$145 million in real estate on the block: Mills Group selling retail, office properties to focus on apartments.

The Mills Group is selling about $45 million worth of office and retail properties to focus on its core business: apartment development and management.

"We really are first and foremost apartment people," said Bruce Mills, principal of the 19-year-old company. "Our goal is to be the best apartment management company in St. Louis. To achieve that goal, we felt we shouldn't be fragmented. I don't think it's sufficient to just be in business anymore. You have to excel."

The Mills Group, one of the area's largest local apartment managers, is an umbrella for five real estate-related companies with more than 175 employees. Mills Group is one of the 26 largest commercial …