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“This was the whole ecosystem working together. This is how it is supposed to work.”
TCARE, which uses technology to help employers and insurance health plans reduce family caregiver burnout among their employees and members, announced today its move into a new facility on Vandeventer Avenue in St. Louis’ Botanical Heights neighborhood that will allow it to add employees and grow its business over the next year.
The former Arch Grants recipient plans to begin construction immediately on the building it will lease from Arch to Park Equity Fund LLC, a patient capital real estate investment coordinated with Greater St. Louis, Inc.
“From Arch Grants bringing us here, to the support we’ve received from other companies in this industry to help us grow, and the work Arch to Park Equity Fund did to get us into our new space, our story is a perfect example of how St. Louis comes together to help companies start up, stand out, and stay,” said Ali Ahmadi, TCARE Chief Executive Officer. “This was the whole ecosystem working together. This is how it is supposed to work.”
“St. Louis continues to strengthen its reputation as a hub for tech and innovation in the Midwest,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “We’re excited to welcome TCARE to their new location in Botanical Heights, which will help bring surrounding communities together and support new development.”
Perfectly Located to Spur Development
The Fund purchased the building in 2019 as part of its work to bring density, vibrancy, connectivity, and activation to the urban core of the St. Louis metro. The building is the first purchased by the Fund, which has since invested in several other projects that are catalyzing development in the urban core, a key strategic priority of the STL 2030 Jobs Plan.
The building is located next to Rockwell Beer Co. and sits just south of The Grove entertainment district. With new developments like the Foundry and Armory just a few blocks to the east and new workforce housing nearing completion at the Union at the Grove in nearby Forest Park Southeast, the stretch of Vandeventer on which it is located is connective tissue primed for development.
“We are committed to restoring the urban core of St. Louis and TCARE will help anchor this neighborhood for years to come,” said Dustin Allison, GSL’s Chief Real Estate Investment Officer. “TCARE’s new home is perfectly located to help spur additional development that will connect the thriving communities nearby.”
Additionally, the Tower Grove Connector, a 1.4-mile protected multimodal path will run directly in front of the new building and provide new infrastructure to further connect City neighborhoods.
“DCM Group is excited to be part of TCARE’s growth and assist in the continued activation of the Vandeventer corridor. This development would not have been possible without the continued investment in the urban core,” said Robert Goltermann, President of DCM group, who is acting as the developer and broker.
Starting Up in St. Louis
TCARE moved to St. Louis in 2019 from Madison, Wisconsin, as a participant in Arch Grants. The company has seen significant growth and now operates in 32 states and has over 170 global employees.
Said Arch Grants Chairman Jerry Schlichter, Founding and Managing Partner of law firm Schlichter Bogard & Denton: “The founding vision of Arch Grants, as a nonprofit which takes no equity in its companies, is to attract and retain promising, diverse startups to St. Louis that would grow and become leaders in our community. TCARE, coming here from Wisconsin for their Arch Grant, with a handful of employees, is an exciting example of that vision. This new facility and expansion demonstrate how the growth of startups is building momentum for inclusive growth, and a more vibrant St. Louis.”
New Space, New Name
Informally known as the H.M. Dunn Building for its long-time prior inhabitant, the property will be renamed the Dubinsky Building to honor John Dubinsky, a local business leader who has dedicated his career to economic development and urban revitalization throughout St. Louis. Dubinsky was a founder of the Cortex Innovation Community and served as a civic catalyst to apply the successful principles he pioneered at Cortex to a broader area of the urban core.
TCARE is targeting late summer to move into the new space, which it will share with non-emergency medical transportation broker MTM, with which it has formed a partnership to proactively engage older adults and their family caregivers to provide transportation services.
“As a long-time, St. Louis-based company, we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this initiative that supports startups, technology, urban revitalization, and healthy communities,” said Alaina Macia, President and CEO of MTM. “Our vision is communities without barriers, and we are excited to partner with TCARE in this new space as we work to support caregivers and provide access to important services.”