KMOV - St. Louis County considers relocating headquarters
https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/10/27/ ... dquarters/
https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/10/27/ ... dquarters/
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... -top-story
Looking like the county will move its HQ to Northwest Plaza in St. Ann, the full move will take 2 years and they believe it will be a long term move as opposed to a temporary move.
Would this make St. Ann the official county seat? Or will Clayton retain "in name only" status as the county seat?
Looking like the county will move its HQ to Northwest Plaza in St. Ann, the full move will take 2 years and they believe it will be a long term move as opposed to a temporary move.
Would this make St. Ann the official county seat? Or will Clayton retain "in name only" status as the county seat?
Possibly. Clayton will remain the county seat unless the charter is amended. Section 1.020. of the county charter states that the seat of government shall continue to be in the City of Clayton and the boundaries shall continue as at present unless legally changed. Being the county seat means Clayton must likely host core government functions like the County Council, but not all county offices have to remain there.Auggie wrote: ↑Nov 18, 2025https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... -top-story
Looking like the county will move its HQ to Northwest Plaza in St. Ann, the full move will take 2 years and they believe it will be a long term move as opposed to a temporary move.
Would this make St. Ann the official county seat? Or will Clayton retain "in name only" status as the county seat?
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The police lab is also leaving Clayton, going to Maryland Heights. Friend works there and said they will quit rather than drive up 270 daily (lives in TGS)
Good.dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Nov 18, 2025The police lab is also leaving Clayton, going to Maryland Heights. Friend works there and said they will quit rather than drive up 270 daily (lives in TGS)
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Jobs moving further west is bad for the city and the region. Clayton workers support many city restaurants and businesses. Also, Clayton is urban and it’s only “not St. Louis” to those who grow up in the St. Louis strict county/city divide. Under the circumstances we are and if the merger were ever to happen, a busy and healthy Clayton will be much better for the region than a dead and sick Clayton.
I can only hope this brings up annexation conversations or something to that like
I can only hope this brings up annexation conversations or something to that like
1) This moves hundreds of jobs away from a metrolink accessible, relatively pedestrian friendly environment to a further out decidedly auto oriented location
2) Shoehorning 600 employees into a windowless ex-shopping mall is just awful, there's no two ways about it.
2) Shoehorning 600 employees into a windowless ex-shopping mall is just awful, there's no two ways about it.
1) fair pointPeterXCV wrote: ↑Nov 19, 20251) This moves hundreds of jobs away from a metrolink accessible, relatively pedestrian friendly environment to a further out decidedly auto oriented location
2) Shoehorning 600 employees into a windowless ex-shopping mall is just awful, there's no two ways about it.
2) windowless?
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Section 1.020 of the County Charter mandates that Clayton be the seat of government. Anyone know how they plan to get around that?
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Yes, be keeping it as the seat of county government on paper, nothing says county council cannot met elsewhereLocalGovSTL wrote: ↑Nov 19, 2025Section 1.020 of the County Charter mandates that Clayton be the seat of government. Anyone know how they plan to get around that?
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As much as I don't like the idea of ~600 jobs moving away further from the city, they would actually be moving to north country which isn't that bad. Would I prefer if they stayed close to the city? Of course, but the cost of that may be too much. As a STL County resident, paying more taxes just to keep those workers in Clayton is not something I'm willing to support no matter the cost. Maybe a private investor can renovate the current building and someone would fill that space (hopefully from other parts of STL County or St Charles)
Tax dollars going into Northwest Plaza do not go nearly as far or generate anywhere near the same economic activity as tax dollars going into downtown Clayton. The county will be worse off from this move, regardless of whatever savings there may be.Rick Prieto wrote: ↑Nov 19, 2025As much as I don't like the idea of ~600 jobs moving away further from the city, they would actually be moving to north country which isn't that bad. Would I prefer if they stayed close to the city? Of course, but the cost of that may be too much. As a STL County resident, paying more taxes just to keep those workers in Clayton is not something I'm willing to support no matter the cost. Maybe a private investor can renovate the current building and someone would fill that space (hopefully from other parts of STL County or St Charles)
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Does the County own a portion of Northwest Plaza? I know the election board operates out of the old Macy’s. Seems silly to go ahead and lease a space instead of owning, but whatever I guess.
If you’re a county resident, the question becomes if you’re fine with this move or spending the supposed billion dollars building a new structure in Clayton.
If you’re a county resident, the question becomes if you’re fine with this move or spending the supposed billion dollars building a new structure in Clayton.
According to county tax records, the County does not own any part of Northwest Plaza. Stenger/the County made some bad lease agreements with the property owner after the property owners donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Stenger's campaign, from what I recall. I don't know all the details, but essentially the County got screwed over in the deal. I think they're locked in there for another decade or so.
Although north county could use some love, the proposed Brentwood location was more centrally located and was right next to a MetroLink stop, which would have been ideal, without knowing all the details.
Although north county could use some love, the proposed Brentwood location was more centrally located and was right next to a MetroLink stop, which would have been ideal, without knowing all the details.
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For God's sake, we have the empty former 7-Up HQ right next door to the County Courthouse! Yes, there are plans for its future redevelopment, but that's been going on for a decade. AFAIK, no construction is taking place in that building today. It's a present and viable solution that, for some reason, isn't being enacted upon.
The County Council should approach the owner / proposed developer, offer rent plus future incentives for the building's redevelopment, and just be done with this.
The County Council should approach the owner / proposed developer, offer rent plus future incentives for the building's redevelopment, and just be done with this.
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I guess almost the whole county would all pack up and move to st Charles county if they could.
^Nah, a lot of people who work at STL County HQ live in the city, mid county, south county or Jeffco. I guess now I'll ID myself as a county employee, there's no one at work happy about Northwest Crossing. But alas our opinions matter little to Sam Page.
I wager they concluded that a tax increase for a new HQ on the ballot wouldn't pass.
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Yeah, I'm not driving up to St. Ann to take car of things in person. What a mess.
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Bet the county wishes they had a piece of StL budget surplus. Merge or die.
StL County will soon be asking the MoLeg to let them levy an earnings tax
StL County will soon be asking the MoLeg to let them levy an earnings tax
Don't forget they moved the election board up there also. Used to be nice when it was mostly centrally located in Maplewood.Trololzilla wrote: ↑Nov 21, 2025Yeah, I'm not driving up to St. Ann to take car of things in person. What a mess.
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If I lived in Oakville or Wildwood I would not be happy having to drive so far if I might need to. They should keep county services more centrally located. As someone who lives near Tower Grove park and works in Maryland Heights, the commute is not bad. I take 64 west and 270 north which only takes 20-25 minutes in the morning and I take Lindbergh south in the evening avoiding the construction on 270 for about the same amount of time. Basically driving against traffic each way.