Urban League senior apartments, community center break ground in Dellwood

Last week, KAI joined the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis to break ground on the organization’s new senior apartments and community center located at 9947 West Florissant in the City of Dellwood in North St. Louis County.

KAI is providing design-build services on the 40,000-square-foot facility which is expected to be complete by December 2022.

The $10 million, three-story building will include 44 resident units (40 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units), plus a community room on the main level for 12-15 people and a resident lounge with a kitchenette and restrooms. The main level will also include a private manager’s office, reception area, workroom and shared access to the community room.

At a time when the shortage of affordable housing in communities around the United States regularly makes the headlines, another less visible housing crisis is also intensifying, according to KAI CEO Michael Kennedy, Jr.

The number of elderly people with ‘worst case housing needs’—defined as renters with low incomes who do not receive government housing assistance and pay more than one-half of their income for rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or both—is increasing rapidly. Nearly 10 million households with an occupant over age 65 spends more than 30 percent of their income on housing; roughly 5 million of those households spend more than 50 percent.

“The growth in the population of Americans aged 65 or older is projected to reach nearly 73 million in 2030, and more than 83 million in 2050, which means that senior households increasingly will be renters,” Kennedy said.

“Resources for housing and supporting our aging population are scarce in relation to the scope of the problem. To the Urban League and its board members and donors, the Missouri Housing Development Commission and Michael Gardner and his team at Gardner Capital, St. Louis thanks you; this community thanks you; and I thank you for partnering with KAI to bring seniors in this community this much needed project,” Kennedy said.

The Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis’ mission is to empower African Americans and others throughout the region in securing economic self-reliance, social equality and civil rights. The organization is committed to investing in the continued redevelopment of the West Florissant Corridor through Dellwood and Ferguson.

The goal of the development is to give seniors in Dellwood not only the opportunity to live in a brand new building but to also have easy access to many services and programs offered by the organization, including the popular Senior Empowerment Series.

Presenters at the groundbreaking ceremony also included Urban League president & CEO Michael P. McMillan; St. Louis County Executive, Sam Page; St. Louis County Council Chair, Rita Heard Days; City of Dellwood Mayor, Reggie Jones; and Missouri State Senator, Brian Williams.

Riechmann Bros. and Poettker Construction break ground on John Deere dealership

Riechmann Bros. broke ground on a new John Deere dealership location on February 23rd, alongside Poettker Construction Company, who is serving as the design-build contractor for the 15-acre development in Metro East.

“We pride ourselves on having a team of high-quality technicians and the largest parts inventory for same-day services. This new facility will allow greater accessibility for our customers,” said Bill Riechmann, CEO of Riechmann Bros.

The 34,000-SF facility will be located only a few miles from the original Breese, Ill. location built in 1988, providing ample space to accommodate customers, help accelerate training programs and increase employee retention.

The pre-engineered metal building will feature a canopy to match John Deere’s signature brand colors, showcase brick and stone wainscoting, epoxy floor finish and mezzanines for additional storage. The new facility will feature:

- an inside wash bay, providing a location to wash equipment while escaping the challenges of winter and freezing temperatures;

- a corporate training room to host technician and sales training with John Deere;

- private offices for the management and sales teams, allowing for confidentiality amongst customers; and

- two separate vehicle maintenance areas for agriculture and lawn care equipment.

Multiple energy-efficient elements such as LED lighting and extra insulation to control heating and cooling loses have been incorporated into the design.

“Poettker Construction is excited to work on a project that will contribute to the economic development and investment in the Breese community,” said Keith Poettker, president of Poettker Construction Company.

The anticipated completion date for the new Riechmann Bros. location is late 2021, just in time for their 100th anniversary.

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.

New office HQ with a view for Arcturis

Renovations are underway on new office headquarters for Arcturis, a St. Louis-based national design firm, who plans to move to the 13th floor of the former Peabody Plaza building, which now serves as a focal point of the new Gateway Plaza at 701 Market St. in downtown St. Louis.

Arcturis partnered with Tarlton Corp. to serve as construction manager of the 11,500-SF, build-out project - adding to the award-winning portfolio of the two, women-owned businesses.

The dynamic duo previously collaborated on the build-out of the new Spire corporate headquarters which earned LEED Gold for Commercial Interiors certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and was recognized with an Edwin F. Guth Award for interior lighting design from the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Slated for completion by the end of this year, the renovations and tenant build-out include the demolition of existing office space; installation of new partitions; high-end, industrial-look finishes and MEPFP design-build enhancements.

An impressive glass-wall storefront, fabricated and installed by Missouri Valley Glass, welcomes employees and visitors into the office suite. The storefront features one-half-inch-thick clear tempered glass sections situated within a span that is 9 feet tall and 22 feet long. The entry doors are flanked by two wide sections on each side, with sleek, brushed stainless hardware and trim completing the modern design.

In addition, the office space incorporates a wellness area featuring a lounge and cafeteria, as well as a “light laboratory” that Arcturis design teams will use for fixture testing and to simulate different light conditions in project designs for clients.

The Tarlton project team includes Joe Scarfino, project director; Diane Grimsley, senior project manager; Beth Barton, superintendent; and Joe Carr, cost engineer.

Current Chesterfield development on par with 2019

This week’s CCIM St. Louis Metro Chapter virtual luncheon presentation provided solid insight to the development of the Chesterfield, Mo. area.

With presentations from Mike Geisel, city administrator with the City of Chesterfield; Tim Lowe, VP of leasing and development with The Staenberg Group; and Jeff Tegethoff, operating partner of CRG, attendees received a comprehensive look at the future of the city.

Geisel started the presentation by introducing “Envision Chesterfield,” the city’s comprehensive plan completed through a 21-month process which was adopted in September of this year.

Data shows that the city of Chesterfield has grown at 2.6 times the rate of inflation. With 44 active development projects, the city is on par with 2019 numbers despite the challenges of 2020.

“In the last ten years, we’ve seen 2,300 residential units being developed. We’ve seen 3.9 million SF of commercial development and 650,000 SF of industrial development,” Geisel said.

The District and Wildhorse developments are two large components contributing to the current success in Chesterfield, according to Geisel.

Working from the opportunity of their neighboring tenant TopGolf, The Staenberg Group is developing The District - previously an old outlet mall - into a new entertainment area. The revitalization has recently handed over the 48,000 SF shell to their new tenant, Main Event, set to open in June 2021.

On the other end of the property, The Factory, the first built-from-the-ground-up live music venue in the Midwest in more than 20 years, is currently underway. Lowe acknowledged the risk of this type of facility in the current COVID climate, but also noted the high demand from both fans and bands.

“We’re excited. This is going to be a unique draw to the area. They’re planning to open in May of next year. While the current guidelines would not allow The Factory to open and be successful, the good news is that there is a lot of pent-up demand for next year. We are hoping the rules of engagement in 2021 will allow us to open and be functional,” Lowe said.

Phase 2 of The District will feature an open-entrance, steel structured pavilion which will serve as an eye-catching anchor of the development.

“We have a lot of work to do to figure out what goes under the pavilion, but (we) will have grass, fire pits and outdoor seating. It’s a neat area within the development that allows people to read books, play with their kids, things like that,” Lowe said.

The final phase of The District is currently being planned. At this point, potential activities include indoor and outdoor pickleball, sand volleyball and eSports.

Lowe also mentioned the Chesterfield Mall, which The Staenberg Group is currently working on a master plan to convert the property into an urban downtown development. The plan includes housing, office, retail, and restaurants, and is scheduled to be completed and presented to the city by the end of the year.

Tegethoff also shared his vision for the existing Wildhorse project and Wildhorse Village. Wildhorse has scheduled openings throughout 2021, including the 188-residential spaces in March and the AC Hotel by Marriott in December. The notable, 15,000-SF Ruth Chris Steak House opens in two-weeks.

Wildhorse Village, an 80-acre development to include 1 million SF of office space, more than 500-residential units and 100,000 SF of restaurant and retail space, is currently underway. The project will not be phased and anticipates openings as early as 2023.

“We never really thought about phasing Wildhorse Villiage. The momentum of early interest in the sub lots enabled us to do it all at one time,” Tegethoff said.

“We feel like there has never been a more exciting time to developing in Chesterfield.” Tegethoff said.

Despite the challenges of 2020, the city of Chesterfield is on the rise.

to view the entire program, please visit CCIM St. Louis’s LinkedIn page.

NGZ's Ben Albers keys success to mentors, marketing and momentum

MWM STL is excited to present our first St. Louis Broker Spotlight, featuring Ben Albers with Newmark Grubb Zimmer (NGZ).

Albers joined NGZ in 2015 and currently serves as managing director of office brokerage in the company's St. Louis office, where he focuses on representing tenants and landlords in office property transactions.

Albers attributes his early success to mentors, marketing, momentum and more. Here are the details of our MWM Broker Spotlight interview:

Rachel Treanor (RT): What was your lightbulb moment to get into commercial real estate?

Ben Albers (BA): I was always interested in development, but it took me some time to realize that brokerage was perfect for me. I spent a lot of time getting coffee with people in the industry before I made the leap. The lightbulb moment actually came when I learned that brokerage had an entrepreneurial component that other roles did not.

RT: Who is your mentor and why?

BA: My father has always played a role in my development as a professional. He is in the healthcare industry, so his influence taught me to approach problems from a completely different mindset. We don’t spend a lot of time on the real estate market, but hearing his approach and perspective on bigger picture issues has always taught me to not be so insular in my business.

RT: What gets you excited to get to work every day?

BA: I’ve always been a social person, so I enjoy getting up every day to talk to clients, prospects, other brokers, etc. This career offers the ability to meet new people every single day, so I make the most of it by getting out as much as I can.

RT: When did you get your CCIM /other continuing education and how has it affected your career?

BA: I’m currently working on my CCIM designation and am over halfway there. It’s been valuable to sit in class with other real estate professionals who work in different sectors. Their approach to a deal can be very different, so I’ve learned a lot by picking up tips and tricks along the way.

RT: How do you keep your skills sharp in this competitive climate?

BA: One of the benefits of the digital age is that there is a never-ending stream of information. I try to soak up all the latest trends and market info by talking to clients, furniture vendors, attorneys, architects, etc. If I get to the point where I feel like I’ve learned it all, it’s time for retirement.

RT: Tell us about your current projects.

One of the benefits of working on a team is that we get new ‘irons in the fire’ almost daily. However, there are handful of projects that I am ultra-focused on in 2020. The disposition of an office portfolio in Wildwood, the leasing of a 90,000 SF call center building in Berkeley, and a handful of tenant rep clients are a few examples.

RT: What does a St. Louis CRE Comeback look like to you?

BA: St Louis needs to build on its momentum in the city. Areas like the Cortex, the Grove, Midtown and little pockets of downtown have all seen tremendous growth and investment over the years. The key to a comeback will be connecting those neighborhoods to attract young talent to come to the city. When that happens, large companies that are looking for those employees will follow.

RT: What leads do you look for?

BA: As an office broker, I focus on representing both tenants and landlords. Anyone who needs help figuring out their office lease, whether they are growing, shrinking, or renewing, is someone I can help.

RT: How can prospects contact you for more information?

BA: You can email me at balbers@NGZimmer.com or call me at 314.628.0439.

City Foundry STL gears up for debut, despite official opening date

St. Louis' $220 million mixed-used development, City Foundry STL, is gearing up for their highly-anticipated debut, despite an official opening date.

The 15-acre site includes 122,000 SF of food hall and public market space, 107,000 SF of creative office space and 105,000 SF of retail shops - all rolled into its own midtown destination on Forest Park Ave between Vandeventer and Spring streets.

Steve Smith, CEO of the Lawrence Group, the property's developer, has reinvented the former Century Electric site with inspiration from similar developments - like Chelsea Market in New York City and Krog Street Market in Atlanta. 

Unlike a typical outdoor mall, the majority of vendors in the development are independently-owned, small businesses - as well as a few emerging concepts new to St. Louis - who will make their debut in the nearly 100-year-old foundry structure. The food hall and public market will bring together more than twenty different local chefs, each with their own unique-food-concept "mini restaurants,” as well as the other vendors in the food space.

The collective City Foundry STL team sees the public market as an opportunity to give local chefs, restaurateurs, artisans and more a platform to rebuild from COVID-19.

“Our local hospitality industry defines the current culture and uniqueness of our city. It’s also the most vulnerable during this time. Our hope is that City Foundry can be a place for ideas to incubate and grow into a viable business; a place where new concepts will be surrounded by industry leaders to learn from and succeed,” said City Foundry STL asset manager, Will Smith.

Anchor tenants include grocery store Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which marks its first metro area location.

Other tenants include: 18Rails|The Venue @City Foundry STL, Buenos Aires Cafe, Bullhorn, City Taco Shack, Fassler Hall, Gateway Blend, Good Day, Great Rivers Greenway, Hello Poke, Orion Genomics, Press Waffle Company and Punch Bowl Social.

An on-site hiking-and-biking trail connecting Forest Park to downtown St. Louis is in the works via Great Rivers Greenway, the sponsoring regional agency. Free parking will also be available, with over 1,000 parking spaces on site.

City Foundry STL continues to progress on construction of the overall development. An exact opening timeline will be determined and announced soon, based on recommendations from health officials as well as the comfort level of future customers.

Prospective tenant interest has returned to pre-covid levels, according to the development team, with 95% of office space leased and 65% of the development pre-leased overall.

For more information on leasing, please contact Rob Soete at rob@cityfoundrystl.com.