ST. LOUIS – The former Workhouse Jail in north St. Louis was demolished Tuesday morning after several delays.
The demolition follows years of campaigning by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and activists to close the Medium Security Institution due to inhumane conditions, including overcrowding and reports of abuse.
“We’ve needed this change for a long time,” said Mayor Tishaura Jones, who has been a vocal advocate for closing the facility.
Inmates were moved to the City Justice Center in June 2022, leaving the Workhouse Jail vacant. After the building was vacated, safety concerns increased with incidents of break-ins, thefts, and fires reported. Demolition was initially scheduled for December 2024 but was postponed due to environmental concerns.
Mayor Jones emphasized the need to ensure hazardous materials like asbestos would not be released during the demolition. Following an environmental review and cleanup, demolition was set to begin Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.
City leaders are considering various redevelopment options for the site, including an animal shelter, an expansion of the city’s tow lot, and the construction of tiny homes for the homeless.
All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.