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Former Missouri Pacific Railroad Headquarters Now Luxury Residences

October 20, 2011 Downtown, Featured, Real Estate 16 Comments

Ground was broken on the Pacific Railroad in St. Louis on July 4, 1851.  By 1917 it had become the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac).

ABOVE: West-facing exterior of the ParkPacific

The company grew and decided to build a new headquarters:

In 1926 the Missouri Pacific Railroad began the construction of a 30 floor building in St. Louis which would become the home of the railroad’s offices. In 1928 with only 22 of 30 floors completed, the construction was stopped. (Source)

They had planned a duplicate building behind this on facing east but they didn’t want to appear too wealthy during the Great Depression. Ironically, many needed the work the construction would have provided.

ABOVE: The opulent lobby is now restored.

By the early 1980s Union Pacific, based in Omaha, bought the company but kept offices in the building until 2005. After the Lawrence Group purchased the building they planned for-sale condos in the building as well as in a new structure to the east that included parking. When the bottom dropped out of the economy they had to rethink their plans. To make the project work financially more units would need to be fitted into the building and they would be for lease rather than for sale. The structure to the east would become parking only (with ground-level retail space). The result is the ParkPacific.

ABOVE: Ribbon cutting for the ParkPacificwas held on May 12, 2011

Due to high costs to redevelop this historic building the decision was made to go upmarket — these are high-end lofts with stone counters, fancy bath fittings and great amenities.  Even though the rates are on the high end there are more total units than were previously planned. This means more people — which is excellent.

ABOVE: Shallow pool on the ParkPacific's roof

The top floor common space retains the original wood panelling and the roof is a great space for residents and their guests.

ABOVE: View of The Shell Building and Jefferson Arms to the north

The roof is wheelchair accessible, whereas the roof at my place isn’t. If I lived at the ParkPacific I’d be on the roof often.  Lawrence Group partner Steve Smith is planning a restaurant in the southwest corner of the building. Smith is the owner of The Moto Museum and Triumph Grill in midtown.

– Steve Patterson

 

Currently there are "16 comments" on this Article:

  1. Gizzmo1945 says:

    Is this the building at Grand Ave and Shaw Blvd?

     
  2. Gizzmo1945 says:

    Is this the building at Grand Ave and Shaw Blvd?

     
    • No, it faces 13th between Olive & Pine.

       
      • Fingerhutkatie says:

        Great post, Steve! Love this building.

         
      • Kevin B says:

        And now the Jefferson Arms is getting rehabbed too!

         http://nextstl.com/downtown/mcgowan-teach-for-america-partner-on-100m-renovation-of-500k-sq-ft-jefferson-arms#disqus_thread

        It looks like Tucker and the CBD west is getting positioned as the next big revitalization — the Park Pacific residences, the Shell building’s entrepreneurial offices, the Jefferson Arms Teach for America deal, The Peabody Opera House, the Central Library Renovation, and work in Soldier Memorial and surrounding park space. Here we go!

         
        • Tpekren says:

          Couldn’t agree more, add N. Tucker Ave construction coming to completion with a direct connection to the new Mississippi River Bridge in the near future.

          What would be great, to see some infill happen, or at least the proposed new residential above the parking garage as first proposed.   I think everyone would agree that the US Bank being replaced by a mid rise building would be an added bonus.

           
  3. No, it faces 13th between Olive & Pine.

     
  4. Fingerhutkatie says:

    Great post, Steve! Love this building.

     
  5. Kevin B says:

    And now the Jefferson Arms is getting rehabbed too!

     http://nextstl.com/downtown/mcgowan-teach-for-america-partner-on-100m-renovation-of-500k-sq-ft-jefferson-arms#disqus_thread

    It looks like Tucker and the CBD west is getting positioned as the next big revitalization — the Park Pacific residences, the Shell building’s entrepreneurial offices, the Jefferson Arms Teach for America deal, The Peabody Opera House, the Central Library Renovation, and work in Soldier Memorial and surrounding park space. Here we go!

     
  6. The Happy Mother says:

    Thanks for this great post.  The building truly is amazing.

     
  7. The Happy Mother says:

    Thanks for this great post.  The building truly is amazing.

     
  8. Tpekren says:

    Couldn’t agree more, add N. Tucker Ave construction coming to completion with a direct connection to the new Mississippi River Bridge in the near future.

    What would be great, to see some infill happen, or at least the proposed new residential above the parking garage as first proposed.   I think everyone would agree that the US Bank being replaced by a mid rise building would be an added bonus.

     
  9. Jennifer says:

    It’s lovely, but I’m not sure I think that luxury highrise is really what the downtown needs. Isn’t anyone interested in providing moderately-priced housing for workforce, young professionals saddled with student loans and just entering their fields, etc.? (In other words, people who don’t yet have kids and might be interested in living downtown?)

     
  10. Jennifer says:

    It’s lovely, but I’m not sure I think that luxury highrise is really what the downtown needs. Isn’t anyone interested in providing moderately-priced housing for workforce, young professionals saddled with student loans and just entering their fields, etc.? (In other words, people who don’t yet have kids and might be interested in living downtown?)

     
    • JZ71 says:

      Define “moderately-priced”.  A lot of other downtown loft projects are already “affordable” and have income restrictions.

       
  11. Anonymous says:

    Define “moderately-priced”.  A lot of other downtown loft projects are already “affordable” and have income restrictions.

     

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