TOWN AND COUNTRY — An old shopping plaza here will soon be razed and replaced with condominiums, dining and shops.
The Board of Aldermen on Monday night approved a plan by McBride Homes to build 14 condominium buildings around a retail building anchored by a restaurant with a patio, set in 6 acres of park, including a lake, along Woods Mill Road.
The development will replace the near-vacant Woods Mill Center, a 12-acre dilapidated strip mall southwest of Interstate 64 and Highway 141 that the city has long sought to redevelop. The plaza, built in 1977, hasn’t been renovated in years and accounts for just 1% of the affluent suburb’s total retail sales.
The McBride plan is at least the third redevelopment proposal for Woods Mill that officials considered over the last year.
In August, Maryville University withdrew a plan for a 3,000-seat “e-sports” arena and event venue amid opposition from officials and dozens of residents who complained about potential traffic, noise and crowds.
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McBride then proposed a subdivision of 68-single family homes for the site but withdrew the plan after officials said homes would be put too close together. Most homes in Town and Country were built on lots of one acre or larger.
The latest plan from the home builder had support from officials and several residents who live near the plaza. McBride has also agreed to put $100,000 into an escrow account to help fund construction of a sidewalk along Woods Mill Road, connecting an existing subdivision just south of the site to its new restaurant and retail.
Aldermen voted 7-1 to approve the plan. Alderman John Steinhubl, who voted against the plan, said he wanted to delay the vote until November to get more input from residents.
View life in ӣƵ through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.