Investors pitch building data center near Armory venue in Midtown

Developers, led by local investor Rod Thomas and Las Vegas real estate firm Contour, are proposing a $3.1 billion data center project in the Midtown area of St. Louis, Missouri. The planned 525,000 square-foot facility would be located at the old Famous-Barr warehouse, near Market Street and Vandeventer Avenue, just west of the historic Armory venue. The developers are currently seeking a conditional use permit from St. Louis city officials, presenting their plan during a virtual hearing to the Zoning Section. They also intend to repurpose the Armory building itself for luxury office space. However, the data center proposal has encountered significant opposition from local residents and activists. Concerns raised include potential environmental impacts, substantial energy consumption, and the broader societal implications of artificial intelligence on human jobs. No specific data center user for the project has been publicly identified.