MDNR to Clean Up Gas Station in Support of Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls

The Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls is a Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) focused public charter school for girls in grades 6-12. The 2015 school year will be the first for the Hawthorn Leadership School’s St. Louis location in an historic school building at 1901 N. Kingshighway.

The school contacted St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) to purchase the lot adjacent to the school to provide parking for their employees. However, they soon learned that the site, which looks like a parking lot, is actually a former gas station which still has underground storage tanks that need to be removed. SLDC reached out to Missouri Department Natural Resources (MDNR) to ask for their assistance in removing the tanks at the site, and MDNR agreed to remove the tanks and any visibly contaminated soil. The tank removal is scheduled for February 24.

The Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls is the first single-sex STEM charter school in St. Louis. Washington University in St. Louis is a sponsor of the school which aims to close the gender gap and to prepare more students for higher education. Enrollment is open currently, and classes will begin this August. Please visit Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls website for more information on enrollment.

The gas station remediation directly supports the Mayor's Sustainability Action Agenda which highlights priority Sustainability Plan items. Under "Prosperity, Opportunity & Employment," the third goal is to "Remediate and prepare at least 40 vacant properties for redevelopment. Remediation of this former gas station will result in a parking lot to serve an exciting new charter school in the City.