St. Louis, MO
The Koken showcased Blackline’s full portfolio of capabilities, as General Contractor, Architect, Developer, and historic tax credit consultant. Since we were working on a historic building, we had to plan for the unknown and pivot to adapt to conditions we didn’t expect going in. The opportunity to bring back a long-vacant property in the historic and vibrant Fox Park neighborhood was too good to pass up as it allowed us to help reweave the area’s urban fabric and bring new vibrancy to this area of the City.
Visit The Koken!At the doorstep of the St. Louis University Medical Center, this long vacant historic building has been brought back to life and reimagined as stylish, upscale apartment homes. This challenging project required thoughful attention to detail to restore and highlight impressive historic architectural elements, while modernizing the building to make it relevant to today’s lifestyle. In addition to the apartment units, the building features impressive amenity spaces including a rooftop deck, and retail space to bring even more activity at the street.
Our Client purchased this trophy asset with the goal of updating and rebranding to compete with thew newer product in the market. The new Metropolitan Flats has been reborn and once again stands as a benchmark of luxury living in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood. The project involved fully renovating all 212 units and creating all new amenity and outdoor spaces, including a building addition to house the building’s new lobby. We were challenged to take on this project without vacating the building, presenting a unique obstacle that we worked intensely to overcome.
Visit Metropolitan Flats!Constructed between 1880 and 1920, the Louis Lange Publishing Company building holds extreme historical significance in St. Louis. A beautiful example of early 1900’s industrial architecture, in this building, primarly german family magizines and Lutheran publications were printed until Louis Lange founded the Concordia Publishing House, which still exists just across the street. Having been long abandoned and partially collapsed, Blackline purchased the property in 2016 and undertook this extensive and complex reconstruction and adaptive re-use. Shortly thereafter, a 12-unit new construction building was built on the property as well, creating a complex that celebrates history while at the same time embraces modernity. Today, these buildings are vibrant and attractive homes and have spurred numerous other developments in the surrounding neighborhood.
Visit The Lange!Built in 1951, the Montclair on the Park stands as one of the most recognizable post-war high rise buildings in the St. Louis skyline. With 224 units, the building’s location on the doorstep of Forest Park made it an attractive investment for our Client, and presented an incredible opportunity to both save and enhance this architectural treasure. Blackline was selected as General Contractor to renovate all 224 units, common areas, and create new amenity spaces and leasing offices. In addition to interior renovations, great care was taken to thoughtfully restore and maintain the exterior including new roofs and terraces as well as masonry restoration and cleaning. All of this was done while the building remained occupied so as to minimize the financial impact of rent loss for the Client.
Visit Montclair on the ParkBlackline proudly served as the General Contractor, Architect, and Developer of this transformative project in St. Louis’ Dutchtown neighborhood. Originally the St. Thomas of Aquinas School, the building had sat vacant for decades. Now reimagined into light-filled apartment homes that retain so much of the original character pieces that make the building special, the property once again breathes life and is home to the many new residents who now call it home.
Visit 4021 Iowa!The Dorr-Zeller Building is one of the last remaining artifacts of the once-bustling DeBaliviere commercial corridor in the city’s Central West End neighborhood. Having been largely vacant since the 1980’s, we purchased and redevelopment this stunning property into a dynamic, mixed-use building. Today, it is home to 24 residences and two beautiful retail spaces. This building once again breathes life into the neighborhood and stands as a beautiful example of how historic character can be beautifully blended with modern features to allow these buildings to be relevant for another hundred years.
The historic Buell Building at 1900 Washington Ave in St. Louis’ Downtown West Neighborhood had sat vacant for decades and was nearly destroyed by fire. Though quite the challenge, Blackline was up to the task. We served as General Contractor, design architect, and Developer for this monumental project to save this incredible building. Now transformed into 36 luxury apartments, and 4 retail spaces, the Buell Building stands as an anchor in the neighborhood and since its completion has supurred numerous other developments in the area.
The former Weber Motor Car Co. Company building, orignally constructed in 1914, has a rich history as part of the vibrant and historic “Motor Row” in St. Louis. A Studebaker dealership until 1921, the property was later occupied by several other businesses until it eventually sat vacant for decades. Blackline purchased the property in 2015 with the vision of turning it into its new offices, with six residential units above. The redevelopment of this building has contributed to the rebirth of St. Louis’ Downtown West neighborhood and helped inspire the redevelopment of other nearby properties since.