Economic Development and Public Finance

Our Economic Development and Public Finance practice group builds upon our strengths in our Government Relations and Real Estate practice areas. Our knowledge of state and local economic development incentives allows us to achieve community revitalization and economic growth for our governmental clients and to secure development incentives for our developer clients. We have represented public and private clients in projects that include Tax Increment Financing, Chapter 100, Chapter 353, the Missouri Downtown and Rural Economic Stimulus Act, Transportation Development Districts, Community Improvement Districts, and Neighborhood Improvement Districts. Our attorneys' experience includes both Missouri and Illinois economic development incentives. We have assisted our public and private clients to incorporate State Tax Incentive programs, including State Supplemental Tax Increment Financing, Brownfield Tax Credits, and Historic Tax Credits, into municipal development projects. Our Economic Development attorneys have substantial depth of experience to address all aspects of a development project, including planning the public finance and private lending package, drafting and review of economic development plans, drafting municipal legislation, property acquisition and condemnation, zoning and permits, construction matters, sale and leasing, and project administration. Our Public Finance attorneys are members of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and serve as bond counsel and underwriter's counsel for municipal bond issues.

Our Economic Development and Public Finance attorneys' representative projects include the following:

NorthPark

Our attorneys have represented St. Louis County, Missouri and the Lambert Airport Eastern Perimeter Joint Development Commission in the Lambert Airport Eastern Perimeter Tax Increment Financing Project (NorthPark). NorthPark is a St. Louis County tax increment financing redevelopment project that includes the Cities of Berkeley, Kinloch, and Ferguson. NorthPark's 600 acre redevelopment project represents the largest redevelopment project in St. Louis County's history. NorthPark involves a total project cost of approximately $520,000,000 with approximately $110,000,000 in tax increment subsidy. Our Public Finance attorneys also served as underwriter's counsel in issuance of approximately $15,000,000 in Annual Appropriation Bonds for the NorthPark project.

Ballpark Village

Our attorneys have represented the Comptroller for the City of St. Louis in the Ballpark Village Redevelopment Project (Ballpark Village). Ballpark Village is a mixed use, retail, office, and residential Missouri Downtown and Rural Economic Stimulus (MODESA) redevelopment project immediately adjacent to the new Busch Stadium. Ballpark Village involves a total project cost of $387,000,000 with $115,000,000 in MODESA subsidy.

Express Scripts

Our attorneys represented St. Louis County in the Express Scripts Headquarters redevelopment project (Express Scripts). Express Scripts is a St. Louis County Chapter 100 and Chapter 353 redevelopment project that constructed a 325,000 square foot office building located on the campus of the University of Missouri St. Louis that serves as Express Scripts' corporate headquarters.

Great Rivers Greenway

Our Public Finance attorneys represent the underwriters in Great Rivers Greenway's first Bond issuance of approximately $30 million. Great Rivers Greenway is a metropolitan park district that includes portions of St. Charles County, St. Louis County, and the City of St. Louis.