Muncipal Courts Redevelopment Gets Green Light

The City of St. Louis has selected Heisman Properties, LLC to redevelop the historic Municipal Courts Building (to be renamed 1300 Market) in downtown St. Louis.  The original architect of the building was Isaac Taylor, who was the principal architect for the 1904 World’s Fair as well as many significant buildings in St. Louis including the Jefferson Memorial, the Bee Hat Building and Hadley Square.
 
Heisman Properties is working closely with EVS Realty, Friedman Group, REALTORS and the City of St. Louis to redevelop the century old building. Rosemann & Associates, P.C. will provide architectural design and BSI Contractors are providing construction costs. St. Louis Comptroller, Darlene Green said, “We are very excited about the development of the Municipal Courts Building and its prospects as part of St. Louis' downtown’s revitalization."
 
 The 160,000 sq. ft. renowned courthouse is located at 1300 Market Street and was constructed in 1911. Heisman Properties will spend $40 million to redevelop the building. Plans include ground floor restaurant, retail and office space, first floor cultural/gallery and office space with second and third floor office space. In addition to the interior, Rosemann's design calls for several walkways, courtyards, plazas and terraces to surround the building.
 
“Once completed, this project will tie recent downtown developments together," Heisman Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Chad Forrest said. "It will be the centerpiece of a destination area featuring the Scottrade Center, soon-to-be-redeveloped Kiel Opera House, Sheraton City Center Hotel and Condos, MetroLink, the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center and the revitalized mall.”

With a projected completed date set for 2010, the building will not only house office tenants, but will act as a conduit between both the civic and cultural communities. “Being in such a desirable location we anticipate not only servicing our core tenants, but will offer the ability to provide locations for cultural events and meeting places with those who want to share in this extraordinary redevelopment,”Heisman Properties Principal Curt Schroeder said. 
 
The grand hallway with vaulted ceilings and elegant entrance will showcase St. Louis art exhibits and will feature a fully designed courtroom. “We have one courtroom that seems to have missed its 1960’s upgrade,” remarks Heisman Principal Rob McRitchie. “Our intent will be to restore this exquisite space and utilize it for events as well as mock trials, which many law firms desire."
 
Plans are also under development for a 600 car parking garage directly adjacent to the property. To service the area, plans call for retail tenants and one or more restaurants to be added along 14th Street catering to daytime users and community events at the neighboring Scottrade Center and the soon coming Kiel Opera House.

 The project has financing and is poised to begin construction this year based on the final negotiation of tenant commitments, Heisman said in a news release.
 
 LEED certification and green efforts will be a cornerstone in Rosemann's design and construction efforts. “Ample parking, great transportation and freeway access is key,” Heisman's Forrest said. “But let’s not forget the fact that we will be adjacent to the MetroLink and City’s Multimodal Transportation Center." 
 

 
For more information visit http://www.1300marketstl.com <http://www.1300marketstl.com/> .
 
ABOUT HEISMAN:  Heisman Properties, LLC is a privately held real estate company focused on acquiring, developing and managing urban real estate throughout the United States. In 2006, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 160,000 sq. ft. Chemical Building, now renamed Alexa Lofts, at 777 Olive Street. Designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb in 1896 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.  Plans call for 132 market-rate apartments, two floors of office space and retail space on the ground floor.
 
In 2004, Heisman Properties and partners purchased the 194,000 square foot A.D. Brown Building at 1136 Washington Avenue in St. Louis. Built in 1898, it was once the headquarters of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Co. Heisman finished renovations to the building, which is now called the Meridian. All 95 loft condominiums have been sold.

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