KIRKWOOD, Mo. — West Jefferson Avenue is one of the busiest streets in Kirkwood's downtown business district.
“It’s very, very crowded,” resident Dan Monahan said.
“It’s very busy, especially when the school gets out, and lunch time,” resident Susan Fulton said.
For St. Peter Catholic Church, with more than 6,500 members of its congregation and 500 students, the busy street is causing a bit of a problem.
“There’s been school traffic across Jefferson since I went there in the early 60’s,” Jim Geringer said.
“For decades now they have crossed that little street not always looking both ways,” Monahan said.
That’s why the church is now pushing city hall to close Jefferson Avenue between Clay Avenue and Harrison Avenue and turn it over to the Parish, but the proposal has drawn divided reactions from residents.
“As a homeowner that would be right on the other side of that church, I wouldn’t want to be cut off from the fire department if they needed or just anything,” Fulton said.
“It’s a taxpayer street,” Nancy Geringer said. “We’ve been paying for that street. I don’t think it should be up to the council to decide.”
“Both sides can benefit from this,” Monahan said. “There’s no doubt about it.”
According to a spokesman for the Archdiocese, the church would spend roughly $600,000 to build a cul-de-sac, open its parking lot to the public, and additional parking would be added along Clay Ave.
“This would be a way of protecting our children and benefit us by getting more parking for the community,” Monahan said.
“Build a walkway over the road,” Fulton said. “That’s my thought.”
“If there was any other public property that was going to be for sale, like part of the park, it would be put to a vote,” Nancy Geringer said. “That’s what I think they should do.”
The first reading of the proposal is set to take place Thursday evening at Kirkwood City Hall.
There have been calls for Kirkwood's mayor, and a council member, to recuse themselves from any vote since they are members of the church.
Kirkwood’s city attorney has stated that they do not need to recuse themselves since there isn't a conflict in this case.
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