Last minute tax payment saves midtown St. Louis data center building from the auction block
A Midtown St. Louis data center project's key building was nearly auctioned for over $2 million in delinquent property taxes owed by developer Green Street. A last-minute partial payment delayed the sale, sparking accusations of unlawful accommodation from anti-data center groups. The project has also prompted new zoning rules for data centers, which are awaiting a vote by the Board of Aldermen.
A proposed 120-megawatt data center in Midtown St. Louis, a crucial component of the planned $3 billion Armory Innovation District, faced a significant financial hurdle when its core building at 3728 Market St. was slated for a sheriff's delinquent land tax sale. The property, owned by developer Green Street, had accumulated over $2 million in unpaid property taxes since 2022.
The sale was ultimately delayed after Green Street made a partial payment of $588,145 towards its 2022 tax bill. The City Collector of Revenue, Gregory F.X. Daly's office, stated that the property would be re-listed for sale in October if the remaining $2.3 million balance is not settled. The collector's office defended the delay, citing discretion to accommodate property owners making good-faith efforts to resolve outstanding taxes, similar to past actions for tornado victims.
However, this decision drew strong condemnation from anti-data center groups, including the Eco-Socialist Green Party. Members like Kerry McCullen and Dan Pate alleged that the collector's move was unlawful, arguing that Missouri law prohibits payment plans for non-homestead properties and that the city was unfairly bending rules for a delinquent developer. Separately, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is preparing to vote on new zoning regulations specifically designed to address data center developments, a direct consequence of this project's proposal. The St. Louis Sheriff's Department confirmed it was investigating the reason the property was removed from the sale.