RenovateSTL.com is PROUD to host the official "Crime of the Century" web site at http://century.renovateSTL.com

Please take a few moments to look at Alan Brunettin's photos documenting the tragic demise of this former historic marble-clad building. Slowly but surely we are losing irreplaceable structures across the city - "it's just one building" starts to add up quickly until we are left without a record of our unique building heritage.

KUDOS to everyone who fought so hard to save this irreplaceable building. SHAME on the politicians, developers, and architects that focus on short-term band-aids over long-term solutions. Sometimes even when you are right, you lose, and it sucks. I am saddened by the blatant disregard for what has been proven over and over again to make successful, vibrant cities: walkable urban streets with a diversity of uses. Another parking garage to "save" downtown - shame, shame, shame.

UPDATE: The "developers," the City of St. Louis, and the State of Missouri have filed a retaliatory suit against two downtown residents for their parts in protesting the demolition of the Century Building. They seek actual damages in the amount of $1.5 million and punitive damages in an amount "sufficient to deter said defendants and others from like conduct." A successful suit would set back preservation efforts across the country - while it should probably be expected that politically connected developers feel threatened by grassroots opposition, Mayor Slay has reached a new low by suing his own citizens.

Please donate to the Downtown Defense Fund and help defray what could amount to significant legal bills for these two gutsy preservationists.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Century Building in downtown St. Louis has been demolished for an unnecessary parking garage. The Century Building story is filled with backroom deals, political backscratching, and shameful ignorance of basic urban planning principles. Most disturbing, perhaps, is that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is contributing over $6 million in tax credits to help fund the project. Even though this demolition is cited by the developer as critical to the success of the Old Post Office renovation (demonstrated to be false), the project is receiving State and Federal Historic Tax Credits.

A partial list of the people complicit in this travesty includes:

• Steve Stogel, Developer(?)
• Mark Schnuck/DESCO, Partner
• National Trust for Historic Preservation, Contributing tax credits
• Trivers Architects, Architect(?)
• Francis Slay, Mayor (received campaign contributions from developers)
• Barb Geisman, Mayor's Staff (strongarmed alternate proposals off the table)
• Audrey Fleissig, Judge (denied TRO to halt demolition)

Two separate lawsuits stalled the closing and transfer of title to the "developer". In a last ditch effort a Temporary Restraining Order was sought to prevent the demolition until these lawsuits were complete. The developers hastily brought in a crane and started hacking away at the Georgia marble building while the request was being heard. In the end, Judge Audrey Fleissig denied the TRO.

SaveTheCentury.org - This web site documents the (lost) struggle to save this irreplaceable building.

ONLINE PETITION - The Landmarks Association has sponsored a petition indicting the National Trust for its support of demolishing the Century building. Over 3500 people from across the country have signed. Please join us.