Apartment tower proposed for Lindell Boulevard

A developer is proposing a $50 million, 14-story luxury apartment building at 4490 Lindell Boulevard, in the Central West End.

Covington Realty Partners, of Clayton, wants to put the tower on the site of the Optimist International headquarters, comprised of two structures, one built in 1961 with an addition completed in 1979. Officials said the Optimists are looking to relocate their 30 headquarters employees to a smaller building in the neighborhood.

According to Covington's plan, the new tower of brick, stone and stucco would have about 200 apartments designed to allow their sale later as condos. Resident parking is planned on the first two levels and below grade.

Officials said Covington hopes to acquire the Optimist International site and begin construction in January. Construction would take 22 months.

Next up for Covington is an appearance next week before the Central West End Development Committee, which is scheduled to hear the developer's proposal to demolish the Optimists building. The committee is part of Park Central Development, the area's local development corporation.

Brooks Goedeker, Park Central's executive director, said the committee wants to make sure that if the Optimists building is razed, it's replaced with something that enhances the neighborhood.

We want to make sure it's the highest-quality project, he said.

Covington's development site is a block east of where Opus Development plans to build a 12-story apartment building, at Lindell and Euclid Avenue.

Tim Bryant covers commercial real estate, development and other business stories for the Post-Dispatch. He blogs at Building Blocks, the Post-Dispatch development blog.

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Apartment tower proposed for Lindell Boulevard