ST. LOUIS — The owner of downtown’s Railway Exchange Building has stopped paying for security, heightening concerns over the dangers the historic 21-story property poses to the public.
Trespassers have ripped off some of the plywood that covered the property’s doors on Olive Street. One door was propped open, leading to elevators where thieves had ripped off the wall’s plaster. Glass covered the ground in front of another door where trespassers appeared to use the plywood to break the glass.
Steph Kukuljan and other business reporters bring you insights into ºüÀêÊÓƵ-area real estate and development.
Amos Harris, a former representative of the owner, Florida-based Hudson Holdings, told the Post-Dispatch that Hudson stopped paying for a security firm to patrol the building in July, around the same time Harris stopped working for Hudson, he said.
Trespassers have broken doors and windows to gain entry into downtown's Railway Exchange Building.
Steph Kukuljan
“The building is being plundered and has many residents,†Harris said in a text message.
Hudson Holdings principal Andrew “Avi†Greenbaum did not respond to a text message asking for comment. His voicemail was full and not accepting new messages. His attorney, Jeff Hunt of Rosenblum Goldenhersh, declined to comment.
The 1.2 million-square-foot building — once Famous-Barr’s flagship store — is in the heart of ºüÀêÊÓƵ’ central business district. City officials and downtown boosters have said that a redevelopment of the Railway Exchange Building could help turn downtown around. But Hudson has been mired in litigation with the building’s lien-holders, which has clouded the real estate title of the building and impeded new efforts to renovate or sell it.
City Hall has long known about the building’s risk to the public. Officials condemned it in January. Hudson hired a security firm to patrol the building then. The sheer size of the building — it consists of 1.2 million square feet — makes it difficult to secure, but city officials have also talked about their challenges in reaching Hudson.
And by the Post-Dispatch show the security firm telling city officials about how “dire†the situation had become: People were living between floors. Thieves were getting into the building through underground tunnels. Security officers never patrolled the building alone.
In March, a ºüÀêÊÓƵ Fire Department search and rescue dog was killed while searching the property .
Nick Dunne, a spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, said in a statement that the city’s Building Division has had numerous calls to board up the building, including as recent as last week.
“Because break-ins continue to occur regularly and without security present at the Railway Exchange building,†Dunne said, “city officials are meeting with key downtown stakeholders while the Problem Properties unit works to identify long-term solutions to hold the building owners accountable for this ongoing public safety concern.â€
Dunne did not respond to follow-up questions, including who the key stakeholders are. But Cara Spencer, alderwoman for the neighborhood, said she’s never been included in the city’s efforts with the building and said she’s long called for a downtown-wide effort to find a solution for the site, which takes up an entire city block at 615 Olive Street.
“It’s not as easy as the Building Division boarding it up because there are people in there,†Spencer said. “You have to have a more robust approach.â€
The Citizens’ Service Bureau, which fields complaints across the city, on social media Monday that a service request was sent to the Building Division regarding the unsecured entryways.
CRIME PROBLEM: With some businesses threatening to move out of downtown because of crime, Jim Gallagher and David Nicklaus assess the mayor’s latest effort to make the central business district safer.
Photos: The Railway Exchange, once home to Famous-Barr and Macy's in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Peeling paint on a Railway Exchange Building former entrance in Dec. 2021
The Railway Exchange Building, which used to be the downtown home of Famous-Barr, and then Macy's, is one of the properties which is being taxed improperly. Its deterioration is evident, seen Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021.
Hillary Levin, Post-Dispatch
Plane flies past the Railway Exchange in 1928
Pilot Charlie Fowler flies through downtown past the Railway Exchange Building in 1928. Atop the plane is his wing-walking wife, Marie Meyer.Â
ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Workers polish the old Famous-Barr signs on Macy's in 2006
9/7/06 Thursday ºüÀêÊÓƵ Tim Koerper, left, and Elmer Travers, long time employees of Famous-Barr and now Macy's, polish the old Famous-Barr signs on the corner of the Railway Exchange Building at 8th and Olive Thursday afternoon. The store has been converted to Macy's but the Famous-Barr signs will remain on the four corner of the building. Macy's grand opening is Friday.
J.B. Forbes, Post-Dispatch
Macy's prepares for grand opening in 2006
Workers ready the display windows for the Macy's grand opening in Sept. 7, 2006.
J.B. Forbes, Post-Dispatch
Downtown Macy's Closes in August 2013
The Macy's downtown location is slowly being emptied on Aug. 6, 2013. The doors to the department store, originally the flagship location for Famous-Barr, opened in 1924.
Stephanie S. Cordle, Post-Dispatch
Sisters and long-time shoppers at downtown Famous-Barr in 2005
"How does it look?" asks Nancy McDuffie of Wentzville of her older sister Jean Presti of Richmond Heights while trying on hats at the downtown Famous Barr on Nov. 25, 2005. For the past 12 years the sisters have made it a tradition to go shopping together at the Famous Barr downtown. "It will be different next year. It will be Macy's," said Presti, who was also joined by their younger sister.) PHOTO BY LAURIE SKRIVAN/PD STAFF
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Book cover of "Famous-Barr, ºüÀêÊÓƵ Shopping At Its Finest"
The book cover of "Famous-Barr, ºüÀêÊÓƵ Shopping At Its Finest," by Edna Campos Gravenhorst, published in 2014. Gravenhorst says the Facebook Group "Famous-Barr, the Story of a ºüÀêÊÓƵ Department Store" has been archiving information and photos on the store since 2014.
Famous-Barr downtown pedestrian bridge constructed in 1962
In 1962, progress was being made on the construction of a pedestrian bridge from the Famous-Barr downtown dept. store to its 10-story garage being build across Olive Street. This view is of the construction looking west down Olive from 6th Street. The garage, occupying the western part of the 6th-7th-Olive-Pine block, accommodates 903 cars. The covered pedestrian bridge was located between the 4th floor of the store and the 5th floor of the garage.
Post-Dispatch file photo
Look Back at Famous-Barr window train display in 1952
Train layouts were big draws during the glory days of Lionel and American Flyer, then the two most popular lines of toy electric trains. The stores reserved corner windows to allow for dramatic scenes of trains rushing out of tunnels, over bridges and through snow-covered towns. This is a view of Famous-Barr's five-level train layout in 1952. The store, now Macy's, still has a Christmas train display in the corner window at Seventh and Locust streets.
Post-Dispatch Staff photo
ºüÀêÊÓƵ drops out of the top 20 metropolitan areas in the country in March 2022
A man walks by an advertisement on the historic Railway Exchange Building urging visitors to explore the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Riverfront on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ. The ºüÀêÊÓƵ metropolitan area, growing just 1.2% in population over the past decade, has now dropped out of the top 20 metropolitan areas in the country, according to the newest figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
City condemns Railway Exchange Building in Jan. 2023
A ºüÀêÊÓƵ city code enforcement worker boards up an entrance to the pedestrian bridge connecting the Railway Exchange Building to its parking garage after city officials condemned the property over threats to public health on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
City condemns Railway Exchange Building in Jan. 2023
Trevon Finney of ºüÀêÊÓƵ city code enforcement dates a board after attaching it to an entry to the parking garage at the Railway Exchange Building after city officials condemned the property over threats to public health on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
City condemns Railway Exchange Building in Jan. 2023
Graffiti covers the Railway Exchange Building's parking garage in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. ºüÀêÊÓƵ officials have condemned the building and garage over threats to public health.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Grafitti covers former Railway Exchage pedestrian bridge in March 2022 as ºüÀêÊÓƵ population dips below 300,000
Graffiti covers a pedestrian bridge connecting the Railway Exchange building to its parking garage over Olive Street in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Recent census figures show that the population of ºüÀêÊÓƵ has dipped below 300,000.Â
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Grafitti and regional advertising adorn the Railway Exchange windows in March 2022 as ºüÀêÊÓƵ population dips below 300,000
The boarded windows of the Railway Exchange building, promoting living in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, are in various states of disrepair on Locust Street on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Recent census figures show that the population of ºüÀêÊÓƵ has dipped below 300,000.Â
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
The Railway Exchange Building in Dec. 2021
The Railway Exchange Building, which used to be the downtown home of Famous-Barr, and then Macy's, is seen Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Hillary Levin, Post-Dispatch
Former Railway Exchange pedestrian bridge seen in Oct. 2021
A pedestrian bridge over Olive Street connects an empty Railway Exchange Building to a parking lot in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com .
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
WashU students photographing and studying the Railway Exchange in 2014
Architecture students from the Sam Fox School at Washington University in ºüÀêÊÓƵ participating in Catelina Friexas class "Metamorphic Cities: Sustainable Strategies for Adaptive Reuse" are developing proposals for the re-use of the Railway Exchange Building in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Students from the class examined the building and reviewed architectural drawings Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. Jonathan Bryer photographs the building.
Photo by Sid Hastings/Washington University in ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Buying the remains as downtown Macy's closes in August 2013
Jose Delgado of St. Charles secures clothing racks and shelving he purchased from the downtown Macy's store to a trailer on Aug. 6, 2013 in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Tuesday was the last day for the store, which occupied at 601 Olive St., which first opened in 1924.
Stephanie S. Cordle, Post-Dispatch
A shopper recounts memories as Macy's to close downtown store in 2013
"How are we supposed to know what to wear?" said Renata Heard, 51, from ºüÀêÊÓƵ, when she learned that the downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ Macy's was going to close. Heard was standing outside one of the Macy's display windows on Olive Street Monday morning, May 20, 2013. "My mom used to bring me here on the holidays for the candy and the windows," Heard said. "This is an icon. They can't do that," she said.
J.B. Forbes, Post-Dispatch
Railway Exchange seen in May 2013 after Macy's announces store closure plans
A pedestrian passes the main entrance of the Railway Exchange building on Monday, May 20, 2013 where the offices of the former May Co. were located. Now operated by Macy's, the building has a new fate. Macy's announced Monday that it will close its downtown department store in August.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Macy's announces plans to close downtown location in May 2013
Macy's employees work on a window display on the Olive Street side of its downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ location on Monday, May 20, 2013. Macy's announced that it will be closing that store in August.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
May Company announces layoffs in Sept. 2005
May Company employees gathered in front of their Railway Exchange Building downtown office after the company announced 1700 ºüÀêÊÓƵ area layoffs Tuesday morning, Sept. 20, 2005.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Famous-Barr sold to May Company in 2005
Still in wonderment over the weekend's announcement of the acquisition of the May Department Stores Company by Federated Department Stores Inc., many customers and employees alike worry that the downtown Famous-Barr -- which is located in the Railway Exchange Building along with May Co. corporate offices -- could be closed. The store is seen at Olive St at 7th St. on February 28, 2005.
Kevin Manning, Post-Dispatch
Shoppers ride the Famous-Barr escalator in Jan. 2003
Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - The 65-year-old Art Deco-style escalator at the downtown Famous-Barr will be taken out in January and replaced with a new one at a cost of about $2 million.
Jerry Naunheim, Jr., Post-Dispatch
A Famous Barr window draws some lookers in 1981
Shoppers look at the Christmas windows of Famous-Barr in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Nov. 27, 1981.Â
Post-Dispatch photo
Shoppers look at a Christmas window in 1980
The Christmas windows in downtown open to an eagerly awaiting group of shoppers on Friday, Nov. 28, 1980 at the Famous Barr store.
Post-Dispatch photo
Shoppers look at a Famous Barr window in 1974
A group of ºüÀêÊÓƵans carry on a longstanding tradition by going downtown to look at newly unveiled Christmas display windows on Nov. 29, 1974.
Post-Dispatch photo
Model trains draw shoppers Famous-Barr windows in 1974
Shoppers stop to watch model trains in the window of Famous-Barr in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Dec. 18, 1974.Â
Post-Dispatch photo
ºüÀêÊÓƵans gather around department store TV for news of JFK assassination in 1963
People gather around televisions in the appliance department at Famous-Barr downtown on Nov. 22, 1963, shortly after the first bulletins from Dallas that the President had been shot.
Amanda St. Amand
Couple takes in Famous-Barr Christmas windows in 1939
A young couple treks downtown in late November 1939 for a Christmas outing. They are watching the moving figures in a window at Famous-Barr depicting carolers in a parlor. Loudspeakers outside played along with carols.
Post-Dispatch photo
Kids pose on a horse with Santa at Famous-Barr in 1933
Reader Arleen Roettger sent this 1933 picture of her and her sister, June (with doll) in the the Post-dispatch in 2004. They saw Santa at the downtown Famous-Barr, and she wrote: "Believe it or not, that was a real horse."
Whoah, Santa (Photo No. 4) This picture was taken on Dec. 9, 1933, at Famous-Barr downtown. My sister, June, got to hold a doll because she was scared. We wore our best including our "Sunday" coats with matching hats. Note the white cotton stockings and Mary Jane shoes. Believe it or not, that was a real horse. -Arleen Roettger, ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Photo via Arleen Roettger
Macy's announces plans to close downtown location in May 2013
Macy's employee Bill Cambron puts decals on a window display on the Olive Street side of its downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ location on Monday, May 20, 2013. Macy's announced that it will be closing that department store in August. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Christian Gooden
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