ST. LOUIS • St. Louisans who cycle to their downtown jobs will soon have a spot to park their bikes, store their clothes, shower — and maybe even get a latte.

The city and its partners are preparing to build a Downtown Bike Center, in the LoftWorks building at 1011 Locust Street, within a few blocks of a MetroLink station. It will have showers, bike racks, and eventually a bike repair shop and coffee bar, they hope.

The city anticipates the center will open this fall, and will charge a monthly, daily or annual fee.

LoftWorks' Craig Heller will be coordinating construction, the city said, using $181,600 from a Department of Energy stimulus-fund community block grant to buy lockers, install interior bike racks and fund two years of operations.

Heller said that he was trying to build a walkable, vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood, and that a bike commuter station was part of that. He does not expect to see everyone dump their cars and start biking to work all at once.

"But over time, some will see it as a viable option," Heller said. "If you give them what it takes to make it more accessible and easier to do, over time it will make a difference."

The city will sign a lease agreement soon with LoftWorks, Heller said. The lease price was not immediately available.

The building itself has already been restored using historic tax credits, Heller said, and is on track to obtain LEED gold certification for environmental design.

Downtown's Community Improvement District will operate the center through June 2012, using the grant money. After that, an outside agency such as Trailnet may well take over, using membership fees.

The district and other partners may provide additional funding.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay is calling the center the first of its kind in the region.

"We are building a city that provides an attractive way of life. After World War II, the car was a symbol of freedom. For some people today, it is just the opposite," Slay said in a statement.

For more information, contact the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis at 314-436-6500, ext. 240.