ST. LOUIS — Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill Thursday that city and business leaders say will grow downtown tourism and improve public safety.
The measure allows for the creation of a downtown entertainment district where its governing board can tap state funding to hire extra security and other means to lure tourists to destinations like the ӣƵ Aquarium, Busch Stadium and the soccer team’s Energizer Park.
“That’s the only mission I have, to get this going so the rest of the state feels that ripple effect of that economic growth and vibrancy,” Kehoe said at the signing at Union Station in Downtown West.
Downtown boosters are striving to draw more dollars to a central business district with far too many vacant buildings and a well-deserved reputation for late-night rowdiness and violence.
But they’re quick to point to signs of improvement, such as a reduction in murder rates across the city as well as the sale of the Millennium Hotel, which is under local control for the first time in a generation. A plan to remake that site to further draw business and foot traffic to the riverfront is in the works.
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“Success breeds success,” said Bob O’Loughlin, chairman and CEO of Lodging Hospitality Management that owns Union Station and the aquarium.
O’Loughlin was a driver behind multiyear effort to form the new downtown entertainment district as well as other recent efforts to improve public safety. He said after the signing that the new district will ensure a constant presence of police officers.
He said that the governing board, which is yet to be formed, will track tourism numbers to determine whether the new district made the impact boosters are hoping for.
Boundaries of the district are to be finalized by the Board of Aldermen, but officials said the district will be limited to 100 acres and must be in the central business district.
Downtown businesses also won’t be able to levy an additional tax through the district. State statue allows for an annual allocation up to $2.5 million through 2031, when it increases to $4.5 million. Funding is capped at 27 years.
“I applaud the leadership of Bob and Steve O’Loughlin, not only for providing a new vision for downtown but also for working closely with lawmakers on getting this bill passed,” said John Berglund, downtown developer and real estate owner. “There are approximately 175 reasons for people to be downtown in any given year — with all of the baseball, hockey, soccer games and conventions. They recognized what is working well downtown and are now leaning into it.”
Other business leaders and dignitaries were in attendance Thursday, including Stifel Financial Corp. CEO Ron Kruszewski, ӣƵ Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III and ӣƵ City SC CEO Carolyn Kindle. They were joined by Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith, Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, ӣƵ police Chief Robert Tracy and Mayor Cara Spencer, who received a standing ovation for her efforts following the deadly May 16 tornado.
“It’s a great step in moving ӣƵ forward with the momentum of the new (state and city) administrations,” said developer Steve Smith, who owns City Foundry STL in Midtown.
Also on Thursday, O’Loughlin announced a new Harry Potter attraction slated for Union Station. He said details are to be worked out, but that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., which holds the rights to the franchise, was enticed by the success of Polar Express experience at Union Station.
Post-Dispatch photographers capture tens of thousands of images every year. See some of their best work that was either taken in June 2025 in this video. Edited by Jenna Jones.
