The owner of the long-vacant AT&T Tower opened portions of the building this week, signaling that redevelopment plans remain under consideration despite years of stalled efforts. Charles Goldman, principal of Boston-based The Goldman Group, said the project would rely heavily on incentives and noted continued interest in moving it forward. The 44-story building at 909 Chestnut has been largely empty since AT&T consolidated its offices in 2017, and any future reuse would be among the largest building conversion projects in St. Louis in recent years.
Goldman’s firm purchased the tower in April 2024 for approximately $3.6 million, according to a legal filing from the company’s counsel. Armstrong Teasdale reports the building contains an estimated 1.45 to 1.46 million square feet across 44 floors, making it the largest office building in Missouri. CoStar also notes that the property is located on a block designated as blighted by the city in 2023.
Inside the lobby and what it shows
A recent photo tour by local business reporters highlights the building’s expansive lobby and original finishes, which developers have identified as assets for a potential adaptive reuse project. According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the images emphasize the tower’s structural condition and its suitability for combining ground-floor retail with residential space. Previous coverage from St. Louis Magazine notes that design observers have suggested any redevelopment should retain interior features such as original woodwork and high ceilings.
Why state tax credits matter
Goldman said the redevelopment plan depends on public incentives and noted that state tax credits would be necessary to address financing gaps associated with a project of this size. Efforts to secure state-backed redevelopment assistance have been a common element in downtown reuse proposals. A proposed $50 million tax-credit program intended to support projects such as 909 Chestnut did not advance in the Missouri legislature in 2025, according to reports. Developers have cited the lack of such incentives as a continuing challenge for large-scale building conversions.
What city leaders and developers say
City officials have toured the tower and expressed measured support. St. Louis Aldermanic President Megan Green recently visited the building and noted its potential, provided a workable financing plan is established, according to local television reports. The Goldman Group has previously proposed a multi-hundred-million-dollar redevelopment plan, including apartments, ground-floor retail, and technology-enhanced parking to address the site’s known parking challenges. Prior local coverage of the proposal is summarized on the firm’s impact page…