Demolition is set to commence shortly on the St. Louis jail commonly known as the City Workhouse, a facility that has faced longstanding criticism, according to Mayor Tishaura Jones. The mayor’s office announced in a news release on Wednesday that the demolition will start on December 16. More details regarding the future of the site will be revealed in early 2025, with plans including a potential animal shelter and space for storing towed vehicles. Conner Kerrigan, a spokesperson for Mayor Jones, mentioned to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that there is a possibility of establishing tiny homes for the homeless at the location.
The City Workhouse, constructed in the 1960s, has been a target of complaints for numerous years. Allegations include infestations of rats and rodents, presence of black mold, and extreme temperatures ranging from stifling heat in the summer to biting cold in the winter, as highlighted in a 2017 lawsuit filed on behalf of detainees. Mayor Jones has repeatedly pledged to shut down the workhouse. By 2022, all detainees had been relocated to the downtown City Justice Center.
