St. Louis Real Estate Tip of the Week: “Wow,” Is an Understatement for This Unique Lafayette Square Condominium

Unique homes are built all over the world and St. Louis has its share of really unique homes.  I tour the city to share interesting homes with my followers.

In St. Louis, a former church was creatively transformed into a condominium community.  The Abbey on the Park offers history, location and luxurious living. It is formerly the Lafayette Park Presbyterian Church; the Abbey was built in 1883 and converted to residential inhabitance in 2005. This Landmarks Award Winner is conveniently located near all major highways and faces Lafayette Park. It is within walking distance of restaurants and just minutes from downtown St. Louis. The Abbey offers dramatic 22-foot vaulted cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, bedroom lofts, custom cabinetry, European kitchen & bath fixtures, granite countertops, stainless appliances, ventless gas fireplaces, and premium hardwood doors. Already cable ready & wired for cable/Ethernet. Each unit includes secure basement storage, off-street parking, sprinkler system, & intercom.

There are seven unique floor plans offered within the church. Current floor plans of this community are available and interesting to preview. Many of the original church features remain, like a variety of stain glass windows, wood and pointed archways. The community was developed by a company interested in the redevelopment of the area. The Lafayette Park across the street claims to be the oldest park in the City of St. Louis.  Combine the old with the new, and warmth is created in this unique condominium community.

The Abbey, formerly The Lafayette Park Presbyterian Church, was founded in 1878 as a colony of the Walnut Street Church.  This Greek revival church’s designer was John H. Maurice, who along with George I. Barnett designed many of the Second Empire Townhouses in the Lafayette Square Neighborhood. The church, like many others in the area, was severely damaged by the tornado of 1896, but rebuilt in its original design in cut stone.  Lafayette Park Presbyterian Church occupied the building until 1946 when it merged with the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church.

Would you choose to live in a former church, or a renovated water tower?  Or how about a completely transparent house or one that is an image of the Flintstones’ cave?  Those can all be seen here.

Outside St. Louis, the ultimate dream for generations of skateboarders who wanted to bring their practice into their home has finally come true.  The PAS house is the first house designed to be entirely used for skateboarding as well as a traditional dwelling. The Skateboard house is the project of a private resident building in Malibu, California.  In this house, you will be able to skate any areas and surfaces, indoor and outdoor.  To view this home and ten other unusual homes around the world, click here, you will be surprised at the unusual homes that have been designed.

Moving and setting up your new home is definitely one of the most exciting things…especially for those who never find enough outlets for their ideas and designs.  Throughout history, people have gone from caves to huts to castles to blocks of flats.  Some people are forced to get creative because of physical restrictions like small or unusual space. I hope you enjoyed today’s blog! Share it with others!

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Beverly Taki is a Missouri-licensed real estate broker who has successfully represented clients for 25 years.  She is a broker salesperson at Keller Williams Realty St Louis. 10936 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO   63122. Beverly has earned a certificate in dispute resolution from Pepperdine University, specializing in negotiation and mediation. Taki can be reached at beverlytaki@kw.com or 314.677.6366.  Her website is beverlytakistlouis.com. Her blog is http://www.realestatestlou.com