Demolition is officially underway at the former Millennium Hotel site in downtown St. Louis, signaling the tangible start of a long-planned transformation of the 28-story complex. The project is being led by The Cordish Companies, which was selected earlier this year by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
At an estimated cost of $670 million, Cordish’s proposed redevelopment spans roughly 1.3 million square feet and is set to include a mix of upscale residential units, Class A office space, a food hall, public event space, and an outdoor amphitheater. The plan also calls for dedicated public amenities such as landscaping, pedestrian-friendly walkways, art installations, and possibly even a facility to house the Gateway Arch National Park’s archives.
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority recently gave the green light for Cordish to proceed as developer, accelerating key pre-construction steps. The Gateway Arch Park Foundation, which holds ownership of the site, has coordinated the effort alongside several public and civic partners—including the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), Greater St. Louis, Inc., and planning and design experts such as PGAV.
To carry out the demolition, the Foundation has contracted Spirtas Wrecking Company and Environmental Operations Inc., which completed remediation of hazardous materials before structural teardown began. The work is being done in phases: the central tower was tackled first, followed by the south tower, and ultimately the north tower.
Officials estimate the demolition process will take one to two years to fully clear the site. Once cleared, Cordish is expected to break ground on construction, though the precise timing for full development has not yet been publicly announced.
Beyond the physical redevelopment, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation is also launching a community-driven story-collecting initiative to preserve the memories tied to the former hotel. The effort is aimed at archiving oral histories, photographs, and personal reflections, linking the site’s past to its future.
Taken together, the project—backed by Cordish, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, SLDC, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and planning partners—promises to reimagine a key downtown location. It aims not only to deliver commercial and residential value, but also to strengthen connections between the Gateway Arch, Ballpark Village, and the heart of downtown St. Louis.
Header image: Spirtas Wrecking along with Environmental Operations Inc. begin demolition of the Millennium Hotel in Downtown St. Louis. Photo | The Gateway Arch Park Foundation