The vacant AT&T tower at 909 Chestnut Street is seen Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in downtown St. Louis.

JEFFERSON CITY — A plan to subsidize the conversion of empty office buildings in downtown St. Louis into residential dwellings fell short of the finish line as Missouri lawmakers adjourned for the year Thursday.

Despite bipartisan support aimed at pumping new life into the city’s urban core, the $50 million tax credit proposal sponsored by Sen. Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis, did not advance far enough to be considered before the Republican-controlled House and Senate left town.

Under the plan, developers would be able to recoup a portion of the cost of converting office buildings into other uses, including residential and retail.

In particular, the proposal was seen as key to helping finance a remake of the 44-story AT&T tower, which has been vacant since the company left in 2017. The 21-story Railway Exchange building has been mostly empty since 2013, when Macy’s left the space. Combined, the buildings have 2.6 million square feet available.

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Roberts said the outcome was disappointing. And, given ongoing tensions between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, he is unsure the push will be renewed next year.

Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, at a press conference on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Jefferson City. Behind him are Kansas City Democratic Sens. Patty Lewis, left, and Barbara Washington.

“The question is when is it appropriate for the state to step in? We have these buildings that continuing to deteriorate and be a blight on the community,” Roberts said. “This provided a path to getting that done.”

“Not much, if anything, is going to get done next year,” Roberts said.

Rep. Travis Wilson, a St. Charles County Republican, had been carrying a similar bill in the House that also did not advance. He did not predict what might happen next on the issue.

“The reality is that I care deeply about Missouri businesses. I also care about making sure Missouri has an attractive business climate. So, I’m going to do what I can to work toward that every day that I’m here in the Missouri Legislature,” Wilson said Thursday.

The AT&T tower currently is owned by Boston-based real estate investment firm Goldman Group, which wants to redevelop the building to include more than 600 apartments and 80,000 square feet of retail space.

“It could have been a great gem for the area,” Roberts said.

Charles Goldman, the firm’s managing partner, has opened the building to lawmakers to tour in hopes of winning support for tax credits that would help offset construction costs and lower rents that come with residential development.

He could not be reached for comment about the future of the $350 million project Thursday.

“We are not going back,” yells Jen Krus, center, during a protest supporting abortion rights and paid sick leave on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the steps of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

The measure was held hostage in the House after Speaker Jon Patterson said he wanted to see lawmakers eliminate paid sick leave provisions approved by voters in November.

The speaker and other Republicans argued that the state should be attempting to attract businesses at the same time companies will have to comply with more expensive sick leave laws.

The sick leave benefits were killed in the Senate Wednesday, but Roberts’ bill was not in a position to be taken up by the House on Thursday.

Roberts said one reason the legislation was held up in the House because of opposition to tax credits. But, he said the House also approved an $840 million plan to help finance new stadiums for the Kansas City Royals and the Chiefs.

“The hypocrisy of that is very frustrating,” Roberts said.

The building tax credit plan is Senate Bill 35 and House B ill 6 10.

Photos: Missouri House wraps up the final day of 2025 legislative session

Representatives throw papers into the air in the traditional paper toss marking the final moments of the last day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the House floor at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

Representative Ken Waller, R-Herculaneum, wears a patriotic suit jacket on the last day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the House floor in Jefferson City. Waller says he wears the American flag themed sport coat to session every three weeks or so since buying it for July 4, 2024.

Representative Josh Hurlbert, R-Smithville, sits with his daughter Rose, 9, during the waning minutes on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the House chamber at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

School children, including one clutching a bald eagle toy, watch the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the House chamber in Jefferson City.

Assistant Minority Floor Leader Representative Marlon Anderson, D-St. Louis, leads a moment of silence for St. Louis Police officer David Lee who died in the line of duty, on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the House floor in Jefferson City.

“We are not going back,” yells Jen Krus, center, during a protest supporting abortion rights and paid sick leave on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the steps of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

Representative Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City, hugs Executive Director of PROMO Katy Erker-Lynch at a protest supporting abortion rights and paid sick leave on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the steps of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

House Speaker Jonathan Patterson, left, applauds as Governor Mike Kehoe waves to representatives on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the House chamber at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

Stephanie Boykin, D-Florissant, gives a shout out St. Louis-area schools including STEAM Academy Middle School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District that were recognized as Missouri Gold Star schools on the last day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the House floor in Jefferson City.

Representative Ray Reed, D-St. Louis, left, listens to a debate during the final day of the legislative session Thursday, May 15, 2025, on the House floor in Jefferson City.

Representative Bennie Cook, R-Houston, grabs the microphone and shouts a warm welcome to Governor Mike Kehoe, who made an appearance on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the House chamber at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

Colleagues congratulate Representative Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, on the passage of his invasive plants bill on the final day of the legislative session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the House chamber at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.

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