It's been a long time since anyone built a brand-new apartment complex in St. Joseph. Twenty-two years, to be exact. That streak ended Thursday, Oct. 15, when the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and community leaders joined Bryan Properties to break ground on Westward Pointe Apartments.
The Springfield-based company is building the 180-unit complex at 5408 North Point Road, near the YMCA at the Shoppes at North Village, according to the chamber's announcement.
"After 22 years without a new ground-up apartment development, this project represents a much-needed addition to the community," said Emily Givens, Bryan Properties' director of development. "With 180 thoughtfully designed apartment homes offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom options, Westward Pointe Apartments will help meet the diverse housing needs of individuals, students, families, and professionals looking to live and work in St. Joseph."
Givens expects the first buildings to open in spring 2028.
What's being built
KQ2 laid out the unit mix:
- 72 one-bedroom, one-bath units of 700 square feet
- 90 two-bedroom, two-bath units of 1,050 square feet
- 18 three-bedroom, two-bath units of 1,225 square feet
Every apartment will have keyless smart locks, a washer and dryer, a private patio or deck, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. The property will add an outdoor swimming pool, clubhouse, coffee bar, outdoor grills, high-speed internet and on-site management. Residents will also get a discounted YMCA membership, along with an online rent payment portal, digital maintenance requests and 24-hour emergency maintenance.
The two-bedroom, two-bath unit is the workhorse of the project, making up half of the 180 apartments, and that tells you who Bryan Properties expects to rent here: roommates, young couples and small families who want space.
The name has some local history behind it. KQ2 reported that "Westward Pointe" was picked to honor St. Joseph's role as home to the first fast mail across the country, from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast.
Built for the workforce
This project is as much about jobs as housing. The chamber says St. Joseph is short on housing for middle-income workers, like young professionals.
"Our employers have told us that if we had more available and attractive housing for young engineers, medical professionals, etc., that it would help with employee attraction and retention," said Natalie Hawn, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. "It's very important to have more people who work here live here and this is a start to addressing that problem."
Brad Gebhard, Bryan Properties' CEO, told KQ2 the company was introduced to the St. Joseph market by City Manager Mike Schumacher. The more the company looked, the clearer the need became. "As we kinda dug deeper and deeper it just got amplified on how underserve the community was," Gebhard said.
He said conversations with major employers like Mosaic and Herzog showed that some were relying on housing about an hour away for their staff.
The chamber said the project came together through work by the chamber, Buchanan County, the City of St. Joseph and local business investors, and it credited Mosaic Life Care and Herzog Contracting Corp. among the supporters who made it possible.
"This came together because many community and business leaders were dedicated to provide new housing opportunities," Hawn said.
Gebhard expects a broad mix of renters, from blue collar and white collar workers to retirees, and said the location is walkable to restaurants and shopping.
Neither the chamber nor KQ2 named a general contractor or a construction cost. The chamber's release describes Bryan Properties as the company building the complex, and no separate builder has been announced. Herzog Contracting Corp. is listed as a supporter of the project, not as its contractor.
Why it matters for Contractors
A 180-unit complex is a big deal in a market that hasn't seen a new one in more than two decades, and the schedule runs into 2028. That's a long stretch of work for site, utility and paving contractors, foundation crews, framers, roofers, siding and window installers, and every MEP trade. Inside, 180 kitchens with quartz tops and stainless appliances, 180 washer-dryer hookups and private patios or decks mean plenty of cabinet, countertop, plumbing, electrical and carpentry work. The pool and clubhouse add specialty and finish packages. Local subs and suppliers should reach out to Bryan Properties early. And if Westward Pointe leases up the way local employers hope, it could prove to other developers that St. Joseph is ready for more.