The Politics of Preservation

A promising plan is in the works to redevelop the historic, but now vacant, Old Post Office in St. Louis with two major tenants, Webster University and the eastern district of Missouri Court of Appeals. But there's a catch: developers and city officials maintain that the 19th century commercial structure across the street, the Century Building, must be demolished to provide sufficient space for parking. To the frustration of local preservationists, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has endorsed the plan, and even kicked in $4.3 million in New Market tax credits for the project.