ST. LOUIS COUNTY — It could be a theater, a restaurant, maybe even new homes.
Now, St. Louis County is asking the public what people would like to see on the property of a crumbling former mall.
Monday night, County leaders held an informational open house to give the public a chance to provide input on the future of the Jamestown Mall site.
The event was being hosted by St. Louis County, the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and the St. Louis County Port Authority.
The County announced last month that the Port Authority has contracts to purchase the final two parcels of the vacant mall, giving the County control of the entire mall site. The sales are expected to close in late December.
The site currently is being cleared of hazardous waste to prepare the mall for demolition, with the next step being to prepare a request for proposals for developers.
“What is actually going to happen – that is the big question,” said Kelvin Baucom, who owns Baucom’s Precious Memories Services, a funeral service and event facility right next to the mall.
“I would like to see sort of what like they did over in St. Charles. A theater, restaurants, hotels.”
Baucom joined several others who attended the open house Monday night.
Cheryl Coleman came with questions, and a suggestion to turn the site into an educational facility.
“A tech center with innovative ideas and concepts, things like that,” Coleman said. “Something that will uplift the neighborhood, make it desirable so people from all regions of St. Louis County and outside St. Louis County.”
Kenneth W. McClendon lives near the mall and wants to see progress at the site happen more quickly.
“I would like to see a Menards put here. I would like to see some mixed use, some small development. Maybe some senior citizen homes, or something of that nature,” he said. McClendon is hopeful changes to the site will help property values in the area, but he is also skeptical of the timeline.
Baucom, however, remains optimistic. As one of the former mall’s closest neighbors, he hopes to see changes soon.
“I think we’re closer now than we’ve ever been. I feel very good about it,” he said.
For more information on the future development of the Jamestown Mall site, and to submit potential ideas for the landscape, visit their website.
