Since the Shriners relocated to St. Louis County in 1988, the Moolah Temple north of Saint Louis University has been home to little more than weeds, overgrown shrubbery and, maybe, the occasional bird. The Egyptian bust stares down from above the cracked masonry entrance across Lindell Boulevard toward Bannister House. Thanks to proposed renovations, the bust will soon be looking a little brighter.
The temple, bought by Rodney Thomas of TRiSTAR Business Communities 12 years ago, will soon be the newest site in a wave of renovations that is sweeping the midtown neighborhood. TRiSTAR hopes to convert the 90,000-square-foot temple into a modern office building, while still retaining the unique and historic aspects that give the temple its somewhat mystical appearance.
“We are going through a period of renewed interest in the city,” said Mike Towerman, President of TRiSTAR. “It is the tenant interest that has caused us to [begin development].”
The temple is located in a historic district of the city, although it is not itself a historic building. However, because of its location, the developer will be eligible for tax credits. The availability of the tax credits and the unique nature of the architecture of the building has also influenced TRiSTAR’s decision to begin the project.
Towerman hopes that work will begin in four weeks. Towerman is waiting on approval of the tax credits and permits. Once begun, he estimates it will take nine to 12 months to complete the renovation.
TRiSTAR must follow certain guidelines to qualify for the tax credits. They must retain the plaster ornamentation, the grand staircase, the exterior, and also the majority of the central auditorium. They plan to convert much of the auditorium into a several-story atrium with workspace surrounding it.
The first step in the project, said Towerman, is to demolish the small house immediately to the east of the temple and the small hotel behind the temple, which formerly housed performers who were appearing at the temple. This will provide 200 parking spots for the building’s tenants as well as access from Lindell.
“We all know parking is at a premium on Lindell,” said Towerman.
Towerman estimates that they will need 320 total spots to accommodate possible tenants, which may lead them to build a one-story parking pad behind the building.
“If there is sufficient demand, we might be interested in building a garage,” said Towerman.
Inside the building, they will begin demolition of non-historic parts of the building, such as the stage and the balcony seating, and then begin structural demolition. In essence, they will be “stripping it to the shell,” said Towerman, while retaining the historic aspects of the building.
Once demolition is finished, they will begin outfitting the building for office space.
Towerman believes they will attract tenants who are on the creative end of the business spectrum, such as ad agencies. However, they are not designing the space with specific tenants in mind.
“I think [the renovated building] will have a favorable impact on the neighborhood,” said Towerman.
The renovation of the Moolah Temple is one of the most recent in the midtown neighborhood. The renovation of the apartments at Vandeventer and Lindell, the renovation of the Continental Building at Olive and Grand, the expansion of A.G. Edwards to the east of Compton Avenue, and the construction of the new Crown Loft Apartments two blocks west of SLU’s Frost campus are all signs of revitalization in midtown St. Louis.
