This Is The Life

Eight very different local households let us into their lives to talk about why they live in the places they do.

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Photo Melissa Pedersen Ron Walker and Olivia Hough: Living the C-street dream.

Paying for cool and convenience

With Springfield’s re-urbanized city core, loft living is among the most in-demand lifestyles in town. It’s also one of the scarcest: only a couple of developers are selling true loft apartments—condos, to be accurate—though more are on the way.

Ron Walker, 34, and Olivia Hough, 28, have lived for a year in a loft on Commercial Street (Walker owns the building), which is experiencing its own resurrection apart from downtown’s loft-living boom. Seeing as how they both are professionally invested in center city’s continued growth (Walker is a Commercial Street developer, Hough works for the city’s planning department) they were more than willing to share some pointers for anyone interested in the most urban lifestyle Springfield has to offer.

LOFT STATS: No bedrooms, one living room, one bath

Okay, so there is a bedroom in the loft, but it’s really just an elevated platform in the living room. It’s definitely romantic, but not conducive to one person staying up late watching TV—or mid-Christmas party quickies, we would guess.

The loft is 900 square feet but feels bigger, with classical loft-style exposed ductwork, gleaming hardwood floors and economically sized furniture, plus some bonuses. The back door leads to a community porch they share with two other residents and the kitchen is the stuff of Martha Stewart dreams. (Full disclosure, the loft was originally furnished for a 417 Magazine design contest; Walker and Hough have added their own furniture and flourishes).

LOCATION: Commercial Street

Location is why Ron and Olivia—and most who choose the loft life—made their move; they’re in the middle of everything. Olivia, who works in the Busch Building just down Boonville, walks or rides her bike to work; Ron does most of his work on Commercial Street anyway. “I used to buy gas once a week,” Olivia says. “Now I fill up once every two months or so.”

Of course urban living has its compromises: “Most people don’t have a sheet metal company as a neighbor,” Walker says. While Commercial Street at its rowdiest is nothing like downtown on Friday night, there is a bar, the Paradise Lounge, just next door and the near-constant rumble of the trains running parallel to Commercial Street. “You have to take into account that not everyone is on the same schedule,” Walker says.

LOFTY TIPS:

Walker says loft living isn’t for everyone—but for young professionals willing to pay for “cool and convenience” or empty nesters in search of a smaller place and exciting lifestyle, it could be the best of all possible moves. “It’s an exciting environment,” he says. “Stimulating, culturally diverse and convenient. It’s great for someone who doesn’t want to mow five acres.”

Where’s the closest place you…

Shop?: Price Cutter at Grant and Commercial
Work Out?: Olivia: Doling Family Center
Hit the Bars?: Downtown
Eat a Cheap Bite?: Sub Shop, or we have a pizza delivered
Eat a Nice Dinner?: Bijan’s. “We’re also excited for the new downtown restaurant from Haruno’s owners.”
Go for Entertainment?: Moxie Cinema, Landers Theatre, or hop on their bikes and ride to Jordan Valley Park or to the north side’s Frisco Highline Trail (a 15 minute ride)

Andrea Brown

The apartment life has its perks

For two and a half years, hair stylist and Colorado native Andrea Brown has lived at the apartments of Lakewood Village, located across from the Library Center on Campbell Avenue. For Brown, 24, renting has been an asset in this stage in her life: “An apartment is perfect for that limbo phase,” she says with a laugh. “It’s the lack of commitment.” But being in “limbo” doesn’t have to be ugly or inconvenient, and renting an apartment doesn’t necessarily mean lime green refrigerators and noisy upstairs neighbors.

APARTMENT STATS: One bedroom, one bathroom

Andrea says the biggest convenience of an apartment is flexibility. “I know I’m not tied into something when I need to change my plans,” she says. As for the apartment itself, large vaulted ceilings “make the one-bedroom apartment look bigger.” In the kitchen, neutral colors and new appliances add essential comfort and style, and the mixture of wood flooring and carpet “provide nice contrast to divide up the spaces,” Andrea says.

Regardless, “it’s obvious I’m not investing in anything when I pay rent,” Andrea admits. Also, rents have a tendency to go up: Lakewood’s rent has risen $100 since she moved there more than two years ago.

LOCATION: Lakewood Apartments

Unlike many other apartments, Lakewood’s location has the benefit of nature: “There are a lot of nice neighborhoods around the apartments and a little trail for the apartments and housing” says Andrea. A self-confessed south-sider, Andrea is only five minutes from the salon where she works, The Cutting Edge, and five minutes from church. On the downside, watch out for day-jobbers’ evening exodus to Nixa.

RENTAL TIPS:

“Rent close to wherever you work,” Andrea advises. Another must: “Have an apartment on the top level so you don’t hear anyone above you.”

WHERE’S THE CLOSEST PLACE YOU:

Shop: Summer Fresh
Work out: At the Chesterfield Family Center
Eat a nice dinner: Tasia, Belgian Waffle House
Eat a cheap dinner: Schlotzky’s
Go for entertainment: “Campbell 16, baby”

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