The seventh annual ”Shaw on Show” real estate tour, one of the largest – if not the largest – neighborhood shows in St. Louis, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Last year’s ”Shaw on Show” attracted nearly 500 people from all parts of the metropolitan area to the historic South Side to tour the Shaw neighborhood, one of the Tower Grove Neighborhoods, which also include Fox Park and Tower Grove East.
The free self-guided tour of approximately 40 for-sale residences will begin at the beautifully renovated Warner Mansion, on the southwest corner of Grand and Shaw boulevards. There, visitors will be greeted and oriented to the heritage and cultural diversity of the area. A continuous slide presentation will feature the convenience of the location, friendliness and prime housing stock in the Shaw and Tower Grove neighborhoods.
A brochure will be provided to guide visitors to the properties. It will include a map, addresses, names of contact people and a description of each for-sale residence. Information on schools, day care centers, religious institutions, recreational facilities and the Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association will also be provided.
” ‘Shaw on Show’ creates an opportunity for people to view a wide variety of for-sale properties in the Shaw neighborhood in one afternoon, as well as a chance to explore the many offerings that the Tower Grove Neighborhoods have as a whole,” said Andy Bossaller, neighborhood development specialist at St. Margaret of Scotland Housing Corp., which is sponsoring the tour.
Unlike a typical house tour, ”Shaw on Show” can become the basis for a complete Sunday outing. Before and after the tour are excellent times to take advantage of the neighborhood’s wide range of activities. Whether it’s a picnic and carriage ride in Tower Grove Park or strolling in the Missouri Botanical Gardens, fun awaits visitors. The carriage rides, a new activity in Tower Grove Park, will be offered at a special discounted rate of $3 to ”Shaw on Show” participants.
”The Tower Grove Neighborhoods offer a heritage rich in historical flavor and cultural diversity – plus an opportunity to live in an area quickly accessible to so much that the city has to offer,” said Don Reid, program director of the Tower Grove Neighborhoods.
The for-sale properties include single-family houses, condominiums and townhouses. The tour offers diversity in architecture, size and price.
One of the single-family houses is at 4062 Magnolia Place. Built around 1920, the house features several multicolored stained glass windows. The living room has a wood-burning fireplace with a large, dark wood mantel. Stained glass windows, framed by dark wood, are above the matching bookcases flanking the fireplace.
In the dining room, dark wood beams contrast with the ceiling’s light paint. Above a built-in buffet, a large stained glass window depicts a woman and child walking along a path. The dining room also has a bay window with a window seat.
This three-bedroom house provides a large, eat-in kitchen; a butler’s pantry; hardwood floors; and a walkout basement. Additional items include a covered front porch, a storage cellar, a two-car garage with electric opener and a fenced yard.
Another for-sale property is a two-family residence at 4251 Flad Avenue. Built in the early 1900s, the house is distinguished by intricate exterior detail. The upper portion of the house features cornices, each painted to highlight architectural detail. Second floor arched windows between cornices add visual interest.
This two-family property has first-floor and second-floor units, with two bedrooms downstairs and two-plus bedrooms upstairs. It has updated 100-amp electrical service, an enclosed back porch, a fenced backyard garden area and a walk-out basement.
The first-floor unit has hardwood floors, natural oak trim, a living room fireplace, interior walls of brick and a wood-burning stove in the dining area.
St. Margaret of Scotland Housing Corp., founded in 1980 to facilitate redevelopment of housing in Shaw neighborhood, can provide information about a variety of financial incentive programs. Several major banks also will offer financial counseling on the tour.
Open: Sunday, June 5.
Time: 1 to 4 p.m..
Where: Warner Mansion, on southeast corner of Grand Avenue and Shaw Boulevard.
How to go: Take Highway 40 to Grand, go south to Shaw.
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