In April, nextSTL was first to report TWG Development of Indianapolis had purchased the long-vacant row of historic buildings at 913-921 Locust Street in downtown St. Louis. The buildings were purchased from UrbanStreet, which had acquired them from the Roberts Brothers liquidation in 2012. Initial plans called for market rate apartments for the three mid-block buildings, including the three-story 913 Locust, 12-story 917 Locust, and four-story 919-921 Locust, and for the corner building to be replaced.

Now the developer is moving forward with this plan. A resolution to be presented at tomorrow’s St. Louis Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority meeting (LCRA agenda) would designate “Locust Street Lofts TWG, LLC” as developer of the properties and enter into a redevelopment agreement.

An image posted by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shows an initial rendering of the new corner building. The existing building is well known for its late 1940s Tudor style makeover. nextSTL has chronicled the building’s interesting history as an art gallery in this profile: When the Art World Came to St. Louis.

{923 Locust in 1955 – even though the gallery had moved across the street and a modern storefront added, framed paintings can still be seen in the second story window}

Work could begin as early as Spring 2017. TWG recently completed an historic renovation project with some similarities in Indianapolis. The 14-story Penn Street Tower opened after a 20-year vacancy as 98 apartments last year. The 185,000 sf, 1913 building was renovated at a reported cost of $14M.

Looking west, then east along Locust Street:

Rendering of a previous proposal for a Hotel Indigo at 913-923 Locust: