We specialize in historic renovations that preserve the original character of the building while providing the convenience of modern amenities. Most of our projects are buildings that have sat vacant for five years or more prior to renovation. Some have been unoccupied for decades. These are often buildings on the verge of being lost.
Our properties are located in South City, primarily in Gravois Park near Cherokee and Jefferson and range in size and style. Spaces include artist studios, retail storefronts, office spaces, and residential apartments and homes, among others. We encourage and give preference to small, independently-owned businesses that cater to a wide range of demographics and will contribute to the eclectic mix of existing small businesses in the area. We don’t rent to predatory businesses such as rent-to-own or payday lending stores that prey upon low-income populations. Additionally, we discourage the use of first floor storefronts in commercial corridors for service-oriented or office-type businesses, which are better suited to side streets or second-floor office spaces as they do not benefit from or contribute to an increase in foot traffic that is vital to retail and restaurant businesses.
Available SpacesMegan Davis
Property Manager
Megan is a St. Louis city dweller who is drawn to anything vintage. She’s an avid thrifter who abides by a secondhand first rule whenever possible. Prior to joining South Side Spaces, she worked in different managerial and leasing roles where navigating damage control calmly served as her superpower.
In her free time, she can be found refinishing vintage furniture, scouring this city for hidden gems at local flea markets, or camping in the Missouri countryside with an old black Lab who doesn’t understand the meaning of personal space. Megan resides in a historic city apartment with her senior pup, a cat named George Bailey, and far too many succulents.
Pictured: Megan at Nebula
Jason Deem
Owner
Jason is responsible for providing the vision, planning, and pre-development work for our projects. He seeks to lower barriers to entry for small businesses and challenges our small team to use our limited resources in ways that make the biggest positive impact on the community. Jason has a penchant for taking on projects with architectural and historical significance.
Jason lives on Cherokee Street in Benton Park West and serves on the board of the Cherokee Street Community Improvement District and the National Building Arts Center. His time off is spent paddling Missouri rivers and camping in the Mark Twain National Forest.
Pictured: Jason at Nebula
Emily Hood
Bookkeeping etc.
Emily aims to help turn dreams into realities with tenant ideas and development projects alike. She thrives on seeing old buildings transformed for new purposes and given life by the people, businesses, and communities that occupy them. Ever a pupil at heart, she has a strong desire to constantly learn and improve, and implement new strategies to evolving processes and skills. The vast majority of the photos on the website were taken by her, and she wrote & researched most project pages and property descriptions.
In addition to advising on property acquisitions, managing project budgets, and general bookkeeping at South Side Spaces, Emily likes sorting through old St. Louis ephemera, visiting local breweries, and working on her Compton Heights home.
Pictured: Emily at 2616 Cherokee
Mike Libbie
Maintenance Technician
Mike has years of experience in all construction trades, including plumbing, electrical, and carpentry. A natural problem solver and an avid learner, he is quick to master new skills and loves trying new things. There’s no task too complicated, no challenge too large – and you’ll see him tackling all manners of property maintenance, whether it be repairing an appliance, upgrading a building facade, troubleshooting an HVAC system, or any other myriad of building needs.
If you enjoy the outdoors as much as Mike, he’s your go-to for recommendations on great places to explore. When he’s not working around South City, he reaches new heights across the country, seeking adventures anywhere from the Pacific Crest Trail in California to the Eleven Point River in Arkansas. Outside of work and travel, he spends time at home showering his two cats, Dolly and Sashi, with affection.
Pictured: Mike at Schoolhouse