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by Christy Kloecker Thompson, Esq.

What’s there to love in a loft? Plenty. Beautiful windows, wide-open spaces and ceilings so high they make you dizzy. You say you’re not a fan of bare brick walls and exposed piping? Not to worry, because loft living in St. Louis has taken on a whole new look. Thanks to a new crop of condominiums nestled in historic downtown locations, there’s a loft to fit nearly every taste and style.

And along with the new type of loft has come a new type of loft lover. Today it’s not just single, artistic twenty-somethings looking for natural light. Professionals of all types, couples, empty-nesters and even families looking for a second city home are purchasing luxury lofts in downtown St. Louis.

This fall, an estimated 2,200 people attended the Fall Loft Tour and were treated to a view of the Terra Cotta Lofts in the historic Washington Avenue district. The Terra Cotta Lofts are unlike typical warehouse buildings because they have beautiful views in nearly every direction, notes Jay Hederman, director of sales and marketing for the Terra Cotta Lofts. The Terra Cotta Building was built in 1915 and is taller than most loft sites. The white-glazed terra cotta structure was built for the Missouri State Insurance Co. and later became the headquarters of the Great American Life Insurance Co. After a complete renovation of the property in 2001, the first of 99 condominium units was available in December 2002. Only about 25 units remain available, and it’s easy to see why.

Occupants may purchase a condominium with the finishes already in place, or they may choose a white box unit, Hederman explains. “With these homes they can choose everything – from the type of hardwood on the floors, to the tiles in the bathroom, to the counters in the kitchen – and it will be ready in only 45 days,” says Hederman. The Terra Cotta Lofts are priced from $130,000 for a one-bedroom and from about $200,000 for a two-bedroom condominium. With gourmet kitchens, large rooms and high-end finishes, they appeal both to traditional loft seekers as well as to those more accustomed to luxury condominiums.

Hederman says the Terra Cotta Lofts have been so well-received in part because of the history of the building itself. Its location near the Edward Jones Dome, Busch Stadium, the Kiel Center and the Center Arts district is another reason for its immense popularity. “The Washington Avenue district attracts a wide-range of buyers,” Hederman reflects. The focus and growth of this area in recent years has been tremendous, and people want to live near the galleries, restaurants and museums that have moved here. Hederman also believes that the ability to customize and the quality of the design of the Terra Cotta Lofts has attracted new groups to loft living.

Not far away, The Edison Condominiums push the envelope of loft space even further. Most St. Louisans know the Edison Building – its the large converted warehouse near the Market Street exit with the huge trompe l’oeil mural wrapped around it. The landmark structure was originally built as a distribution center for the J.C. Penney Co. and later was leased to Edison Brothers Stores, a St. Louis-based footwear chain. The task of renovating the 1 million square-foot, 13-story building was taken on by Gundaker Commercial Group and Hardesty Homes, and the results are stunning.

There are nine floorplans, each featuring ceilings that are a minimum of nine feet high. The units range from 1,500 square feet up to 2,964-squre feet, and each includes an indoor patio overlooking the center atrium of the building. Given the marble, hardwoods, gourmet kitchen appliances and sophisticated designs, the Edison Condominiums are not the loft condos most people envision. As a result, the buyers range from young working professionals to empty nesters and retirees. This is a loft everyone can love.

Lynette Broeg, sales manager for Edison Condominiums, explains that with the $66 million, 268-room Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel occupying part of the Edison Building space, the condominium owners enjoy all the benefits of a private home and all the amenities of living in a luxury hotel. “Residents have complete access to the health club facilities, the rooftop swimming pool, the restaurants, and the concierge and the valet services,” says Broeg. The units range in price from $275,000 to $470,000.

For those still sitting on the fence when it comes to purchasing a loft, spending even a few moments with a loft condominium owner can be very convincing. Tina Farmer, a freelance writer and confirmed loft lover, has rented in lofts in several different locations and now is considering purchasing a condo. “There’s nothing like living in a converted, historic building,” Farmer says. “There is so much character and history in many of the loft sites, and it’s just something you can’t get with a traditional space.” Farmer admits that she was attracted to lofts initially due to the flexibility of an open floor plan and the luxury of never-ending windows.

Loft spaces give you a great opportunity to express yourself and experiment, she observes. For a writer or an artist, it’s ideal because the space can be so inspirational. But even for a business professional, living in a loft is a great experience. There is something about the big windows and open spaces. “They encourage you to think big,” Farmer says with a smile.

While St. Louis still has plenty of the exposed brick, open ductwork-type lofts to go around, the new breed of loft space can be made as relaxed or as upscale as the owner desires. The quality and availability of the lofts in the Terra Cotta Building and the Edison Building are a big part of the residential boom taking place downtown and in the Washington Avenue district. No matter what their requirements, more and more people are realizing that these condos can meet even the loftiest expectations.

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