Downtown

The city has made progress on two prominent vacant buildings in the past year, but rebounding from a “real estate nightmare” will take many more years.

Organizers expect the dozens of free sessions this week to draw nearly 10,000 attendees.

The city’s Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority paid about $2.6 million Friday for the 10 parcels that make up the vacant parking garage and surface lot that comprise the city block.

A study released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution examines how St. Louis could reverse the perception of downtown as a "real estate nightmare" by converting office buildings to residential uses.

Brad Dean says new partnerships and strategies will entice visitors and help rewrite the narrative for locals.

It would be a marked change for the prominent and iconic hotel site between the Gateway Arch grounds and Busch Stadium, which has sat vacant since 2014.

St. Louis had $300 million and 16,000 ideas from the public on how to spend it at the beginning of this legislative session. A year later, the Board of Aldermen has made no progress.

Legislation from Alderwoman Cara Spencer would establish a mechanism for the city to reimburse 85% of Anders’ payroll, earnings and net profit taxes on new hires at the firm.

Members of the board’s Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee voted 5-2, with Anne Schweitzer and Michael Browning voting no.

It comes in a Commissioners’ Report filed Friday as part of the eminent domain case involving the prominent and long-vacant downtown building.