Renovation of Historic Butler Brothers Building Transforms Downtown West City Block into Lifestyle Apartment Residences: The Victor

Thanks to the vision and investment of Memphis-based Development Services Group (DSG) a 117-year-old building in Downtown West that sat vacant for over two decades has been reactivated from the inside out. The completed redevelopment of the 735,000-square-foot historic Butler Brothers building began when DSG purchased the property in late 2020. Construction began in March 2022, with ambitious plans to transform the prominent building into mixed-use residences with 384 apartments offering residential amenities like in-building parking, an expanded interior courtyard and a rooftop pool and outdoor pickleball court, along with coworking spaces and retail/restaurant and bar space on street level to leverage the momentum of the nearby MLS Stadium — CITYPARK — and connect existing assets in Downtown and Midtown.

In June 2023, DSG’s plans were realized when the high-end lifestyle apartment complex — called The Victor — opened to residents. Earlier this month, the entire project was completed and all units are now available to lease. For those who want to live victoriously in the soul of St. Louis, The Victor is the place for you.

Constructed in 1906 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Butler Brothers building spans a full city block at 1717 Olive St. between 17th and 18th streets in Downtown West. It previously served as a warehouse in the once-thriving Garment District. Because DSG has extensive experience in adaptive reuse of historic buildings, it took special care to preserve the building’s design elements. The design concept weaves the rich history of the Washington Ave Garment District with the site’s history as the location of the first world chess championship held on the site in 1883, where The Victor now stands.

“This project was a significant undertaking. We view The Victor as a critical piece of the continued activation and revitalization of the City Commons in Downtown West,” said DSG President and CEO Gary Prosterman. “The name ‘The Victor’ is our thinking that we’re celebrating, quite frankly. It’s to celebrate not only the successful execution of the project, but the whole area, and certainly the theme of a winning soccer team and victories and just tying it all together.”

To repurpose the property, DSG used both state and federal historic tax credits as part of its capital stack. St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) — the economic development arm serving the City of St. Louis — helped the project receive 15 years of tax abatement from the city. In return, DSG agreed to designate 25% of the 384 residential units for workforce housing, which are designed to be more affordable and cater to workers close to their workplaces. Of the units that are set aside for workforce housing, half of the units are for people who earn 80% of the area median income (AMI) and the other half are designated for workers who earn 120% of the St. Louis AMI.

Unparalleled Living at The Victor: Now Leasing

The Victor offers a great selection of studio apartments and larger floorplans with an open concept layout and 10 to 11.5-foot ceilings to create the sense of plenty of living space. Apartments come with top-of-the-line amenities like stainless-steel kitchen appliances and a Bosch® washer and dryer, plus features like granite countertops and luxury wood plank flooring throughout. The community amenities are crafted for an active lifestyle with a rooftop terrace featuring an array of fitness options including an outdoor pickleball court and an off-leash dog park.

Visit victorstl.com to schedule a tour and come home to The Victor where everyone can Live Victoriously.