Two long-vacant St. Louis school buildings could soon undergo stabilization work as city officials try to preserve the historic properties for future redevelopment rather than demolition.
Contractors recently submitted bids for repair work at the former Cleveland High School in Dutchtown and Marshall School in The Ville, The St. Louis Business Journal reported. The buildings have sat vacant for years while suffering water damage, vandalism and break-ins.
The projects are being overseen by the St. Louis Development Corporation and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, which acquired the properties earlier this year from St. Louis Public Schools.
Officials have said the immediate goal is to stabilize the buildings and prevent further deterioration while the city explores long-term redevelopment possibilities.
Funding for the work is expected to come largely from federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which must be spent by late 2026.
The former Cleveland High School, at 4352 Louisiana Ave., has been vacant for nearly two decades after multiple redevelopment proposals stalled. The building has suffered years of water damage and vandalism.
Marshall School, at 4322 Aldine Ave., has also remained empty for years, drawing concern from residents and preservation advocates over worsening conditions and repeated trespassing.
City officials and preservation advocates have argued both schools remain historically significant neighborhood landmarks despite mounting rehabilitation costs and environmental concerns tied to aging buildings.
Stephen Westbrooks, the recently appointed president and CEO of SLDC, has said the agency intends to take a strategic approach to the future of the sites rather than predetermine whether they should be redeveloped or demolished.
“The intention is to do what’s best,” Westbrooks told St. Louis Magazine in March, adding that the agency wants to study “what the future opportunity is for that building.”
Potential long-term uses publicly discussed for the properties have included housing, mixed-use redevelopment and community-oriented projects, although no final redevelopment plans have been announced.