By KERRY SMITH, EDITOR, ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION NEWS AND REVIEW MAGAZINE
In 30 days, ground is expected to be broken on a new urban living development, Steelcote Crossing, by Michael Hamburg, developer and founder of Pier Property Group.
Hamburg’s firm, which launched in 2016, is already known for a recently completed residential project in The Grove – Woodward Lofts – and the ongoing rehabilitation and conversion of the former the Steelcote Paint Company building, in midtown’s Mill Creek Valley, into residential living units.
In late summer, the developer anticipates starting on construction of Mill Creek Flats, the third phase and one involving all new construction. The Mill Creek Flats name, Hamburg says, pays homage to Mill Creek Valley, an historic St. Louis midtown neighborhood that was demolished during the late 1950s.
PPG’s Mill Creek Flats will include 96 upscale apartments. Trivers Associates, the architectural firm that also designed Woodward Lofts and Steelcote Lofts, is also designing the future Mill Creek Flats.
“There is a tremendous amount of public and private investment taking place within a half mile of Steelcote Square and the new SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital under construction on South Grand,” said Hamburg. “We just closed on the purchase of the ground (for Mill Creek Flats) two weeks ago. We plan to continue building upon the activity and synergy that is already occurring among existing businesses in the valley. Steelcote (33 lofts) represents the first phase of what will be a multi-phase improvement effort. Phase two will be the apartments within Steelcote Crossing (the former Columbia Oil Building, just south of the Steelcote Paint Building) and Mill Creek Flats, ground-up (all-new) construction, is phase three. We’re hoping to move simultaneously from Steelcote into the next phase so that we’re able to attain the necessary scale.”
