the BOMA 360 designation for its high standards in energy efficiency, safety, security, and tenant relations.

Both properties are ideally located in the Metro East industrial submarket of St. Louis, just west of Hwy. 111, with direct access to I-270 and downtown St. Louis only 20 miles down the road.

Negotiations for the renewal were led by Sealy’s Regional Director William Shagets, with support from Cushman & Wakefield’s Ed Lampitt and Matt Eastin.

The St. Louis industrial market continues to see strong leasing activity through the third quarter of 2024 with a vacancy rate of 4.7%, according to a CBRE report (St. Louis Industrial Figures Q3 2024). Leasing activity surpassed 1.2 million SF, up 24% from the previous quarter. While the Metro East submarket had the second-highest vacancy rate in the area just under 10%, it led the region in leasing activity with 414,000 SF for the quarter.

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Header image: Lakeview Commerce Center puchased by Sealy & Co. in 2020 is located just 20 miles from downtown St. Louis in Edwardsville, Ill. Image courtesy of St. Louis Regional Freightway