It is an unfortunate fact that reporters can call, we can email, we can text, but sometimes it’s not until after we hit publish that we get people’s attention—and so it was for the owners of the historic building Ryan Krull wrote about yesterday. The building was set for demolition in part because the owners were unresponsive to the city or prospective buyers, something Ryan’s story apparently changed in a jiffy, as you’ll read below.
Ryan also has news on some costly litigation in St. Louis County. Expect the County Council to be unhappy about the size of this tab—and with the bill rapidly nearing the limit they set years ago, they’ll again have the chance to weigh in. Get up to speed below, and don’t forget to vote today!
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Quinn Chapel has a long history in Carondelet, but has been vacant for years. Photography by Ryan Krull
THIS JUST IN
Historic chapel’s demolition is now on hold
The City of St. Louis had planned yesterday to start soliciting bids for the demolition of the 160-year-old Quinn Chapel in Carondelet, but those plans are now on hold. The teardown of the building that for more than a century was home to a predominantly Black congregation was a sore spot among neighbors, as several had expressed interest in buying the property and preserving it. The problem was that the current owner wasn’t taking their calls.
On the heels of SLM’s reporting yesterday, a representative for the owners reached out to the city’s Building Division, Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, and members of the historical preservation community to see what could be done. Getting all the parties talking is a big step in the right direction, though it’s still unclear what the future holds. The building remains on the city’s list of properties to be demolished, just not starting immediately.
"We fully accept responsibility for the neglect that led to its deterioration. Nevertheless, we are now committed—verbally and administratively—to finding a constructive path forward," the building owner's rep said in a statement. He added the church is now in talks with local preservation and community organizations. —Ryan Krull
Troy Doyle became Ferguson's chief of police after being passed over by his longtime employer, the St. Louis County Police Department. Now the county's bills over the lawsuit he filed are mounting. Screenshot
DEEP DIVE
Lawsuit over police chief hire costs St. Louis County $889K, with more to come
A legal battle between St. Louis County and a police lieutenant colonel passed over for police chief started out messy and has only gotten more so in the nearly six years it has dragged on.
It’s also gotten expensive for the county, which has paid the Lewis Rice firm $889,448 to handle the matter. The suit has been on the cusp of going to trial at least twice—most recently last May, when a tornado severely damaged the law offices of a key lawyer on the Friday before the trial was supposed to start, necessitating a delay.
The controversy began in 2019. That year, Troy Doyle, who is currently Ferguson’s police chief, says he was promised the top county policing job by County Executive Sam Page. Doyle alleges Page told him that he was “the right person for the job” and that a Black man leading the county police department for the first time would be “historic.”
The police chief is chosen by the county’s Board of Police Commissioners, which are chosen by Page. But the board gave Doyle only one 20-minute job interview before choosing instead Mary Barton. Doyle’s lawsuit alleges that Barton’s pick stemmed from pressure put on the board by the St. Louis Police Foundation and Page’s desire not to alienate corporate campaign donors. (Doyle, the lawsuit notes, had been outspoken in identifying and opposing conduct within the St. Louis County Police Department that was racially offensive or discriminatory.)
Go Deeper: When the county hired Lewis Rice, the vote was 4–3, and dissenting members said that they wanted a financial limit in place. “Without some kind of cap or oversight, I have to vote no,” Councilman Mark Harder told the Post-Dispatch at the time. The county’s contract set the limit at $935,000.
In a brief phone conversation, Doyle said that he couldn’t talk about the lawsuit itself. But as for the money the county has spent fighting it, he said, “Golly, that’s a lot of money.”
What’s Next: The County Counselor‘s office will have to go to the council for more money if Lewis Rice’s fees end up exceeding the limit—which seems inevitable unless the case settles soon. The matter is set for trial in August. —R.K.
Don’t let summer storms dim your home. Solar and battery storage can protect your home or business from outages and lock in low electricity costs before AC season starts.
Judge says historic Kirkwood house can be demolished (stltoday): The decision is a rebuke to neighbors, who filed suit arguing the city of Kirkwood has the power to stop such demolitions. Kirkwood argued its only power was in forcing the home’s owner to wait 270 days in order to consider alternatives.
St. Louis County Police finally adopt a new use of force policy (STLPR): The new policy places a larger emphasis on deescalation and makes it clear that officers must match their level of force to how much a person is resisting. Work on changing the policy began in 2017, with nearly 40 drafts in the nine years that followed.
Fire districts in St. Charles, St. Louis counties are flush with cash, but want more (stltoday): Thirty fire protection districts across the St. Louis suburbs asking voters today to approve a 1 percent sales tax. Critics say it's a windfall for the districts, which are already stacked with cash.
BRANDED CONTENT
STAGES Performing Arts Academy connects students to professional theatre
The Academy trains young performers, connects them with professional theatre experiences, and expands access to arts education across the St. Louis community. Find out more.
The University City Buy Nothing group enjoys a Crafternoon gathering. Photography courtesy of Shantih Dean
Around Town
🛍️ COUNTY LIVING
They say everything comes with a price, but that’s not true for members of a Buy Nothing group. The Facebook groups are a quirky way to pick up a free shoe rack or missing refrigerator part from a neighbor, for free. And for regulars in University City’s thriving group, Buy Nothing is more than a space for free treasures; it is a community of love, care, and generosity. The national Buy Nothing Project was founded in 2013 to help people give and receive stuff for free. Got an old bedframe you need to get rid of? Need a new vase for your plant? Buy Nothing has your back. Today, the organization has hundreds of hyperlocal Facebook groups for people to bring a gift economy to life, exchanging anything and everything from furniture to plant cuttings and even homemade meals. The only catch? No money and no trades. Every item is freely given away, no strings attached. Shantih Dean joined University City’s group shortly after moving to St. Louis about three years ago. She regularly cooks large quantities of food in stockpots, anything from chili to black bean soup, that she shares with neighbors and, on the flip side, has benefited from everything from medical supplies to furniture. “It’s more than sharing material belongings,” Dean says. “[It’s] things that you don’t always know how to ask for, or are not socially acceptable to ask for, but you need. There are women in the group who will just show up and do it.” More in our online story. —Sonal Churiwal
🎓 HIGHER ED
Washington University still doesn’t know exactly what it will do with the former Fontbonne University campus in Clayton. At last week’s Clayton Plan Commission/Architectural Review Board meeting, a WashU official said the university continues to assess the condition of the property, which it purchased in 2024 as Fontbonne was winding down operations. Across the Fontbonne campus, buildings are in “varied conditions,” JoAnna Schooler, WashU’s assistant vice chancellor of local government and community relations, said at the meeting. Some buildings need repairs, including those damaged by the May 2025 tornado, while others are potentially candidates for demolition. No final decisions have been made. Schooler said WashU has also discussed how it could partner with the School District of Clayton to use part of the campus, but did not share specifics. For now, WashU expects to use the campus only on an “intermittent basis,” depending on need, Schooler said. —Mike Miller
They’re opinionated, animated, and unmistakably STL. See the Donnybrook crew live at Sheldon Concert Hall—and maybe ask an unfiltered question! Bring your friends and join the conversation. Get tickets.
Don’t miss the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition’s silent auction and experience a live painting by Brock Seals. An unforgettable evening of fashion, art, and impact. Reserve your spot!
Heard on the Street
Cutting back: Lee Enterprises. A report yesterday about the Associated Press’ plans to cut just under 5 percent of its global workforce noted that it’s been hurt by newspapers canceling its service. In recent days, the story noted, the AP learned that the parent company of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch “is seeking an early exit from a contract due to expire at the end of 2026.” It’s not clear whether new Lee chairman David Hoffmann plans to eliminate the national and international coverage now provided by the AP or introduce a new way of covering it.
Playing their part: Richard Kind, Taylor Louderman, and Paulo Szot. The Muny announced yesterday that Kind will, in fact, fill the sizable shoes of John Travolta and play Edna Turnblad in this summer’s production of Hairspray. Homegrown talent Louderman will play Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, with Paulo Szot as her French planter paramour. It’s twice the St. Louis summer for Szot: The Tony Award winner will also star in Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ The Light in the Piazza. Also on this year’s casts: Fellow Tony award winner Beth Leavel, who will star in Meet Me in St. Louis.
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