St. Louis Park’s post-war housing puts stairs at the centre
St. Louis Park has more than 8,300 residents aged 65 or over and nearly 3,600 past 75, in a city with a relatively young overall median age of 36.1. That mix, older homeowners in a city that keeps attracting younger ones, is typical of a first-ring suburb where people bought early and stayed.
The housing is dominated by compact post-war construction: 1½-storey homes and small ramblers, built quickly in the 1940s and 1950s on tight lots. These are among the harder houses to modify. Staircases are narrow and often turn. Bathrooms are small. Entries sit a few steps above grade with little room for a ramp run. None of that is insurmountable, but it does mean the measuring matters more than usual.
What we install in St. Louis Park
- Stair lifts: curved rails for the narrow, turning staircases typical of post-war St. Louis Park homes.
- Wheelchair lifts: vertical platform lifts where a tight lot leaves no room for a ramp run.
- Home elevators: residential elevators and through-floor lifts, which need no separate shaft.
- Wheelchair ramps: compact ramp designs and aluminium modular systems for small front yards.
- Accessible bathrooms: tub-to-shower conversions that free up floor area in a small original bathroom.
- Safety and access: grab bars, handrails, porch railings and automatic door openers.
Permitted, inspected, and done properly
Powered lifts and elevators are regulated equipment in Minnesota, not appliances you bolt down. Ocel Builders installs as a Minnesota Limited Elevator Contractor and holds a Minnesota Builders License, so the framing, the electrical coordination, the equipment and the inspection are handled by one accountable team in Hennepin County.
What it costs in St. Louis Park
We give you an itemised written quote after a free in-home assessment, and financing is available. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation. Request a free assessment or see the financing page.