The Politics of Preservation

Struggling to halt the planned demolition of the 108-year-old Century Building, St. Louis preservationists find themselves up against an unexpected adversary---the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

1 minute read

July 7, 2004, 10:00 AM PDT

By Deborah Myerson


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.

Thanks to Deborah L. Myerson

Sunday, July 4, 2004 in St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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