Demolition begins on former Workhouse

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4)—Demolition has begun on the Medium Security Institution, known as the Workhouse, in St. Louis.

“The Workhouse is not and was not fit for human beings. Now, we make sure that no human being will be detained in this facility ever again,” said Mayor Tishaura Jones. “Demolishing the Workhouse does not heal the wounds it has left on all the individual survivors, their friends and families, and the St. Louis community. By beginning this demolition today, we are saying that we will never again accept the conditions that were apparent here.”

The buildings that formerly housed female detainees will be the first to be demolished. The City said that work will continue to abate the property before the rest of the demolition can be completed.

Shortly after St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones took office in 2021, she ordered the facility to be closed.

The City of St. Louis asked for the public’s input to decide the future of The Workhouse site in 2023. According to the City of St. Louis, the demolition of the facility matches the recommendations. The Jones administration said they are also pursuing a recommendation to create a memory marker.