Ray Charles Melton, 38, of Kansas City, is being evicted from his apartment after not being able to pay his rent for several months at the City View Lofts, formerly the Robidoux Apartments at Edmond and 10th streets.
Sitting in a roach-filled and disheveled apartment, Ray Melton, a 38-year-old man who says he previously worked as a drug dealer and pimp in California, is in the way of market forces.
The historic Robidoux Apartments is getting another face-lift - this time as a loft building to attract yuppies to Downtown St. Joseph.
Low-income residents like Mr. Melton are finding that their leases aren't being extended and eviction hearings are speeding up.
The new owners have grand plans for the 60-unit Robidoux Apartments, a building on the National Register of Historic Places and original home of what today is Missouri Western State University. Residents like Mr. Melton are not part of those plans.
"These aren't lofts. They just are apartments," he said. Behind on more than $2,400 in rent and facing an eviction hearing next week, Mr. Melton was desperately trying to liquidate his furnishings on Monday and leave town.
The demand for market-rate, loft apartments in St. Joseph is strong - evidenced most recently by the rapidly filled Mitchell Park Plaza.
But Robidoux, at 10th and Edmond streets, has been on a steady decline for years.
Homeless men and women would many nights snooze in the hallways, residents say. The elevator was regularly vandalized. Public intoxication and drug use were commonplace.
Two fresh-faced brothers from Oregon are trying to change that reputation.
In September, Jesse and Paul Worcester bought Robidoux from its Nebraska-based owner, who had fallen behind on payments. They've been buying real estate in St. Joseph for the last two years. They renamed the building CityView Lofts.
On its first-floor, they've given the walls a splash of new paint, hung new light fixtures, and put down new floor tiles and carpets. Key-card access doors and 16 security cameras will be installed later this month.
As apartments clear, they have planned renovations on the second- and third floors. In the past three weeks, they've begun rapidly trimming residents through criminal and credit check re-qualifications.
"We're doing purely cosmetic stuff and trying to bring in good people," said Paul Worcester, 24. "It's a landmark in St. Joseph, and we really want to bring that out and keep the original style."
Jesse Worchester, 27, said the building had been renovated for $4 million in 1990, including electrical, plumbing, roof, and new apartment units. "We're simply giving it new character and new management."
An arson had devastated the former St. Joseph Junior College in the late 1980s. At that time, developers had determined there was a demand for low-income elderly housing in Downtown St. Joseph.
The Worchesters now see a market shift for loft-seeking young urban professionals, students and the working class. So far, 10 new residents have moved into CityView Lofts.
Rents range from $400 on a studio apartment to $550 on a two-bedroom apartment.
Ahmad Safi can be reached
at ahmadsafi@npgco.com.
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neonym says...
Nice to see that this building is being rehabbed. It's always been one of my favorites in St Joe. It is sad to see people being evicted, but at the same time, all actions have consequences..
Thanks Paul and Jesse!!
November 10, 2009 at 1:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johncourter says...
Excellent!!! This will be a welcome change to the neighborhood.
November 10, 2009 at 5:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LibertyOrDeath says...
I lived in those apartments after the most recent renovation in the 90's. They were VERY nice. My top floor, West-facing apartment gave me a view of the downtown that couldn't be beat.
It turned into a crap-hole. I'm glad they're doing something with it, it's a very cool building.
November 10, 2009 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
good news!!
November 10, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
Pretty ambitious project for a couple of 20-somethings, good for them! Hope St. Joe cuts them some slack and tries to make them welcome, despite not being "from here".
November 10, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
An example of one more page being turned in the transition of this area. Predicted change of downtown is coming from such efforts one block at a time.
November 10, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xanzzz says...
There is a lot of work to go but it has been a really neat surprise to see the slow and steady improvements happening to the downtown area over the past 5 years or so. We need to promote this more to help build upon it more.
November 10, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalearch says...
When I first read this article I thought it was written to try to generate sympathy for Melton. If so - "it ain't workin".
November 10, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chefxh says...
Oh boo hoo, felon sitting on his behind not paying his rent getting evicted. Call the waaaaahmbulance.
November 10, 2009 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grandpacory says...
Here's a fool-proof stimulus.
Kick out on the streets the poor, drug addicted, deformed and mentally ill and unsavory bits of human wreckage so the yuppies don't get offended.
November 10, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalearch says...
chefxh:
He apparently doesn't even have enough gumption to replace the light switch cover behind him on the wall.
grandpacory:
A good cardiologist could probably fix that flow of blood from your heart.
November 10, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
meow says...
He's $2400 behind in rent! If you're such a humanitarian, let him rent a room from you.
November 10, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cmills4 says...
Is this an editorial piece? I was just wondering what this "journalist" is trying to say. The life this tenant leads is a direct result of his choices throughout his life.
This building is a great piece of history, but the old owners have brought the building into decline--along with the proerty values in the surrounding area. Good job, Paul and Jesse! Way to turn this drug-invested rat-hole around!
November 10, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tallest says...
Thank goodness Mr. Melton is not the future of downtown. There are plenty of cities who wish they were in the same situation. There is no shortage of flop houses for former pimps and drug dealers in this country, so Mr. Melton can flop elsewhere, preferably back in California. One less magnet for dirtbags in this town is a good thing, and you whiny handwringers who disagree can let Melton flop in your den.
November 10, 2009 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mr_America says...
It was once said that "Pimpin' aint easy"
B.D. Kane.
November 10, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tydej says...
grandpacory I like your suggestion, we should allow people to not pay rent and live in a place and take money away from owners of the properity so that the owners can ask the banks to finance this project so the can continue to not collect rent. I say you and I go to Lowes have you pay for all the materials and fix up your place couple of rooms and the basement. When we're done we'll take a few drug dealing pimps on the sex registy and put them in you newly redone home. I'll even give you my labor for free so you don't have to worry about paying someone to get this done. Just let me know when you wanna start this project. I'm ready anytime you are.
November 10, 2009 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Agent_Provocateur says...
I too, have heard "Pimpin ain't easy". Until we have have walked a mile in his tall heeled pimpin' shoes and tried to keep several hos in line, we shouldn't judge.
November 10, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mr_America says...
" this time as a loft building to attract yuppies to Downtown St. Joseph."
I think the word yuppie was laid to rest in the early 90's. It even had an obit in Time magazine.
November 10, 2009 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mrs_America says...
What a poorly written article. The first two paragraphs are completely distasteful and offensive. Unlike the writer I do not think name calling an employed young person with some ambition and ability to actually pay rent on time a "yuppie" is a step forward in improving our downtown community.
This article starts by painting downtown in such a negative light. It's not a pestilence infested neighborhood with homeless people on every street corner. Certainly a problem in it's own right but why try to make the reader feel sorry for someone who racked up $2,400 in back rent and admittedly having a history of illegal activity when it should have been focused on the improvements being initiated. Maybe the apartment is roach infested because of poor sanitation habits. In the five years I have lived here I have never had a problem with any person loitering around my or my neighbors' properties.
I think at the end of the day the writer used a very wide brush and could have done a much better job.
November 10, 2009 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StJoeMoe says...
Can't pay rent, you get evicted, no brainer.
My son lived in those apartments a few years ago, they were horrible. The place was crawling with all kinds of low lifes, a true shame.
St. Joe has plenty of dumps and dives for those who do not or can not earn a decent living, yet could if they would only get off their lazy - oh, never mind.....
November 10, 2009 at 6:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wlfgngct says...
While I agree with what everyone is saying, where are these people supposed to go? The ones that have a need for actual low-income housing, where are they going to go?
November 10, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ajm says...
Good for the brothers who are renovating! I own properties in St. Joseph and we need more landlords who CARE who are living in their units. Background checks are so very important and if it means some people have to vacate then so be it. I do not feel bad for Mr. Melton. I can't believe someone let him get $2,400 behind on rent. That place has been an eyesore for too long, and it's time for a total renovation, including it's tenants. Let's hope it's all it's cracked up to be. Good Luck!
November 10, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
helter says...
would be nice though if it was localy owned
November 10, 2009 at 9:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
it is good to see young men trying to improve an old building in a different town. i hope them the best. as far as Milton, he can always live at the shelter on 6 th. street. or, he can go back to pimping in ca.. I'm sure some of the posters will donate money for a bus ticket. anyway, we need to clean up the downtown area so we can walk down there and window walk like they did many years ago. i cant wait!
November 10, 2009 at 10:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mammala says...
the building IS locally owned. The brothers moved from the state of Oregon and now live here in st. joe.
November 10, 2009 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )