ARNOLD, Mo. — There is frustration and confusion in Arnold after the city announced plans to build a new road and buy out homeowners.
Currently titled Arnold Parkway, it would be a new outer road near Interstate 55 and the Arnold Commons shopping mall.
Impacted homeowners and local business owners are already concerned about what plans the city has in place.
"They want to acquire our property and we don't want to move," Otto Nuspl told 5 On Your Side.
Nuspl, 93, has lived in his house on Christy Drive since 1961. He bought it with his wife Phyllis and raised four children in Arnold inside its walls.
Their three-bedroom home is a stone's throw away from I-55.
The city of Arnold said 38 homes and about 10 businesses will be displaced for the new road to be built. In fact, it's going to be south of Highway 141 and east of the already very busy I-55.
Bryan Richison, the City of Arnold's administrator, said the budget for the proposed construction is $75 million. He and other city leaders have already been talking to homeowners, who Richison said are expected to leave in 2025.
"There probably will be a small number of people that won't sell," Richison said. "Won't even talk to us probably. We'll have to deal with that when the time comes. I'm hopeful we can get most or all of the property through making some kind of deal with each property owner."
Local businesses are also being impacted by the displacement and construction plans.
Bandana's Bar-B-Q told 5 On Your Side in a statement they've been grateful to the Arnold community for the last 28 years and immediately started looking for another location after hearing the news about Arnold Parkway.
A letter was delivered door-to-door to impacted homeowners at the end of July from the City of Arnold. 5 On Your Side obtained a copy of the letter, which states Arnold has already handed out offers of $177,000 to several households in the affected area and is willing to pay a premium of $225,000.
When Nuspl saw that letter more than two weeks ago, he said, "My heart fell out."
"I was just flabbergasted," Nuspl said.
He and his granddaughter Jamie Nuspl, who also lives with her grandparents and works about two minutes from their home, said the family is ready to fight to stay.
"All their memories are here," Jamie said. "Everything is here. I just can't imagine them having to move their things into a new and unfamiliar home and possibly fall or something because they don't know the footing or something like that."
"If I was offered $500,000 right now I don't think I would take it," Otto said.
Richison emphasized homeowners can take the buyout now or stay in their house until the end of June 2025, paying a dollar a month after taking the city's offer.
Community members can voice their concerns Thursday at 7 p.m. at the next city council meeting, held at Arnold City Hall at 2101 Jeffco Blvd.