160-year-old St Louis church survives fire, condemnations and legal battle as residents take over restoration

For years, a 160-year-old church in St. Louis stood as a reminder of a neighbourhood’s past while steadily becoming one of its most troubled properties. The vacant structure had endured a fire, repeated complaints and two structural condemnations. City records showed 37 service requests connected to the property, as concerns about its condition continued to grow. Now, after a year-long legal fight, the historic building has a new chance at survival.The Soulard Restoration Group, a neighbourhood association in St. Louis, has secured temporary possession of the vacant church through a court order, clearing the way for efforts to determine whether the deteriorating structure can be rehabilitated rather than demolished. The St. Louis Receivership Group will fund and manage the rehabilitation work.The development marks a major shift for the property, which had become a long-running concern for residents of the historic Soulard neighbourhood.From historic landmark to abandoned propertyThe church, built in 1866, is one of the older structures associated with the neighborhood's religious and architectural history. But its age eventually became part of the problem as the vacant building det...