KSDK to Move from Longtime Downtown St. Louis Location Over Safety Concerns

St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK said it plans to leave its downtown St. Louis home and relocate “elsewhere within the city of St. Louis.”

The station said it will sell the downtown building in which it has operated for more than 40 years.

KSDK president and general manager Alicia Elsner declined to disclose where KSDK will move, saying a lease is still being finalized for its new space. She said an announcement is likely in the coming weeks about its new location.

“Staying within St. Louis city limits has been a top priority as we plan our move to a new facility,” Elsner said in a statement. “Our goal is to finalize a space that fosters collaboration and innovation, while offering security, ample parking, and minimal commuting disruption. We’re excited for this next chapter and will keep you updated as details are finalized.”

The Tegna owned station has operated out of downtown St. Louis since its start in 1947. The building has an appraised value of $5.2 million, per city real estate records.

Elsner said KSDK’s new offices will provide safe, secure parking for its employees, which was an important factor in its search for a new facility. About 75% of KSDK’s 135 employees park at a nearby parking garage and walk to the station. The necessity of secure parking onsite is important because of KSDK’s around the clock operations, Elsner said.

1000 Market St. was in close proximity to several downtown shootings last year. At least six people were shot, one fatally, after a fight evolved into a shooting on June 23 at 10th and Market, near the entrance to the KSDK building. A few weeks later, gunfire following a July 4 celebration injured several and left several downtown buildings punctured by bullet holes, including Peabody Plaza, just two blocks east of KSDK.