Investor plans to convert the Armory into data center
ST. LOUIS - A real estate investor plans to convert the Armory complex in Midtown into a data center.
According to our partners at the Post Dispatch, Rod Thomas of Creve Coeur-based Tri-Star Properties has signed an option to buy the Armory for $25 million. In addition to converting the Armory, Thomas has filed plans to construct a second data center on the Armory's parking lot.
Thomas is expected to present his proposals at a city hearing on Thursday, where further details and potential impacts of the project may be discussed.
Critics have expressed concerns that the new facilities could lead to increased energy bills and strain local water supplies. Last month, nearby St. Charles issued a one-year moratorium on data center projects to address such concerns.
Previously, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer announced an executive order that would regulate data center projects short term and long term. The order directs city departments to develop an outline for incorporating data centers into the city’s zoning and water codes over the next five months.
According to Spencer, the order aims to address the community's concerns about the impacts of data centers while also encouraging business development.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.
