JEFFERSON CITY -- Legislation designed to jumpstart development in downtown St. Louis and other "main street districts" across the state got delayed Monday night in the Missouri Senate after a Kansas City-area lawmaker led a one-man filibuster.
Sen. Joe Nicola, a freshman Republican from Independence, said the proposed legislation, sponsored by Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, furthers a "globalist" plot to create dense communities where people need to rent instead of own.
Nicola, the founding pastor of New Covenant Ministries, called the Tower of Babel, a parable in the Book of Genesis, the first "globalist" plot.
His filibuster turned into a lengthy sermon that stretched into the evening and included readings from the Bible. He spoke of the death of Jesus on the cross -- "I can't imagine the excruciating pain" -- and he argued pastors need to be involved in politics because "God is the one who created government."
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Roberts has said his bill would help "fill the gaps in the marketplace that resulted in spaces across our state, cities and towns lying dormant, thereby reducing vibrancy in our historic city centers."
Roberts' proposal would create a new tax credit that would reimburse developers 25% of the cost of converting office buildings into other uses, including residential and retail. The office buildings would have to be at least 25 years old to qualify, and certain "main street districts" across the state would be eligible for slightly higher 30% credit reimbursements.
Among major beneficiaries of Roberts' tax-credit plan are two large vacant buildings in downtown St. Louis.
The AT&T Tower has been vacant since the telecommunications giant left for a smaller space in 2017. The Goldman Group, a Boston-based development company, bought the distressed building last year for $3.6 million. The Railway Exchange has been mostly empty since 2013, when Macy's left the space. Combined, the buildings have 2.6 million square feet available.
It was unclear as of 7:42 p.m. when the Senate would return to regular business.
The building tax credit plan is Senate Bill 35.
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