Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) refers to the investment that takes place at and around transit infrastructure. TOD is often a catalyst for economic growth – improving access to jobs, housing and amenities, and helping promote active lifestyles and a reduced dependence on automobiles.
The Delmar Loop has long been a success story in the region for offering vibrant, around the clock activity. However, for many years that activity didn’t extend down to the far eastern end of Delmar Boulevard. The addition of the Delmar DivINe is about to change that.
Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop and CEO of the Clark-Fox Foundation, recently announced plans to renovate the former St. Luke’s Hospital building on Delmar as part of the Delmar DivINe project. The name intends to provoke a different take on Delmar Boulevard, what is often seen as a dividing line in St. Louis.
Delmar DivINe is designed to be a space for innovation, collaboration and community. The project included a renovation the former hospital building between Clara and Belt Avenues on Delmar, on the eastern edge of the Central West End neighborhood, and includes access to public transit.
Project Details:
- Phase 1:
- Start Date: December 2018
- Completion Date: Spring 2020
- Phase 2:
- Start Date: Spring 2020
- Completion Date: Fall 2021
- Project cost: Approximately $90 million
- Project Partners: The Delmar DivINe Corporation and Clayco Construction
- 473,000 square feet, mixed-use building to be completed in 2 phases
- 110,000 square-foot, non-profit office space in Phase 1
- 12,000 square-foot ground floor retail space in Phase 1
- 150 one and two bedroom apartments in Phase 1
- Approximately $90 million in total investment
- Expected to create about 500 jobs in the community
- Approximately 1,000 people will live and/or work in the Delmar DivINe when both phases are completed
Clark, the Chief Inspirator of the Delmar DivINe project, sees this investment as a benefit to the entire St. Louis region, well beyond the city limits.
“Nonprofits contribute 10 percent to the overall economy of St. Louis,” Clark said. “We are creating a Cortex-like working environment for nonprofits to leverage the assets and talents of this important economic sector of St. Louis. In turn, an amazing neighborhood – the Central West End – will be revitalized, and employees, visitors and residents will be able to utilize the wealth of transportation options nearby, including MetroLink, MetroBus, the Loop Trolley and the St. Vincent Greenway. It is a huge win-win for our region.”
The nonprofit office space will take up 160,000 square feet of the building, and the ground floor will be filled with businesses to enliven the area and improve walkability and accessibility, an important design feature for transit riders, cyclists, pedestrians and other users of car-free transportation. The $90 million development is expected to create about 500 jobs in the surrounding community when completed, representing a significant investment in the economic development of the area.