Blu City Spaces sold 38 condos and is now 80% occupied

Usually a slow time, there is still a lot of development underway in downtown. As an example that real estate will still sell fast in downtown at the right price, Blu City Spaces sold 38 condos in 4 hours at a one-day auction last month and they’re now at more than 40 closings to go.

The Leather Trades Building will soon open to tenants

Other developments that are nearing completion are The Leather Trades building on Locust that has been turned into artists lofts. It will feature an art studio on the ground floor.

View of downtown from SE corner Leather Trades

The view from Leather Trades of back of Ely Walker building is impressive

Skyline views from 360 atop Hilton at the Ballpark will make it a hot spot

A new highlight that  just opened on the 26th floor of the Hilton at the Ballpark is 360. Be sure to check out this lounge with arguably the best views of downtown and certainly of Busch Stadium.

Fifth Third Bank's downtown branch under construction

Fifth Third Bank will be opening a branch on 10th and Olive. The build-out is in full-swing on the SW corner of the Syndicate building. Bank employees will be conveniently located directly across the street from Dave Bailey’s new restaurant Bailey’s Range in the old City Gourmet space.

Embassy Suites at Laurel

Embassy Suites Hotels will be opening in the Laurel building in September. Across the street in the MX building (old St. Louis Centre), a Pi restaurant with interior design by SPACE architects, and a movie theater run by STL Cinemas will be opening in the spring of 2012.

A new gym for Confluence Academy

To end this episode of the round-up, Confluence Academy is in the midst of adding a gym on the roof of their building on 14th and Locust (old TWA call center).

Even with the excessive summer heat we’re experiencing, projects are moving forward everywhere downtown, while at the same time existing architectural gems show off their best features.

Parties on the Plaza at the Old Post office

Elegant Louderman in the evening sun

The magnificent Southwestern Bell bathing in sunlight