By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The downturn in the economy is affecting the St. Louis Art Museum's planned expansion.
The groundbreaking on the $125 million project was expected late this year.
Now museum director Brent Benjamin says they'll hold off until the market stabilizes, he says hopefully some time early next year.
"There's certainly some frustration. But we're all very convinced that it's a wonderful project, that it's going to happen and once the market stabilizes, that we'll be off and running," Benjamin said.
The delay is not because of a lack of donors. The expansion has more than $120 million in commitments. But Benjamin says the cash is structured to come in over time.
The project includes more gallery space, a new disabled access point from Fine Arts Drive, and a parking garage.