ST. LOUIS – A proposal that sought to convert empty office buildings in downtown St. Louis into residential and retail spaces fell short of the governor’s desk as Missouri lawmakers adjourned for the year Thursday.
Senate Bill 35, sponsored by State Rep. Steven Roberts (D-St. Louis), aimed to create the the “Revitalizing Missouri Downtowns and Main Streets Act.”
The legislation proposed authorizing up to $50 million per year in tax credits to support the renovation and rehabilitation of blighted properties, specifically along Main Streets and in the heart of downtowns across the state.
In an April interview with Nexstar Missouri Capitol Bureau reporter Mark Zinn, Roberts pointed to two longtime vacant downtown St. Louis buildings – the Railway Exchange Building and former AT&T skyscraper – as prime candidates for redevelopment under such tax credits. Visions included mixed-use spaces with residential units, ground-level retail and office space.
The bill drew some bipartisan support and cleared the Senate before reaching a House Economic Development Committee hearing, but ultimately failed to gain enough momentum before the state’s legislative session ended.