Three tiny companies are suing a St. Louis suburb, claiming that the local government is quietly taking advantage of them in order to profit handsomely from a transaction that would financially ruin long-standing mom-and-pop stores.
President of Feather-Craft Fly Fishing Bob Story said of small businesses, “All the politicians say every day on the news how great we are, but when we’re in their way, we’re not so great,” “You can be a part of a community for 30-plus years and be treated like you’re worthless.”
In order to fund a multimillion dollar redevelopment plan, the city of Brentwood, Missouri, is threatening to use eminent domain to drive away companies along a key thoroughfare.
A few long-standing business owners filed the lawsuit because they believed the city was using the unfounded claim that the area has become “blighted” to justify the lucrative project on Manchester Road.
However, the project’s developer, Green Street, predicted that over the following 25 years, it would bring in more than $266 million in new revenue.
“Just wait if it hasn’t happened to you yet,” advised Roxanne Maier, a co-owner of the Manchester Road Convergence Dance and Body Center. “Unless we take action, things will not change, so we must be concerned about it. This won’t alter unless we take action.”
