The National Trust's Indictment in the Crime of the Century

To:  Trustees and Officers of The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Whereas, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is funding the demolition of the historic Century Building in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, as part of the proposed U.S. Custom House and Post Office project; and

Whereas, the Century Building from 1896 is a ten-story Classical Revival building facing the Old Post Office along one full block of Ninth Street. According to the national Society of Architectural Historians, it may be unique among American office blocks in its use of Georgia marble for all three street elevations. The Century Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 2002; and

Whereas, Plaintiff Marcia Behrendt filed a lawsuit on May 28, 2003, (amended October 9, 2003) seeking judicial review of the programmatic agreement governing the project. She asserts that the project, specifically the demolition of the Century Building, violates the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. On May 12, 2004, US Magistrate Judge Audrey G. Fleissig denied three motions to dismiss that had been filed by the defendants, and ruled that the developers are proper defendants in this action. Defendants include the GSA and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; and

Whereas, the Century Building is threatened with demolition despite the fact that its adaptive reuse would satisfy the parking needs of the proposed key tenants of the Old Post Office (Webster University and the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District). The National Park Service has visited the site and agreed that interior parking in the Century Building would be approved under the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Webster University has reduced its lease arrangement by more than 35% and expects most of its increase in downtown enrollment to be evening students. Its daytime parking requirements are now estimated at only 90 spaces. The Missouri Court of Appeals requires 70 parking spaces. Both tenants will be vacating other historic buildings and other parking spaces in the downtown core. Nonetheless, the developers continue to insist upon a 1000-car parking garage on the site of the Century Building; and

Whereas, current historic preservation best practices view parking garages as anathema to the continuity of the urban environment. To quote Trust President Richard Moe on a similar case in a similar city (Detroit's Madison-Lenox Hotel, one of the Trust's Eleven Most Endangered Places of 2004, May 24, 2004): "What the Motor City needs is more preservation, not another parking lot." Like the Detroit's Lenox Hotel, the Century Building is "an asset too valuable to waste;" and

Whereas, while preservationists around the country have argued that the Old Post Office project could succeed without the demolition of the Century Building, the Trust continues to support its demolition by providing 4.3 Million Dollars of New Market Tax Credits normally reserved for preservation of historic structures and places; and

Whereas, if the National Trust chose to exercise its leverage for preservation, there are reputable and well-financed developers in St. Louis who have committed to offering a mixed use proposal for including housing and interior parking in the Century Building; and

Whereas, Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc, sent a delegation to the offices of the Trust in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2004, to apprise the Trust that the justifications presented by the developers three years ago for the demolition of the Century Building had proven to be false. Among others, all but one of the buildings around the Old Post Office have been spoken for and two new 770 and 880 space parking garages within a half-block of the Old Post Office had three and four empty parking decks; and

Whereas, when faced with this new information, the Trust did not amend its conditions for financial support to the project. This regrettable decision was communicated to Landmarks and other concerned preservationists via email by President Richard Moe on June 23, 2004; and

Whereas, the National Trust's continued support of the Old Post Office project, as proposed, directly results in the demolition of the historically significant Century Building; and

Whereas, the National Trust still has the ability to intervene in this ill conceived demolition plan that is presently set for Wednesday, June 30, 2004. With its significant financial leverage, the Trust could influence a decision to choose an alternative parking solution. This stand would be consistent with President Richard Moe's recent public statements to the effect that demolition for parking garages does not contribute to the vibrancy of downtown cores; and

Whereas, the undersigned believe its current support is a complete abdication of the National Trust's mission to provide leadership, education, and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities; and

THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc., and the undersigned demand the National Trust immediately change its position and absolutely condition the awarding of its 4.3 Million Dollars of New Market Tax Credits on the developers placing parking for the proposed project in a renovated Century Building or on the vacant lot to the north of the Old Post Office.

The Undersigned

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The The National Trust's Indictment in the Crime of the Century Petition to Trustees and Officers of The National Trust for Historic Preservation was created by Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc. and written by Matt Ghio.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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