About Blue Urban

  Every employee at Blue Urban knows the duty in their work. We are diverse individuals working to return cities to people. We understand the buildings we serve as caretakers for will be in our hands only for a short, deeply important and significant time. Consequently, our attention to detail remains unparalleled in our industry. Blue Urban envisions creating communities where cracked sidewalks and dirty streets void of life become a palette of color enjoyed by residents and visitors to downtowns throughout the midwest. Blue Urban is a real estate development firm who believes a city's worth can be measured by the vitality of its neighborhoods and that a building is only as strong as the pace of the streets surrounding it. We are proud of our neighborhoods and honored to make their future a part of our history.

What we bring to every project

  • Extensive historic renovation experience - commercial/retail/residential

  • Vast experience in commercial/retail construction and operational matters

  • Expertise with specialty financing using State and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, municipal economic development lending programs, Brownfield Credits, Facade Grants, Conservation Credits and others.

  • Highly-experienced third-party professionals - engineers, attorneys and consultants

Who Started Blue Urban?

Kevin X. McGowanKevin X. McGowan is the founder of Blue Urban. Kevin is currently assisting in the renaissance of downtowns throughout the Midwest. Blue Urban is developing millions of square feet of property in Missouri with an eye towards expansion in Ohio and other Midwestern states. Kevin was awarded the St. Louis Downtown Loft Developer of the Year Award in 2004. He received the Outstanding Local Government Achievement Award in 2005 for his work with Urban Roots in beautifying Downtown St. Louis. Mr. McGowan was named one of "St. Louis' Most Influential" by the St. Louis Business Journal in 2005 for his leading efforts in the continuing renaissance of Downtown. Kevin is currently President of Heat-Up St. Louis, a board member of Gateway Greening, and most recently has been appointed by Mayor Slay to lead an effort to create a world class tourist destination along Market Street. Mr. McGowan has lectured on Urban Development at Washington University, St. Louis University, The University of Missouri, and dozens of panels and in group discussion formats. Beyond his Urban Development Awards, he has received recognition for his philanthropic efforts as the "Hardees Hometown Hero Award" in 2000.

A graduate of St. Meinrad College with a BA in English, Kevin was also the youngest Swim Coach at Yale University where he coached many National and Olympic swimmers. Kevin is married to the former Erin Colleen Shannon, daughter of Cardinals Baseball announcer Mike Shannon and his wife Judy. Erin and Kevin are blessed to have five children, Maddoc, Kennedy, Hennessy, Lochlan and their newest addition Teaghan! Erin received her doctorate in Phychology and now spends her time using that degree to its fullest caring for their five children, all under the age of five.