ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - We have an update on St. Louis Woodworks, the locally owned business evicted from from it's Midtown facility earlier this week.
St. Woodworks is now closed, they were ordered to vacate the building May 3rd. A Circuit Judge issued the eviction order April 8th to make way for the old Armory development by Green Street Real Estate Ventures. However, demolition on the building started on February 5th, while employees were inside.
KMOX News wanted to know if the City of St. Louis approved the demo order. Initially, Building commissioner Frank Oswald didn't think so. But on Thursday, May 5th, the City said they had approved the demolition of 3650 Market Street. St. Louis Woodworks was on Prospect Avenue.
When KMOX asked Green Street why the demolition was started, while occupied, and two months before a Circuit judge ordered the eviction on April 8th, a spokesperson for Green Street said in an email: "There must be some confusion regarding the building address and demolition permit. The demolition that has been undertaken to date involved the vacant building located at 3650 Market and not the building that Woodworks previously occupied. The demolition permit is attached for reference."
St. Louis Woodworks was still operating with employees present when the demolition started. KMOX talked with employees who said the building started shaking and following the partial demolition there were leaks from the roof.
KMOX News asked Green Street several questions:
Q. The Court order eviction was for May 10th, but the eviction orders on the door were for May 3rd at 9:00 a-m. Who requested the eviction order be moved up and who authorized it? Why was it moved up?
A. The Court did not set an eviction date. Instead, the Sheriff’s Office schedules evictions based upon its availability. In this case, pursuant Missouri law, the Sheriff had until May 9th, 2022, to complete the eviction. After receiving the eviction order, the Sheriff’s Office scheduled the eviction to take place on May 3rd at 3:15 p.m. Prior to the scheduled eviction date, Green Street and Woodworks counsel engaged in numerous conversations which eventually led to Woodworks vacating the property without the Sheriff’s involvement. Moreover, Green Street has also made accommodations to allow Woodworks access to the property so that it can remove all of its equipment and property."
Q. The Court order eviction was for May 10th, but the eviction orders on the door were for May 3rd at 9:00 a-m. Who requested the eviction order be moved up and who authorized it? Why was it moved up?
A. The Court did not set an eviction date. Instead, the Sheriff’s Office schedules evictions based upon its availability. In this case, pursuant Missouri law, the Sheriff had until May 9th, 2022, to complete the eviction. After receiving the eviction order, the Sheriff’s Office scheduled the eviction to take place on May 3rd at 3:15 p.m. Prior to the scheduled eviction date, Green Street and Woodworks counsel engaged in numerous conversations which eventually led to Woodworks vacating the property without the Sheriff’s involvement. Moreover, Green Street has also made accommodations to allow Woodworks access to the property so that it can remove all of its equipment and property.
Q. Woodworks' lease gave them option of extending it at the same rate, why was there a change?
A. This has been litigated. Green Street has and will continue to abide by the rulings of the courts and respect their decisions.
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