In a July 20 editorial (“Prominent Philanthropists Set Example on How to Tackle St. Louis Blight”), the St. Louis Post-Dispatch urged area business leaders and philanthropists to do something about vacancy. Clearly, our vacancy challenge requires leadership and investment by the business and philanthropic communities as well as local government. As the editorial board acknowledges, and as research and the experience of other cities confirms, demolition alone will not solve the problem.
