Super Bowl Update

Just days after finally finding a buyer for one of their bankrupt TV stations (WRBJ-TV in Jackson, Miss.), WAZE-TV undertakers owners Mike and Steve Roberts are at long last getting some help with their flagship real estate properties in downtown St. Louis.

The Post-Dispatch reports that UrbanStreet Group of Chicago and North American Properties of Cincinnati have agreed to spend about $16.5 million to develop new uses for Roberts Tower, Mayfair Hotel, Roberts Lofts on the Plaza and several empty buildings adjoining the lofts property.

The deal, which was put together by CBRE, comes five months after the properties were put up for sale.  It's not clear if the $16.5 million infusion from UrbanStreet and North American indicates a sale of the properties or if the brothers will retain some ownership stake.

At this point, all that is decided for certain is that the long-unfinished Roberts Tower - originally planned with 55 luxury condominiums - will instead be completed as 132 rental apartments, and design work on that project has already begun.

With two bits of good news emanating from the Roberts empire in one week (yeah, I know ... unbelievable, right?), could this mean that WAZE is getting closer to finding a white knight of its own as well?

We'll just have to wait and see.