Saw a construction worker out front of Copia yesterday and he had one of the plywood panels pulled off. Hope this means that we might see some progress here soon!
Today someone FINALLY covered the broken out windows on the second floor above Copia and blacked out all of the first floor windows. Just yesterday you could see standing water on the floor, furniture, debris, etc. inside. It makes the whole block look much better. Has anyone heard anything about Copia (or some other business) reopening there?
- 10K
The front door was open when I walked by today, so I poked my head in - it sounded like work was being done. The place is in really bad shape.
There's a sign up now - Re-opening Fall 2008.
- 6,775
DeBaliviere wrote:There's a sign up now - Re-opening Fall 2008.
You beat me to it. The guy was putting it up about 2 hours ago.
Brilliant work there STL-PD. That only took 6 1/2 months.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
Ex-busboy charged in Copia fire
By Robert Patrick
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/20/2008
A disgruntled former busboy has been arrested and charged with starting a three-alarm fire that caused more than $1 million damage at a downtown St. Louis wine bar and restaurant late last year, officials announced this morning.
Prosecutors said that Gilbert Summers, 26, a convicted robber, set three fires Dec. 29 at Copia Urban Winery, 1122 Washington Avenue in the Loft District , and the Vanguard Lofts building next door. He is charged in federal court with two counts of arson.
Officials said Summers was caught in a cooperative effort of the St. Louis police and fire departments and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They said Summers had worked at Copia only about one month. There was no explanation of what his grudge was.
continues...
I'm pretty sure he was referring to the Police Department, not the Post-Dispatch.
If so, they shouldn't be criticized either, since the dude was ultimately indicted on federal charges.
bonwich wrote:If so, they shouldn't be criticized either, since the dude was ultimately indicted on federal charges.
I see your point. There was probably a lot of inter-agency work needed to get Federal charges on this guy. Because if they can convict him on the Federal stuff: he's going to be gone for a very very long time.
Still, they had a good idea what happened not long after the fire.
dweebe wrote:bonwich wrote:If so, they shouldn't be criticized either, since the dude was ultimately indicted on federal charges.
I see your point. There was probably a lot of inter-agency work needed to get Federal charges on this guy. Because if they can convict him on the Federal stuff: he's going to be gone for a very very long time.
Still, they had a good idea what happened not long after the fire.
Agreed. I think that because the guy had a prior and because of the severity of the damage, they wanted to nail him as hard as they could.
Federal arson charges? That's odd. To be indicted on federal charges of arson, the arson must have been committed on federal property or somewhere under the Government's maritime jurisdiction. Copia qualifies as niether.
Although under Title 18 Section 842(i), it is a crime for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to ship, transport, receive, or possess "any explosive which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce." Maybe that's it?
Although under Title 18 Section 842(i), it is a crime for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to ship, transport, receive, or possess "any explosive which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce." Maybe that's it?
- 390
Thorough investigation to nail the arsonist perp seems like prudent action to me.
Of course, I can see now that they should have just asked Dweeb. Then Dweeb could have stood up in court and said "Your honor, this busboy did it!" and then the judge would have said "Thank you Dweeb!," banged his/her gavel GUILTY! and would have gone on to the next case.
Those gubmnt bureaucrats just love making things complicated.
Of course, I can see now that they should have just asked Dweeb. Then Dweeb could have stood up in court and said "Your honor, this busboy did it!" and then the judge would have said "Thank you Dweeb!," banged his/her gavel GUILTY! and would have gone on to the next case.
Those gubmnt bureaucrats just love making things complicated.
- 542
steve wrote:Federal arson charges? That's odd. To be indicted on federal charges of arson, the arson must have been committed on federal property or somewhere under the Government's maritime jurisdiction. Copia qualifies as niether.
Hmm, maybe he shot a flaming arrow over the river from Illinois like those guys in Braveheart, and that made it interstate.
^ Close. I think I heard a newscast say that the majority of Copia's patrons were considered to be from Illinois and Missouri, making it interstate.
- 6,775
dweebe wrote:Brilliant work there STL-PD. That only took 6 1/2 months.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
Ex-busboy charged in Copia fire
By Robert Patrick
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/20/2008
A disgruntled former busboy has been arrested and charged with starting a three-alarm fire that caused more than $1 million damage at a downtown St. Louis wine bar and restaurant late last year, officials announced this morning.
Prosecutors said that Gilbert Summers, 26, a convicted robber, set three fires Dec. 29 at Copia Urban Winery, 1122 Washington Avenue in the Loft District , and the Vanguard Lofts building next door. He is charged in federal court with two counts of arson.
Officials said Summers was caught in a cooperative effort of the St. Louis police and fire departments and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They said Summers had worked at Copia only about one month. There was no explanation of what his grudge was.
continues...
So you're complaining that the Post doesn't report future news?
Or that the Police Dept doesn't catch crooks by the time the show is over, like they do on CSI?
- 3,235
Their sign claims they are going to re-open this fall however I do not see any progress taking place. If would be great if they can get up and running to provide another jolt of life to this bustling stretch. Does anyone have any info on their re-opening?
I have been keeping an eye on Copia through my windows and have so far seen ZERO signs of ANY work being done in the building. Given how long it takes most other businesses to get anything done in the city, I would not expect them to open any earlier than late spring if at all.
its a shame, i really liked that place.
its a shame, i really liked that place.
I believe arson at any building or space accessible by the public is a federal crime. Could be the fact that multiple buildings were damaged, or the amount of damage, were factors as well.steve wrote:Federal arson charges? That's odd. To be indicted on federal charges of arson, the arson must have been committed on federal property or somewhere under the Government's maritime jurisdiction. Copia qualifies as niether.
Although under Title 18 Section 842(i), it is a crime for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to ship, transport, receive, or possess "any explosive which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce." Maybe that's it?
i think the earlier poster probably had it right. if someone googles this, i'm guessing you'll find congress justifying the statute via the commerce clause - meaning there has to be some involvement with interstate commerce or an affect on interstate commerce for federal arson charges to apply.
It looked like there were a few folks doing some work this moring....hopfully this means they will be getting this place up and running againg soon!
There were guys in the back doing demo work and filling dumpsters today, so I would assume work is definitely starting.