cgrus

What Makes a Great City?

Early in my real estate career, one of my mentors told me an analogy. “Neighborhoods are like mutual funds and individual homes are like stocks,” he explained further, “values rise and fall independently but they all have an effect on the overall quality of the neighborhood.” By the same reasoning, the overall value of theContinue reading “What Makes a Great City?”

Seven and a Half Ain’t Bad

City residents response to our presence in the media often ranges from frustration, to angst to sarcastic humor. Interestingly, the folks that seem the most suprised by the negative perception of St Louis are newer residents. They hear all these negative viewpoints, then move here and enjoy the lower cost of real estate, lower taxes, and finally find that theContinue reading “Seven and a Half Ain’t Bad”

Census Data Coming Soon

We got a call today from the Post-Dispatch wanting to do a series on City Neighborhoods as the 2010 Census data released today should reflect what many urban residents have long known. The “Field of Dreams” approach of “Build it and they will come” has been particularly relevant to the City of St Louis. WhenContinue reading “Census Data Coming Soon”

Let’s Make the ‘Burbs More Like the City

Hmmm. More transit. More density. Less Parking. Sounds sort of ….urban. This article from the Post Dispatch was refreshing. One of the most frustrating things about suburbia is being in malls and strip malls with hideous amounts of unused parking. These sterile asphalt tundras fill up maybe a few times a year. As the internetContinue reading “Let’s Make the ‘Burbs More Like the City”

Tower Grove East Home For Sale

Check out this fantastic and affordable Tower Grove East home. Rennovated recently with modern touches over its historic structure. Priced to Sell at $119,900

Buyer “Demand Lists”

Working as a buyer’s agent in St Louis is a great experience. As a life long St Louisan, serving as a person or family’s “greeting committee” and ambassador to St Louis is very fulfilling. Growing up, I always had a negative view of St Louis. It wasn’t until I started growing up and realizing that thereContinue reading “Buyer “Demand Lists””

Shift to Sustainability

Making of a “Sustainable” Neighborhood; 3pm March 7th at the Stupp Center in Tower Grove Park

Plenty of Great Things This Weekend!

This weekend is an awesome weekend to be in St. Louis! There are some great things to do and not enough time to do everything 😦 (unless you’re the Funky Butt Brass Band) My first pick is Taste of St. Louis downtown. It started today and runs through Sunday. Beyond the typical Foodie event, there’sContinue reading “Plenty of Great Things This Weekend!”

Why City?

Tonight after work, my wife, my three boys and I walked a couple blocks from home to the newest Sushi restaurant in town, Cafe Mochi, to order some “to go” for dinner. While we waited, we walked up another block to the Gelateria del Leone for some awesome gelato (As a waiter I was toldContinue reading “Why City?”

Where’s the Morgan Ford neighborhood?

One thing I’ve truly enjoyed seeing since we’ve moved to Tower Grove South is the resurgence of commerce on Morganford in our neighborhood. Until today, it was our little secret. As the less popular destination, I’ve always tried to support the restaurants since South Grand seems to get so much traffic already. I rarely give credit to theContinue reading “Where’s the Morgan Ford neighborhood?”