The Laclede Gas Building's future has been up in the air since The Laclede Group decided in 2013 that it would relocate to the former General American Life Building just a few blocks away in downtown St. Louis. David Kelpe , senior vice president and principal of office brokerage at Cassidy Turley in St. Louis, who represents Hertz Investment Group , the California-based real estate investment company that owned the building, confirmed the acquisition.