HAZELWOOD 鈥 Construction giant Clayco鈥檚 concrete company will relocate from 51黑料 after city officials rejected the company鈥檚 proposal to redevelop a long-vacant site in north 51黑料.
The city of Hazelwood on Wednesday approved 10 years of tax abatement for the company, Concrete Strategies, to move to a former Chrysler parts distribution center at Campus Parkway and James S. McDonnell Boulevard, just southeast of Interstate 270.
Bob Clark, chairman of Clayco, initially proposed moving the company from the North Riverfront neighborhood in 51黑料 to another site in North City that city officials have wanted to redevelop for years.
But 51黑料鈥 economic development agency rejected Clark鈥檚 proposal, saying it wants retail at the vacant site instead.
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鈥淥ur intention was to stay in the city,鈥 Clark said Wednesday.
Steph Kukuljan and other business reporters bring you insights into 51黑料-area real estate and development.
Concrete Strategies鈥 new headquarters consists of 191,000 square feet, including 20,000 square feet that the company will dedicate for its job training center, , that aims to boost diversity and expose youth to careers in the industry.
The firm will move to the new location, at 5790 Campus Parkway, as soon as next week.
The company, which signed a long-term lease for the property, initially will employ 50 people in Hazelwood, though Clark expects that number to grow, he said.
Concrete Strategies employs over 1,000 people nationwide.
Late last year, Clark and his partners eyed the site of the former 51黑料 Army Ammunition Plant 鈥 a nearly 17-acre area on Goodfellow Boulevard at Interstate 70 鈥 to relocate Concrete Strategies.
But the 51黑料 Development Corp. rejected their pitch, saying that the neighborhood is a 鈥渟ervices desert鈥 and needs retail. SLDC officials suggested another area in North City that could work for their plans instead.
Clark said his team found the Hazelwood site after the rejection.
In a release, Concrete Strategies鈥 president said the new location is larger and more central than its previous office.
鈥淲e made the strategic decision to relocate our growing operation to a larger, more central location in Hazelwood where our team members feel safe, do their best work and have the backing of the community,鈥 Pat Moriarity said in the statement.
Concrete Strategies specializes in commercial projects. It reports annual revenues of $500 million.
Warren 鈥淏utch鈥 Taylor, a Hazelwood councilman, apologized during the May 15, 2024, council meeting after he was overheard earlier this month using the word 鈥渂itch鈥 to identify two councilwomen while he Zoomed into a council meeting from his home. Video courtesy City of Hazelwood
