蜜芽传媒

ST. LOUIS 鈥� A city board has added another delay to a developer鈥檚 plan to turn a vacant public school into a mixed-income apartment building, the latest setback for a project that has already been stymied for months by a small group of vocal neighbors.

The 蜜芽传媒 Board of Adjustment punted for another three months a decision on a rehab of the Fanning Middle School at 3417 Grace Avenue despite strong support for the project from the Tower Grove South Neighborhood Association, the area鈥檚 alderwoman and the adjustment board鈥檚 own approval 15 months ago.

Matt Masiel of Screaming Eagle Development already won the blessing in June 2022 from the board for his plan to rehab the historic 蜜芽传媒 Public Schools building into 62 apartments. The project, as many do, needed variances from the city鈥檚 zoning code, which in that area of Tower Grove, only allows two-family dwellings.

But a vocal contingent of mostly adjacent property owners has opposed the project due to concerns about the density of the project and parking. Led by Greg Michaud and Deborah Dombar, who live on either side of the former school, they hired a lawyer and sued.

They argued not enough evidence was presented to prove 鈥渦nnecessary hardship鈥� and the 鈥渦nique character鈥� of the property as required for variances from the code. 蜜芽传媒 Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser agreed with the opponents and in June overturned the variances, forcing Screaming Eagle back to the board.

During a nearly four-hour hearing Wednesday, the developer and his representatives again made their case for rehabbing the school that had been vacant for over two years, while supporters chimed in. Debi Pratt, president of the Tower Grove South Neighborhood Association, said a survey of neighborhood residents found 鈥渙verwhelming support鈥� for the project. Neighbors specifically wanted an affordable housing component, she said, and about one-third of the project鈥檚 units will be income restricted.

鈥淓specially when we鈥檙e at a time in the city where we need affordable housing, I believe the 6th Ward can set an example,鈥� Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez told the board.

But opponents reiterated their concerns over the scale of the project, raising issues with the neighborhood association鈥檚 outreach and survey process. Some suggested an arts center rather than apartments.

Masiel, who has rehabbed another vacant school in far south 蜜芽传媒 and also lofts downtown, said the district put restrictions on the site to prevent it from being used as a school. And Fanning is far from the only empty school or church a nonprofit聽considering a cultural amenity聽could choose from.

鈥淭here are multiple opportunities at a lower price that could support that option,鈥� Masiel said.

Toward the end of the meeting, the lawyer for opponents, Bob Menees, told the board that the developer still hadn鈥檛 complied with the judge鈥檚 order to demonstrate the need for a variance.

鈥淭he evidence that has been presented by the applicant has not really changed,鈥� Menees said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been no evidence presented to you demonstrating unnecessary hardship.鈥�

But Masiel鈥檚 lawyer, David Sweeney, refuted that, saying the developer is applying for historic and low income tax credits to offset hardship in the project. The permitted uses in the area 鈥渄on鈥檛 work here at this site,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt there鈥檚 a hardship for the developer,鈥� Sweeney said.

Board member Anthony Robinson moved to table the project, saying he doesn鈥檛 鈥渉ave an issue with density,鈥� but the developer should use the time to meet with neighbors some more.

The delay was approved 4-1, with chair Joe Klitzing opposing it. Zoning Administrator Mary Hart Burton asked for the longer 90-day delay because of a staff 鈥渟hortage鈥� in her office. The board is going to start meeting every other week rather than weekly soon because of the shortage, she said.