Construction Starts on Apartments at Cortex District in St. Louis

St. Louis developer Keeley Properties broke ground Tuesday at the southwest corner of Clayton Avenue and South Sarah Street in the Central West End. It plans to build 174 apartments, 17 of which will be deemed "affordable," according to a release. 

Cortex leaders have for years sought to add apartments to its 200-acre innovation hub with the goal of making the major employment center a 24/7 neighborhood. The pandemic and higher interest rates slowed momentum. 

“The addition of Iris represents an important step in building a truly mixed-use innovation district,” Cortex President and CEO Sam Fiorello said in a statement. “As Cortex continues to grow as a center for research, technology, and entrepreneurship, expanding high-quality housing options within walking distance of jobs and transit helps create the kind of vibrant, connected community that attracts and retains top talent.”