LOCAL on Delmar set to transform the Delmar Loop with modern mixed-use living

Subtext, a national real estate company dedicated to enhancing the resident experience, and Brinkmann Contractors, a national design/build construction management company, recently marked the beginning of vertical construction for LOCAL on Delmar, a five-story multifamily development in University City. A groundbreaking event was held at 6650 Delmar Blvd., drawing key community leaders and project stakeholders, including University City Mayor Terry Crow.

Designed to address the growing demand for housing in the area, LOCAL on Delmar will introduce 259 residential units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, with townhomes that open onto Delmar Blvd. The development spans 398,225 SF and will include a five-story parking garage with 399 spaces, along with 7,100 SF of street-level retail space to enhance the vibrancy of the Delmar Loop.

Construction began in September 2024, with completion expected by summer 2026. The project is positioned to integrate seamlessly with the surrounding community, catering to residents, students, and professionals with its modern design and proximity to Washington University, Downtown Clayton, and Forest Park. The inclusion of preserved art and architectural elements further connects the project to the area's cultural heritage.

Above: A street view rendering of LOCAL on Delmar mixed-use development under construction in University City, Mo. Image courtesy of Subtext

Residents will have access to 12,000 SF of shared amenities designed to support a balanced lifestyle. Features include a club room with entertainment spaces, a work-from-home hub with private and collaborative areas, a wellness suite with meditation and sauna rooms, a gym with indoor and outdoor fitness options, a yoga studio, and a pool terrace with grilling stations, cabanas, and fire pits.

LOCAL on Delmar represents a significant investment in University City, reinforcing efforts to foster sustainable growth and enhance quality of life. With its prime location at the intersection of Delmar Blvd. and Leland Ave., the development is expected to contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the Delmar Loop while providing much-needed housing options for the community.

Brinkmann Constructors is the general contractor, and ESG Architecture & Design is leading the design efforts. Regional financial and engineering firms are additional partners contributing to the project's execution.

LOCAL on Delmar marks Subtext's second major development in St. Louis, following the successful completion of VERVE St. Louis near Saint Louis University in 2021. The company remains committed to delivering thoughtfully designed residential projects that elevate the living experience for their residents.

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Header image: The recent groundbreaking ceremony for the mixed-use development LOCAL on Delmar held at 6650 Delmar Blvd. in University City. Photo Credit: Mark Wiemers 

Sybrandy sees attractions driving CRE rebound

Since joining Koch Development Co. in 2012, Mandy Sybrandy has built a specialized team of managers and staff to operate SkyWheel® Attractions.

SkyWheel® started as a stand-alone iconic attraction in May 2011 with SkyWheel Myrtle Beach. Over the years, it has evolved into a full-service entertainment venue with a ropes course, Snack Shack and an 18-hole miniature golf course in its Panama City Beach, Fla. location.

Clayton, Mo-based Koch Development, who retains an ownership interest of SkyWheel, became the first company to bring an observation wheel of its type to the United States, with locations in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Panama City Beach.

“Retailers and landlords see tremendous value in such iconic attractions because they attract customers to the location for entertainment and then capture their visit for traditional retail spending, especially as vacations and travel adapt post-COVID,” Sybrandy said.

According to its website, the SkyWheel® is not a carnival ride, but a modern, safe observation wheel towering almost 200 feet in the air with fully-enclosed gondolas offering a safe and secure flight with glass windows and doors for optimal views and photography. The gondolas are heated and cooled, allowing for year-round operation.

Sybrandy, who was recently promoted to vice president of attractions and installed as an officer of Koch Development, said that there are no current attraction opportunities under review in St. Louis.

“SkyWheel® is capitalizing on the power of bringing an experience to locations such as our location at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Fla., where SkyWheel® enhances the marketability of traditional commercial real estate,” Sybrandy said.

Sybrandy sees great pent-up demand for travel now.

“Staycations and domestic travel within driving distance are accelerating,” Sybrandy said.

As a result, Sybrandy expects the Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach locations to rebound this year.

Sybrandy graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in organizational studies and a minor in hospitality management. She is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions and of the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials, which focuses on operations.

Now entering its second century in business, Koch Development is a St. Louis-based, third-generation, family-owned company that develops, owns and manages a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate and entertainment attractions.

Collaborative action key to city vacancy concerns

Last week ULI St. Louis hosted “Starting Where You Are: Collaborative Planning Around Vacancy in the City, “ a virtual presentation moderated by Cecilia Dvorak, AICP, city planning executive with the City of St. Louis.

Presenters included Laura Ginn, vacancy strategist for the City of St. Louis; Bob Lewis, assistant professor of urban planning at Saint Louis University; and Sundy Whiteside, board president of the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations.

The program began with a few relative stats. First: Vacant property in St. Louis adds up to approximately 2,500 acres, 7,000 buildings and 13,000 empty lots.

Second: St. Louis ranks third in the United States for city vacancy. If a line were to be drawn at Delmar Boulevard, the northern portion of the city would have the highest concentration of vacant properties in the country.

Next: The impacts of highly-concentrated vacancy range from lower property values and increased illegal dumping to higher rates of drug and gun-related crime.

“Where there is a high concentration of vacancy, there are also challenges - like a lack of access to public transportation and technology, poverty, housing cost burdens, increased amounts of lead poisoning and asthma,” Ginn said.

As a city, St. Louis is taking a comprehensive, thoughtful and collaborative approach to rebuilding a more equitable community - starting with the organized group (of which all the presenters are involved), called St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative.

The Collaborative launched in 2018 and is made up of more than 40 organizations, twelve city departments, hundreds of volunteers and committees, and six working groups (Anti-Displacement, Data Analysis, Marketing & Engagement, Reinvestment & Reuse, Stabilization, Maintenance & Demolition, Vacancy Prevention).

Another stat presented: 60% of vacant property is privately-owned, which presents many challenges in reinvestment and stabilization. As public organizations work to care for the approximately 40% of properties under their ownership, they are also working to hold vacant landowners accountable for the condition of their property.

“Of crucial importance to this initiative is the redevelopment of vacant properties. We can clean them up and preserve the buildings, but ultimately we need people to invest in the urban core,” Lewis said.

Over the last few years, the City of St. Louis has launched multiple efforts to encourage investment in these areas, including Proposition Neighborhood Stabilization (NS) and the Gateway Neighborhood Fund (GNF).

Proposition NS has created funding for the city to stabilize properties within their land bank to not only improve public safety, but also to encourage development.

GNF has made provisions for approved homebuyers looking to purchase and improve homes in areas where there is an appraisal gap. Enabling home buyers to purchase and renovate these homes helps to increase their value and encourages investment in distressed neighborhoods.

Substantial time has been devoted to reforming property tax foreclosure procedures. Tax foreclosure on home owner occupied properties is not only devastating to the residents, but to the neighborhoods as well.

Two of the Collaborative’s recent efforts to prevent displacement and vacancy are the Real Estate Property Tax Assistance Fund and the Home Repair Network & Fund.

“Tax assistance and home repair assistance help fill local budgets, prevent an increase in vacancy, stabilize neighborhoods and protect home owners facing economic hardship,” Whiteside said.

Should tax foreclosure be necessary, the Collaborative is working on reformation to bring properties to auction sooner so that the community will not suffer from an unoccupied, and therefore untaxable, neighboring property.

“Many people don’t see and recognize the importance of building relationships, but engaging communities and neighborhood residents in the process is how we build a better city. The plans we’re developing help people have a hope for the future.” Whiteside said.

The Collaborative is always looking for volunteers, you can use this link to learn more about the working groups and how you can get involved.

If you would like to view the full program, a YouTube recording is available here.