The red-brick Chemical, built in 1896 with an addition in 1902, is a city landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has long resisted redevelopment.

Restoration St. Louis, led by Amy and Amrit Gill, had the building under contract in the spring but stepped away. They are concentrating on putting a boutique hotel and apartments in the former Union Trust building next door.

Before the Gills eyed the Chemical, St. Louis investors had partnered with a Kansas City developer on an apartment project. They bowed out in March. The recession and resulting housing crash nearly a decade ago ended a previous developer’s condo plan for the building.

On Locust Street, TWG is proposing 88 market-rate apartments. The $20 million project would put apartments in the vacant buildings at 917 and 921 Locust. The plan includes demolition of the three-story building at 923 Locust, replaced by a 2,400-square-foot commercial building with rooftop patios.