JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Democratic Senator from St. Louis is encouraged by the bipartisanship that propelled one of his bills out of the Senate and into the House. The measure relates to revitalizing rundown, dilapidated buildings on main streets across the state.

Sen. Steven Roberts’ Senate Bill 35 creates the “Revitalizing Missouri Downtowns and Main Streets Act.” The bill authorizes tax credits to be used for the renovation and rehab of blighted property.

The measure, which has already been fast-tracked to a Missouri House committee hearing, would allow such tax credits up to $50 million a year. 

In an interview with Nexstar Missouri, Roberts pointed to two buildings in downtown St. Louis as prime candidates for this kind of tax credit.

He said both the historic Railway Exchange Building, as well as the skyscraper that used to house AT&T, are sitting vacant. He claims both of the buildings have great potential, which include a plan to renovate the AT&T building into a mixed-use property with residential units, ground retail and business space.

“You could see like retail stores and a grocery store,” Roberts said of proposals he has seen for the 44-story building. 

The vacant skyscraper, which is the largest building by area in Missouri, soars over the heart of downtown St. Louis’ “main street,” and it would qualify for the credits. There are already plans proposed to make that building occupied once again. 

“We need support from the state to be able to get this moving,” he added. “So, I’m really excited about (the bill moving forward).”

While the bill saw bipartisan support, several Republican senators still voted against it.

Still, Roberts’ optimism seemed unphased.

“For me to have a bipartisan piece of legislation like that and to get it moving so quickly, I’m very excited,” he said.

The Democrat—an attorney with the military’s Judge Advocate General—said his conversations with leadership and even Gov. Mike Kehoe offered glimpses of hope that his bill could finally make it to the finish line and onto Kehoe’s desk. 

“I think this is the first governor we’ve had from the St. Louis area. He’s been fantastic to work with,” Roberts said. “We don’t agree on everything, as you can imagine, but he’s a statesman…I respect him and look forward to working with him.”

Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon was from Jefferson County, Eric Greitens graduated from the Parkway School District but moved around the state and country, and Mike Parson hailed from Boliver. 

Before that, a search of previous governors yielded no results in terms of St. Louis being their hometown. Gov. Matt Blunt is from Springfield, Gov. Bob Holden is from the Kansas City area and the late Gov. Mel Carnahan is beloved in his hometown of Rolla.