Neighbor’s Perspectives: Aiden McNamara
Photo Courtesy of the Riverfront Times
Aiden McNamara ~ Carondelet Neighborhood
Our neighborhood is great but, like so many St. Louis neighborhoods, it faces challenges on a regular basis. None larger than when Peter and Paul Community Services (PPCS) announced their intention to put a 100 to 150 person, low-barrier men’s shelter on Minnesota Avenue, just steps away from our homes.
Residents felt strongly that our fragile neighborhood could not withstand the influx of crime and discomfort that this shelter would create. Because the City’s zoning code requires the developer (in this case PPCS) to obtain signatures of 51% of neighboring residents in support of the shelter, (Petition and Plat) we were able to stop it.
We are not against the homeless, we are against these mega dormitory-style shelters coming in and taking over a neighborhood. If it had been a 100-person fraternity house, we would also have been able to use plat and petition to block it. Our neighborhood just doesn’t have the resources to handle a shelter like this.
We also learned two important lessons:
1) Comradery: The process of blocking that shelter caused neighbors to discover each other and discover their collective power. We held meetings, pulled together and stopped the shelter. We now have a growing neighborhood association, and we are already seeing improvements that result from our shared power.
2) Zoning Has Purpose: The plat and petition process is in place to protect the resident. We should NEVER give up our right to controlling zoning changes to our neighborhoods through Petition and Plat. That’s what Aldermanic President Megan Green and Alderman Alisha Sonnier want to do. We must block it and save ourselves.
I intentionally bought a house 8-years ago that needed lots of love and a lot of work. My purchase was an homage to Sam Green who worked so hard to help St. Louis residents revitalize their neighborhoods and housing stock. I want my neighborhood and my neighbors to have every chance to succeed. Zoning and Plat and Petition helps that dream become a reality.
