CREVE COEUR, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Just hours before its first public hearing, Delmar Gardens withdrew its controversial Creve Coeur re-development plan. However, that doesn't stop the protest against it. Residents still showed up to the meeting to sound off against the project to the City Council. They want to make sure this deal stays dead and they are less than optimistic.
"The brakes are applied and we will see what happens," says Creve Coeur Director of Community Development Paul Langdon as he puts a sign on the Delmar Gardens property that says "applicant withdrawn."
Despite that sign going up Monday in their neighborhood near Olive and 270 dozens of residents still showed up at city hall with hand-made signs in protest
"We are not going away," says resident Paul Kutz.
He and others still come to city hall, they still want to be heard because they says the project that would replace the nursing home with a office building and parking garage is still a possibility so it's still a threat to their neighborhood.
Christy McCollom, who opposes the development, said "We don't like the way that city government has been operated here in Creve Coeur, and we to make sure they know that we are going to watch them we have been sleeping for a number of years and we are awake now."
Delmar Gardens attorney doesn't deny saying the project could very well be presented in another 365 days.
"Because they withdrew before there was a decision they can reapply or come back with a different project all together," explained Paul Langdon, Director of Community Development.
Whatever the form and whenever the time, many residents see the gain far from worth the gamble. They want their representatives to know that if it comes up again, they don't want it either.
"We want to make sure the city knows we are not going to go away," says McCollom. "We are going to be vigilant in watching and make sure that this property is not developed in a high density high traffic office complex which would add to the traffic on Olive Boulevard, increase cut through traffic through our neighborhood, and diminish our property values."
The attorney for Delmar Gardens said the opposition did play a part in the withdrawal. The City Council could take this up and deny it, but chances are they will simply ignore it. However, it seems like it will be hard to ignore the vocal residents.
"The brakes are applied and we will see what happens," says Creve Coeur Director of Community Development Paul Langdon as he puts a sign on the Delmar Gardens property that says "applicant withdrawn."
Despite that sign going up Monday in their neighborhood near Olive and 270 dozens of residents still showed up at city hall with hand-made signs in protest
"We are not going away," says resident Paul Kutz.
He and others still come to city hall, they still want to be heard because they says the project that would replace the nursing home with a office building and parking garage is still a possibility so it's still a threat to their neighborhood.
Christy McCollom, who opposes the development, said "We don't like the way that city government has been operated here in Creve Coeur, and we to make sure they know that we are going to watch them we have been sleeping for a number of years and we are awake now."
Delmar Gardens attorney doesn't deny saying the project could very well be presented in another 365 days.
"Because they withdrew before there was a decision they can reapply or come back with a different project all together," explained Paul Langdon, Director of Community Development.
Whatever the form and whenever the time, many residents see the gain far from worth the gamble. They want their representatives to know that if it comes up again, they don't want it either.
"We want to make sure the city knows we are not going to go away," says McCollom. "We are going to be vigilant in watching and make sure that this property is not developed in a high density high traffic office complex which would add to the traffic on Olive Boulevard, increase cut through traffic through our neighborhood, and diminish our property values."
The attorney for Delmar Gardens said the opposition did play a part in the withdrawal. The City Council could take this up and deny it, but chances are they will simply ignore it. However, it seems like it will be hard to ignore the vocal residents.
