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Resident urges pause on Lake School demolition; council agrees to follow up with Parkway district
Summary
A longtime resident asked the Creve Coeur City Council to pause a demolition plan for historic Lake School and explore using it in Parkway School District curriculum. Council directed staff to contact Parkway superintendent for discussions but noted renovation costs and prior decisions already in motion.
A Creve Coeur resident told the City Council on Monday night that demolishing Lake School would erase a tangible piece of the city’s history and urged officials to pause and explore alternatives. "I would like you to take a moment and look through this tonight," Laura Ayers said, offering council members handouts with historical notes and a request that Parkway School District staff meet with city staff before demolition proceeds.
The council agreed to add the topic to new business for discussion after a council member moved to reopen consideration. City staff said the council previously authorized moving forward with demolition and that a contractor is queued up, but acknowledged historical items in the building would be preserved prior to removal. "We still have to empty the contents of the building, and there are some historical items that we will want to preserve prior to demolition," a city staff speaker said.
Public speakers and several council members cited a consultant's assessment estimating renovation and relocation costs in excess of $300,000 and noted logistical challenges such as raising the building, installing a new foundation and potential lead remediation. Ayers disputed the staff memo’s characterization that the building was "not worth saving," saying she had not seen the consultant’s full findings and urged the council to consider phased or fundraising approaches and to revisit available funds before demolition.
Council members and staff discussed potential funding sources raised during the meeting, including proceeds from the sale of Fountain Park and a municipal parks grant. One council member said municipal parks grants and stormwater-related funds have been used in the capital improvement program, and that any repurposing would be a choice among competing priorities.
Council directed staff to reach out to Parkway School District superintendent Dr. Keith Marty to discuss whether the district would be interested in using Lake School as part of its curriculum, while noting that the building would not be usable in its current condition without significant investment. No formal motion to rescind the demolition contract was recorded during the meeting.
The council did not take a final vote on demolition at this session; staff said the item remains scheduled for future action after follow-up with the school district and additional staff work.
