Corner unit at One Cardinal Way offers panoramic view of downtown St. Louis

The Sauters were the very first tenants to move in to the high-rise in July 2020 after its completion. They signed their lease a full year-and-a-half prior when the building was still under construction. Steve had read about One Cardinal Way and first noticed it while attending a Cardinals game. As a lifelong Cardinals fan, it immediately piqued his interest. After visiting the leasing office on a snowy winter day, he says, "we signed the lease by the end of the appointment."

Running his real estate appraisal business from home, Steve says they needed a two-bedroom apartment to have a home office. They also wanted dual views. Being among the first tenants to sign on meant the Sauters got to choose a corner unit on a higher floor. As empty nesters, they were already residing in the city in a Dogtown condo after raising their four sons in Wildwood.

"We had talked about moving to the city for years. We had a graduation party for our son at our house in Wildwood and literally moved the next weekend," Steve says.

The walkability of downtown, proximity to the stadium and Ballpark Village and extensive building amenities were all factors in their choice to move again. The Sauters take full advantage of the area, regularly visiting favorite local spots like Broadway Oyster Bar and walking to the Soulard Farmers Market on Saturdays.

As for Cardinals games, all they have to do is step out on their balcony to watch, or better yet, take in the game from the eighth-floor deck and infinity pool — Steve's favorite vantage point. A communal bar and entertaining space for residents is also a favorite hangout on weekends, and the Sauters have made great friends living in the building.

"That first year during the pandemic, we were all together," says Joy. "We look back on it and some of our best memories are from that first year." 

Adds Steve, "It was a tight-knit group for the first year. The Cardinals were playing in an empty stadium, but we could still watch it."

With the view taking precedence in every room, the Sauters have kept things simple with just a few pieces of art by local artists including Ted Collier and Paul E. Jost. Most of the furniture in the apartment is from West Elm, a favorite for its clean lines and modern style.

Raw concrete ceilings with exposed metal ductwork and gray hardwood vinyl planking floors create an industrial modern feel. The open kitchen features sleek European-style custom cabinetry in white lacquer and charcoal gray wood offset by a glass subway tile backsplash, white Caesarstone quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. The apartment's two spacious bathrooms have a spa-like feel with finishes similar to those in the kitchen.

The Sauters are fully embracing this new stage of their life from high above the city — enjoying breathtaking sunrises over the Mississippi, sunsets with cocktails on the balcony and panoramic fireworks displays on the Fourth of July. Their friends and family take advantage of the views as well. "Our grandkids love to come here," Joy says. "They just go from window to window."

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