ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones announced Wednesday demolition for most of the buildings of the former Medium Security Institution known as the Workhouse, will take place right before the end of 2024 beginning on Dec. 16.
The vast majority of structures, including guard towers and former women's housing facilities, will be included in this demolition. The fence will remain in order to secure the ground.
"The unacceptable and inhumane conditions that many detainees at the Workhouse suffered cannot be forgotten," said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones in a release. "One of the first things I did as Mayor was close this jail. Our community deserves better than to see the facility continue to stand as it did, so I am pleased that we can now move forward with the demolition."
Shortly after Jones took office in 2021, she, along with former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner and Congresswoman Cori Bush toured the facility then would later on announce the closure of the facility.
The last detainee at the Workhouse departed in May 2022.
In 2023, the City of St. Louis asked for the public's input on future of The Workhouse and the city says demolition of the facility "tracks with those recommendations."
The city says they are also pursuing a recommendation to create a memory marker.
"As we take these steps forward, we must include the community where we can. That is why I'm asking for anyone who feels moved to do so to submit concepts, drawings, designs, poetry, or written descriptions for a memorial for those who suffered at the Workhouse," said Mayor Jones.
