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ST. LOUIS — The owner of the troubled Railway Exchange Building, a centerpiece of downtown St. Louis architecture, is moving to shore up security after a series of break-ins, including one that led to the death of a fire department search-and-rescue dog earlier this month.

The owner of a security company that patrolled the building said the situation had become nearly untenable: Thieves were stealing copper, drug use in the building was commonplace, and criminal suspects were hiding inside. Amos Harris, a representative of owner Hudson Holdings of Florida, said the company was under pressure from City Hall and its lender to beef up security.

“The illegal salvage crews would break in and that would become an entrance for the homeless,� Harris said in a text. “Stopping this required substantially more funding and the lender turned to Hudson, the owner, to fund these costs.�

City Hall and historic preservationists both agree that the Railway Exchange Building, at 615 Olive Street, is a jewel worth saving — but it’s been years since the vacant, 21-story, 1.2 million-square-foot building that occupies an entire block has shined. Its continued deterioration threatens not just the viability of the historic property but the lives of those inside the building.

Built in 1914, it served as the headquarters of Famous-Barr parent May Department Stores before Macy’s acquired the company in 2005. Thousands shopped there every year, and generations of St. Louisans had admired the retailer’s extensive tinseled model train displays during the winter holidays before Macy’s left. The property has sat vacant for nearly a decade.

Harris had for years managed the property for Hudson. Harris quit in mid-December after not being paid. Hudson's ownership group, led by Andrew "Avi" Greenbaum, who also does business under Triple Double Real Estate, rehired Harris after city officials condemned the building in January.

Security officers were at the property Friday morning as city crews worked to demolish the pedestrian bridge connecting the Railway Exchange with its nearby parking garage.

Nick Desideri, a spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, said the owner will be billed for the demolition, adding that city officials “remain in communication� with the owner. Desideri declined to comment on the nature of the discussions.

That bridge had been one of several entry ways for thieves, homeless people and trespassers to get into the building, said Kenneth Knackstedt, regional manager for Citizen’s Guard Security, a firm that has recently patrolled the properties.

Knackstedt said Triple Double Real Estate hired his company in January, after the city condemned the property. His company had found numerous unsecured entrances into the building — including one that led to a man falling seven stories down an elevator shaft, Knackstedt said. He said he had repeatedly asked the owner to pay for repairs. His security officers removed up to 40 people a day when they first started, he said, but conditions had markedly improved by early March to where as few as one or two people were trespassing onto the properties daily.

But Knackstedt said he struggled to reach Greenbaum, even after a St. Louis Fire Department search-and-rescue dog was killed searching the building on March 3.

Greenbaum did not answer his phone or respond to a text message on Friday requesting comment.

Then, on Friday, Knackstedt said Harris’ employee fired his company. Knackstedt said he’s owed $45,000 in unpaid services as well as a $60,000 severance fee. He said he is hoping to work out a settlement with Triple Double.

Harris said Triple Double was unsatisfied with Knackstedt’s firm. He said on Friday the owner has now employed a new firm, 3AM Security.

Hudson bought the Railway Exchange and its parking garage in 2017 and planned a $300 million mixed-use development. But a water main rupture dumped millions of gallons of water and tons of sludge in the basement, destroying infrastructure and prompting a lawsuit that is still ongoing.

Greenbaum’s company also is involved in litigation with several lien-holders, including New York-based Gamma Real Estate Capital, which lent Hudson $19.7 million to acquire the building. The litigation and unpaid bonds from a different redevelopment attempt are furthering hampering any renovation.

Editor's note: The story has been updated to clarify the ownership of the Railway Exchange Building.