While Centene’s purchase of land at the corner of Hanley Road and Forsyth Boulevard, has been known since late 2014, that project, or projects, may be bigger than initially understood. The purchase of the seven parcels immediately across Hanley Road from Centene headquarters at 7700 Forsyth Boulevard in downtown Clayton, was completed in October 2014 for $14.2M.

Earlier this year as pre-construction activity commenced at that site, core drilling was also taking place to the east at the long vacant parcels along Carondelet Plaza near the Forsyth MetroLink station. Those parcels, 11 in all (image above), now show ownership as “Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation”. The only properties not shown with an ownership address of the 8th floor of 7700 Forsyth are 7606 Forsyth (Forhan LLC) and Wellbridge fitness center at 7620 Forsyth (Forsyth Plaza Members LLC).

Nine of the eleven eastern parcels are shown as being purchased together for $21M in June of 2012. The additional parcels include 10 South Lyle Avenue (0.93 acres), purchased November 12 for $2.2M, and 7600 Forsyth Boulevard (2.15 acres) purchased September 25 for $9M. (Individual parcel details below.)

The total purchase price listed for all parcels now owned by Centene is in excess of $46M. What isn’t known is what’s coming to the expansive site. The southeast corner of Hanley and Forsyth is being planned as a second phase of 7700 Forsyth. Expected is an office tower, parking garage, and perhaps a hotel and retail:

On Friday, Centene celebrated the opening of its $25M claims center in Ferguson, the result of a commitment to invest in that community following the unrest in the wake of the police shooting and death of Michael Brown. According to St. Louis Public Radio, Centene Chairman, President and CEO Michael Neidorff also announced on Friday the company plans to add office space in Clayton, where up to 2,000 jobs could be added.

One idea nextSTL has learned is being discussed for the expansive land holdings along Forsyth is a plan for a performing arts center as part of a mixed-use development. On one hand, the idea seems a bit outlandish, but the more one knows about Centene Chairman, President and CEO Michael Neidorff, the more plausible it becomes.

More than a decade ago in Farmington, MO, Neidorff and Centene aided the construction of what would be named the Centene Center and Neidorff Hall. The Neidorffs and Centene are significant arts patrons across the St. Louis region. The $4.4M performing arts center and banquet center in Farmington is a 32K sf facility featuring a 500-seat auditorium with space for an additional 225 seats.

{the Centene Center and Neidorff Hall – Farmington, MO}

In December 2013 it was announced that Michael and Noémi Neidorff and the Centene Charitable Foundation had made a significant leadership pledge to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Mr. Neidorff serves as the co-chair of that institution’s expansion effort.

By last fall, the Kennedy Center expansion had raised more than $135M against a $125M goal. The goal was then raised to $175M. Three new pavilions totaling 72K sf will be built adjacent to the existing center along the Potomac.

After walking away from the Ballpark Village project, and $78M in incentives from St. Louis City, Centene announced it would consider other locations, including moving its headquarters out of state. Then Clayton approved $22M in tax incentives. The company expanded its footprint within the county seat, building a $186M development that includes an 18-story office tower, 1,700-space parking garage and retail, including Cantina Laredo, Pastaria, Niche, and Kakao Chocolate at 7700 Forsyth. Space in the tower rents for $33/sq ft, the highest in the region. The tower was 98% leased in less than a year. The move jump started plans for development at the east end of Clayton’s central business district.

Centene is growing quickly and has more than 13,000 national employees. This includes approximately 2,000 in the St. Louis area. In 2000 Centene had 270 employees company-wide, with 45 in Clayton occupying 6,000 square feet of leased office space in the former Aragon Place Building at 771 Carondelet Ave. In 2003 the company bought the building for $12.6 million, and expanded into 60,000 sf of office space.

On July 2 of this past year it was announced that Centene would acquire Health Net for $6.8B. While the impact on the St. Louis headquarters is not yet known, the acquisition results in a much larger company, and one poised for growth. Centene currently services just more than 4M people across 22 states, primarily in subsidized health insurance programs serving low-income and disabled individuals. Health Net currently serves nearly 6M individuals via privately sponsored plans, Medicaid and Medicare.

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7454 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7440 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

101 Carondelet Plz

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

105 Carondelet Plz

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7510 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7518 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7520 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7634 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forysth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Clayton Property Investment LLC Co Centene Corporation

7528 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

06/04/2012 $21,020,661 (multiple parcel sale)

Centene Center II LLC

10 S Lyle Ave

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd 8TH FL

Saint Louis, MO 63105

11/12/2015 $2,200,000

Hanley Forsyth LLC

7600 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd 8TH FL

Saint Louis, MO 63105

09/25/2015 $9,000,000

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

7630 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

7632 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

7636 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

7642 Forsyth Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

12 S Hanley Rd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

14 S Hanley Rd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Hanley Forsyth LLC Co Centene Corporation

20 S Hanley Rd

Saint Louis, MO 63105

7700 Forsyth Blvd #800

Saint Louis, MO 63105

10/15/2014 $14,200,000 (multiple parcel sale)

Prior Trianon condo and mixed use development proposed late 2000s:

Massing concept from Clayton master plan: