Moving to St Louis!! (St. Louis, Washington: apartments, rent, lofts)

[eroy109]

I am moving to St Louis early next year and I was hoping you all could help me out! I'll be working downtown (10th street) and want a very short or no drive at all to work everyday. I'm 22 and love to go shoping and out for dinner and drinks, but safety is a major issue for me. Please let me know of any great places to live. I can rent or buy! Thanks!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

How about Downtown itself? There's lots of lofts and apartments in the area.

Maybe check out the Merchandise Mart. I think Paul Brown Building also has apartments. And there's the Cupples Station Apartments.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by eroy109

I am moving to St Louis early next year and I was hoping you all could help me out! I'll be working downtown (10th street) and want a very short or no drive at all to work everyday. I'm 22 and love to go shoping and out for dinner and drinks, but safety is a major issue for me. Please let me know of any great places to live. I can rent or buy! Thanks!

Downtown itself as suggested would be a good place to start. Lots of Lofts and condos, and Washington Ave is the center of restaurants and bars. Safety won't be an issue in those buildings. As with any city, use common sense when out and about off the beaten path later at night.

You could also look into the Soulard and Central West End, which are also very popular with your age demographic and are 5-10 minute side street drive commutes. I'd start with those three if it were me. There are other choices too. If you are not an urban/city person there are a couple of choices via light rail or short drive as well.

[jlawrence01]

I lived in St. Louis for eight years in the Tower Grove area. I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you head to St. Louis and actually visit a variety of neighborhoods to see what you feel comfortable. What I as a world traveller and a guy who is the size of the average NFL linebacker is irrelevant. YOU have to live there.

While the downtown area is the "up and coming" area this year, I lived in a couple of "up and coming" areas in St. Louis that after 20 years are not neighborhoods that I would recommend to my 22 year old niece.

Personally I would check out the DT area, Tower Grove, CWE to get "the feel of the area", then move a bit further out.

One more thing. Take some time - a couple of weekends - and really drive around. Personally, I like to see what a neighborhood looks liek on a Saturday night and then a Sunday morning.

[aragx6]

Stick around Washington and Tucker downtown. that area is not up and coming -- it's already arrived. Some of the other downtown areas are not unsafe, but more so deserted at night.

Last time I was in St. Louis we stayed at the Westin (near Busch stadium) and walked home highly intoxicated (or at least I was -- my SO and friend were only mostly intoxicated) from Washington Ave. and it was pretty much empty. We saw a couple unsavory types, but more cops (Who I, in my haphazard condition, was actually more concerned about LOL!) than anyone else.

Oh, and I'm a 23 year old female if that helps you with your decision.

Where on 10th is your job? Up by the dome or down by Busch stadium? Or somewhere in between? Either way, it'll probably a very short walk to light rail, so if you don't like or can't afford the lofts on Washington Ave. you can easily live in the Central West End, which before the gentrification of downtown, was the premier place for young, childless urbanites. Now, the two locales kind of share that moniker.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

People forget what kind of shape Soulard was in a few weeks ago. These neighborhoods can improve, but it takes time. Obviously, though, you can only live where you feel safe, and safe is a somewhat relative term.

We've walked back to our car after night games and I haven't felt afraid at all, but I was with family.

[allio27]

eroy109 -
I feel like I've talked about my neighborhood a million times on here, and because I'm feeling extremely lazy tonight, I won't go into the same ol' - same ol'... Ok, maybe just a little. I live in a fantastic neighborhood west of the Botanical Garden and north of Tower Grove Park. Close to everything, lots of great people everywhere, close to freeways, and quiet and safe at night. K, I'm done. Do a serch of my previous posts about this if you want more detail... I'm... so... lazy...
Does this make me a bad City-Data member? (Yea, I think so...)

[eroy109]

Hi Again Everyone! Thanks so much for responding so quickly with all the good info! I really appreciate it! I'll be working on S 10th Street - down by Busch Stadium. I currently live in Kentucky, so I'll definitely be making the drive a few times to check out some places before I actually move next year. Thanks again!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Anybody have an experience with Cupples Apartments? Those are probably the nearest. They're also income dependent I think. Cupples station is at 1023 Spruce.
Overview
The reviews online seem to be mixed, but the apartments are cheap, so you might get what you pay for.
Not to be confused with Ballpark Lofts, across the street from Busch Stadium, kinda by the Westin.

Ballpark Lofts, Cupples Apartments, and Westin Hotel building next to the ballpark were also buildings built by the Cupples company, which also built tunnels, some of which MetroLink now uses. All the buildings have the tall skinny arches, which inspired the tall, skinny arches on the entrance to Busch Stadium.

Maybe 6 or 7 blocks north of S 10th at Spruce is Merchandise Mart (1000 Washington Ave).
Merchandise Mart Apartments
These have market rate and affordable alternative rate apartments. Again, mixed reviews.

If any forumers have lived in these places, insight would be great, or if you know of another apartment to recommend.

Also: Paul Brown The Paul Brown Loft Apartments
From the website it looks pretty booked. 1-2 Bedrooms look to be around $600-$800, but it varies on the square footage.

Some other options:
St. Louis Loftworks - Lofts@315

http://terracelofts.com/ Farther away, closer to the Ed. [SIZE=3]1300 Convention Plaza[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Apparently they start at $450/month [/SIZE]
http://www.stlouislofts.com/1300convention.html

http://www.stlouislofts.com/911locust.html at 911 Locust

The Arcade Wright (a magnificent building at 800 Olive) was owned by Pyramid, which sunk. So, for now, renovation is on hold. Hopefully before the building gets too delapidated (sp?) someone will pick it up.

There's the Bell Lofts (and City Grocers) at 920 Olive
http://www.loftworks-stl.com/propert.../BellLofts.htm

Ludwig Lofts http://www.loftworks-stl.com/propert...udwigLofts.htm 1004 Olive Street
One Bedroom $815 - $1,055
Two Bedroom $1,025 - $1,295
Apparently a fancy dress shop is in the first floor. Apparently both the Ludwig and the skinny building next to it are part of the Ludwig Lofts development.

[aragx6]

Cupples is right by the ballpark. Close certainly, but not exactly the most exciting area of downtown. My advice remains the same: Washington Avenue as close to Washington and Tucker as you can get. You can walk, drive or take the metro from there.

Welcome to St. Louis! Let us know how everything goes and if we can be of more help!!