St. Louis committee clears committee substitute to allow blight study, eminent domain for Millennium Hotel demolition

The St. Louis City Board of Aldermen’s Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee on Tuesday adopted a committee substitute to Board Bill 39 that removes a proposed tax abatement and preserves a Chapter 99 redevelopment plan and blight study to allow for an eminent domain process and demolition of the longtime-vacant Millennium Hotel at 200 South Fourth Street.

The committee substitute was adopted and forwarded with a do-pass recommendation by a 6-0 vote.

Committee members and project partners described the substitute as focused on clearing the site and starting remediation and demolition work while city and nonprofit partners pursue a private redevelopment. Alderman Derek Aldridge, the bill’s sponsor, said the substitute removes “the 20 years at 90%” tax incentive and keeps only the Chapter 99 redevelopment and blight-study provisions that permit eminent domain to address the property’s condition.

Zach Wilson of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) told the committee the redevelopment plan attached to the original bill includes a blighting study (noted at the start of the document) and detailed urban-design standards, and that page references in the packet point to the demolition recommendation and design standards committee members asked to review. Wilson said the blighting study shows existing conditions and noted the…