The long-charred hulk at South Second and Gratiot is finally getting attention. Cleanup crews are slated to roll in next week to start clearing debris from the Crunden‑Martin warehouse complex, which was gutted by a five‑alarm blaze in late November. The work will give St. Louis residents their first extended look at what is left of the riverfront buildings that were supposed to help anchor the massive Gateway South redevelopment. Neighbors and nearby institutions have been pressing for a timeline and basic safety answers since the fire, and the coming cleanup is expected to bring some clarity, even as new questions are likely to pop up.
According to First Alert 4, St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church told parishioners that cleanup at Gratiot and Second streets is scheduled to begin next week. The station also reported that the damaged warehouse is part of the $1.2 billion Gateway South project and that developers still plan a mixed‑use lineup of retail, offices and apartments for the site.
The November Blaze And The Emergency Response
St. Louis Public Radio reported that the fire broke out on Nov. 28, 2025, and quickly escalated into a five‑alarm inferno that drew in crews from across the region. Fire officials told the outlet that more than 200 firefighters battled the flames as they jumped across four connected buildings, with one structure ultimately collapsing.
What It Means For Gateway South
Local coverage has consistently described the Crunden‑Martin buildings as central to the Gateway South vision, and developers have said the fire will force design changes but not kill the project. Reporting by NextSTL captured developer comments that, at least publicly, the team remains committed to redeveloping the riverfront despite the setback.
Cleanup, Tests And The Timeline Ahead
Officials have not released a detailed, public work plan, but coverage of Gateway South notes that brownfield cleanup and funding approvals are key to moving these riverfront parcels from rubble to redevelopment. Newsweek has reported that local redevelopment authorities previously approved bonds and tax incentives to help pay for remediation on Gateway South sites, tools that could shape how quickly the current cleanup moves.
St. Mary of Victories and neighborhood leaders say they were notified directly about the start date, but city officials and project backers have not yet published the contractor roster or a day‑by‑day cleanup schedule, according to First Alert 4. Residents are being told to expect heavy machinery, debris hauling and off‑and‑on lane restrictions as crews work, while the city and developers say more detailed plans will be released as permits and environmental tests are finalized.
