This development has had an interesting plot twist.
This high profile building sits in the corridor of the Covenant Blu/Grand Center Neighborhood that connects Midtown to the Central West End. The idea of making connections and attracting more living spaces near the city’s biggest university campus and drawing people east who are getting priced out of the CWE is a good idea.
The building we’re talking about is the former Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge at 3765 Lindell Boulevard.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge (Right)
“The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is one of the largest and oldest fraternal orders in the United States. Odd Fellowship was founded in England where it grew up during the 18th century. The Patriotic Order in England was followed by the Union of United Orders and the Loyal Order. In 1813, various lodges of the Union Order organized the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows. American Odd Fellowship was founded as the Washington Lodge #1 in Baltimore in 1819, and the following year affiliated with the Manchester Unity. The three links of Odd Fellowship’s symbol represent Friendship, Love, and Truth.”
Why the name “Odd Fellows”? Sounds British, could be a Kinks song, no?
It dates back to 17th century England, when it was considered “odd” to find people organizing for the purpose of giving to those in need and pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called "Odd Fellows". Odd Fellows are also known as "The Three Link Fraternity" which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth. Odd Fellowship became the first National Fraternity to include both men and women when it adopted the Rebekah Degree in 1851, based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first fraternal organization to establish homes for our senior members and for orphaned children.
Wow, pretty impressive.
The organization came to the U.S. and established Lodge #1 in Baltimore, MD in 1819. Lodge #5 here in St. Louis came to be when they occupied the building on Lindell in 1921. The re-cladding was done by 1964.
The building dates back to 1914, when it was a residence for Theophile (Toto) Papin (1858-1916), a real estate broker and devout Catholic, regarded as one of the best-educated men in St. Louis (SLU and Wash U). He was a linguist, lover of rare books and collector of valuable paintings. He was also known for being recruited by society women to take care of the arrangements of their daughters' "coming out" as debutantes during St. Louis' social season. (source)
Photo source: Missouri Historical Society
Here’s where the zig and zag in redevelopment plans unfolded. First, in September, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the Odd Fellows decision to sell the building to a Clayton, MO developer, Collegiate Development Group, who would convert the building to apartments. The selling price was reported at $900K. The $4.8M renovation was to bring 26 apartments to the former private club that was tax exempt.
In an aside bit of bonus news, Collegiate Development Group is reported to be moving to St. Louis from Clayton, MO as part of an $8.2 million rehab of the Nash Building, a 1920s auto dealership on 3000 Locust Street in the Midtown Neighborhood. Good to see them rooting down in St. Louis, the face of the region vs. a small town in the suburbs.
As reported again by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in December, 2019:
“The developer that purchased the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge on Lindell Boulevard now plans to demolish the building and erect in its place a $20 million, seven-story structure with 78 apartments.
The new project would have three times the number of apartment units as originally planned.”
So, I have to admit, I’m usually not a fan of demolition, but this one, due to the butchering of the front along Lindell, I’m good with it. And, the increase from 26 to 78 apartments and seven stories in total is most welcomed, bringing some height and added interest to this beautiful strip.
There is momentum in this neighborhood. I’ll get to the art homes proposed on Olive Street between North Spring and Vandeventer soon. The Moolah is a fantastic space for bowling, movies, a cocktail or ping pong and pool. The massive Masonic Temple just east of here has a separate developer interested in conversion to living spaces. There is a lot of potential to get more people living here, adding eyes on the street and critical pedestrian activity to SLU’s campus.
I love the idea of more modern/low-maintenance apartments coming to the central city. I think many don’t want or can’t afford the upkeep of a 100 year old brick home. We need all kinds of residents and housing diversity is much needed, especially new housing mixing in with our old historic stock.
I was unable to find any renderings of the seven-story apartment building in the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority meeting minutes, but a tax exemption is being sought by Alderman Jesse Todd and the train of lawyers who make hay on these deals. Again, this property has been tax exempt since 1921, so I see this as an incremental gain for the city and a nice addition to a growing part of the city.
This’ll be a fun one to watch in 2020.
There is a memorial to a beloved Odd Fellow on the property and a sign marking the organization’s long history in St. Louis.
