Does anyone know whether this project involves demolition of the "building" with the wings, or is it demolition of other adjacent structures?



Mayor Slay.com mentioned this property today and noted that we'll soon see "demolition crews" on the site.



Personally, I think the building is very appealing and should be saved, if at all possible. Who wouldn't patronize a Home Depot with wings?

As I understand it (and I think this was covered somewhere on the forum) the 'wing' building will be torn down for a standard Home Depot. This was an ammunition production site and the buildings/ground are contaminated - I agree that it would be sweet to have the Home Depot in there. Imagine the sign they could put up - you could see it 3 miles down 70! I wouldn't even mind the sign if they would keep this standing.

I thought the government gave hefty incentives to people who are willing to redevelop and remediate brownfield sites. Or is that money for demolition and subsequent remediation to EPA standards?

It looks like they started taking parts of it down yesterday. On my way home on 70 there were lots of panels missing from the roof and N. wall.

any pics?

I saw this too. There was a story in the post dispatch last week about demo crews running into problems with underground bunkers and tunnels all throughout the complex. I believe a good portion of the area is getting demo'd, not just the ammo plant.

No pics of the demolition per se, but excellent pics in and around the building taken earlier this month:



http://undergroundozarks.com/blog/index ... tion_plant



Also note this comment:

Comment from: steve wiechert [Visitor]

I am in charge of tearing down these buildings. started demo right after your visit. Call me if you want 618-920-1856. working monday thru friday 8-5 date 9-18-06

09/18/06 @ 23:10

Ammunitions Plant on Google Maps



-RBB

As a child I thought of this building as a Viking with its horned helmet and as a landmark that told me when we entered St. Louis City along I-70.

Great pics from the mayor's website . . . what a great structure! I really do believe that creative people with some forsight could resuse this. Landmarks like this (and gas storage tanks and grain elevators) make St. Louis very unique.

Old ammunition plant will make way for consumer goods

By Tim O'Neil

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

11/29/2006



The rusting landmark with the mysterious U-shaped roof towering over Interstate 70 is finally coming down.



The old building is more than just an oddity for harried commuters. It once housed the forges of the old St. Louis Ordnance Plant, a 276-acre complex in northwestern St. Louis that was the nation's biggest ammunition works in World War II. It has been idle since 1969.



Otis Williams, deputy director of the St. Louis Development Corp., said the city and federal governments had been working since 2000 to clear 18 acres for redevelopment, preferably as a shopping center for the Walnut Park neighborhood. Demolition of the old forge and seven other buildings began in September.



"Once this place is totally clear and the environmental risk is gone, we think retailers will look upon it favorably," Williams said. "It was a big mess. It won't be anymore."



Williams said the federal government had spent about $7 million for environmental cleanup of the property. The city took title in February and picked Koman Properties, a local developer, to scout potential retailers.



Home Depot considered the site but withdrew last spring. Scott Haley, Koman's development director, said Tuesday that the company remained optimistic that it could find tenants.



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