St. Louis Schools Contracted Three Historic Demolitions
The St. Louis Public School District has awarded $3.6 million in contracts to demolish three historic school sites.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Administration
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The St. Louis Public School District has moved to demolish Euclid, Scullin, and Hempstead Schools. These historic properties are slated to be cleared and left as empty lots following the district's decision.
Why it matters
The district chose demolition after determining redevelopment proposals for the Euclid School property were too risky to pursue. This decision represents a shift away from adaptive reuse for these specific district-owned buildings.
The district will pay $1,351,282 to demolish Euclid School, $907,234 for Scullin School, and $1,430,000 for Hempstead School. Hempstead School specifically sustained fire damage before the district reached its current decision.
The players
St. Louis Public School District
The local government entity responsible for managing school facilities, property development, and district infrastructure in the city.
The details
The district signed individual contracts with demolition companies to clear the three historic properties. Officials opted for this route after rejecting various development proposals, citing potential financial and operational risks. The sites will transition into empty lots once the demolition work is complete.
Timeline
1994: The school district closed Arlington Elementary School.
July 2009: News reports highlighted the condition of the abandoned Arlington Elementary building.
The Home Front
This move marks a shift away from the adaptive reuse of historic neighborhood assets that previously saw buildings like Arlington Elementary converted into housing. The district is opting for total clearance over the redevelopment strategies used in prior decades.
If you live near these properties, prepare for upcoming demolition activity and potential changes to neighborhood noise levels and traffic patterns. Residents may want to contact the school district for the specific project timelines to help plan for localized construction disruptions.
The takeaway
The St. Louis Public School District is moving forward with clearing three historic school sites at a total cost of $3.6 million. Homeowners in the surrounding areas should monitor district communications for specific demolition schedules and safety notices regarding the work sites.
Further reading
For more on how the district manages its facilities, see the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox2Now.
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