Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom duplex up loft in the Bankers Loft building at 901 Washington in the downtown came on the market in July 2019.

Washington was the hub of St Louis’ industrial economy in the 1800s.

Dozens of industrial buildings, which are similar in size and character to those in Chicago’s Printers Row, were built on the blocks between the River and Jefferson which stretches for 24 blocks.

At one point there was a railroad line down the middle of Washington Street (much as there was a railroad station in Dearborn Station in Printers Row).

Commissioned by rich local businessman Edward Mallinckrodt as a dry-goods retail store and warehouse, the Bankers Lofts was designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, who also designed the Chicago Public Library.

The building was completed in 1892.

By 1940, it had been taken over by several banks.

By 2003, it was bought for conversion and converted into loft condos by 2007.

It has 64 lofts and a parking garage.

Washington is now the main drag downtown for lofts and is called the downtown loft district as many of the buildings remain abandoned and are ripe for conversion.

But even with empty buildings, there are still a dozen or more on  Washington alone to choose from, including some that are apartments as well as others that went condo.

This loft is a 2-story penthouse with a rare feature for a loft: outdoor space. It has a private top floor terrace with city views.

One bedroom is on the main floor with the second one upstairs. It’s the second floor bedroom that has the terrace.

Both bedrooms are en suite.

The kitchen has maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The loft has exposed brick and timber ceilings on the main level. The second bedroom was added on top of the building.

It has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking.

This building is in a popular location as a movie theater which has a handful of restaurants is just two blocks away.

A full sized supermarket has also opened downtown as more than 3,000 apartments have been built in recent years.

But not many people actually work in downtown St Louis. The jobs moved to Clayton or other neighborhoods.

And there are a lot of parking lots.

Will the loft buildings, and Ballpark Village development, eventually lead to a residential renaissance downtown?

Robin Halterman at Dielmann Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #702: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1937 square feet, duplex

• Listed in July 2019 for $275,000
• Assessments of $435 a month (includes exercise room)
• Taxes of $4450
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×20 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 24×19 (second level)
• Private terrace