Connecticut rehab - Week 15

We’re now entering the home stretch of the project. And it couldn’t come any sooner. We’re looking good on our overall budget and profit margins, but things have taken longer than we hoped. We won’t be done in a week’s time, but the only thing left will be minor finishing projects. At least I finished floating out the original plaster walls. Read more

Magnolia Place condos

After spending years in limbo with title issues (it was a DHP property if that means anything to you), 4101 Magnolia is finally getting another chance to shine. This former 24 apartment complex just off Tower Grove Park will soon be transformed into condos. The project will be marketed as Magnolia Place. Read more

Connecticut rehab - Week 13

We have finally gone to the next phase of the process on the Connecticut rehab. The tile has been laid, the hardwoods have been refinished, the drywall is completely done, the front porch is coming around, both the front and rear doors have been replaced and all the utilities are done. Its finally starting to feel like a house. Read more

Update on activity in FPSE

I got a chance to drive by a few ongoing projects in the St. Louis City neighborhood of Forest Park Southeast (or “The Grove” if you prefer) recently and it looks like things are moving along nicely. What surprised me was that a stumbled across yet another large project that I hadn’t heard about. Then, just this morning, I got word that Commerce Bank is looking for proposals for a potential development at Vandeventer and Manchester. When it rains it pours. Read more

Connecticut rehab - Week 7

It’s been over a month since I last posted about my rehab project. Not because things haven’t been progressing, but because I haven’t had time to post. Between work and this project, I’ve had my hands full. Despite the fact that I have done most of this work before, I’ve already learned a lot of lessons along the way. Unfortuneatly, I have been a little lax in sharing them. Looks like I have about five weeks of work to go over. Read more

Multi-Family Lead Remediation

As a follow up to their Multi-Family Window Replacement Program, the City of St. Louis recently introduced a new program called the Multi-Family Lead Remediation Program. Where the window program only compensates landlords for the replacement of up to 10 wood windows per unit ($200 for normal windows and $400 for historic windows), this program has broader implications. Rather than compensating rehabbers just for windows, the financial benefits of this program can be applied to any lead abatement work. Read more

Lofts in Fox Park’s future?

Fox Park is one of those South St. Louis neighborhoods in the midst of a transition. Unfortunately, like surrounding neighborhoods such as Benton Park West and Tower Grove East, the current downturn in the market has stalled the progress of redevelopment in the area. But all I see when I pass through the area is the untapped potential. Read more

Modern flair with translucent walls

Every now and then I see something implemented in a rehab project that is so simple, yet so effective, that I just wonder why more people don’t do it. About a year ago I was at a furniture store that had a series of translucent walls as the backdrop for their furniture displays. It really caught my attention and I thought it could have some interesting “real world” applications. Read more

Copper theft season

Just when it seemed that increased security measures at local scrap yards were having a positive effect on copper theft, spring had to hit. Over the winter, even buildings that weren’t secured properly seemed to be holding onto their copper longer than usual. In the past couple of weeks, as the temperatures have been rising, I have defintely noticed an increase in theft of copper in St. Louis City properties. Read more

Tuckpointing old brick

The tuckpointing in your brick building is starting to decay. Cracks are forming and small chunks of mortar are beginning to fall out. Sounds like you’re due to take on the “not too difficult” but time consuming task of tuckpointing. Time to head on down to the nearest Home Depot or Lowes at stock up on tuckpointing supplies and ready mix mortar. Right? If you are tuckpointng an older building like those found through most of St. Louis City and much of St. Louis County, you just made a mistake. Read more

Next Page »