An online petition to attempt to stop the forced sale of multiple businesses in Brentwood has garnered 1,877 signatures as of Sunday, October 2. Green Street Real Estate Ventures, assisted by the city of Brentwood, intends to purchase all the properties along a three quarter-mile stretch of Manchester Road for redevelopment.
The petition:
The developer Green Street Real Estate Ventures assisted by the City of Brentwood, MO intend to purchase all the properties along a 3/4-mile commercial stretch of Manchester Road for a $400 million redevelopment project by negotiation and if that does not work, the use of eminent domain. We feel this is a gross misuse of the law and a classic example of the wealthy taking a now desirable plot of land from local businesses. This is the classic political and social question, “Can you fight City Hall?”
This raises many concerns to our business community. This commercial area has a history of long-standing family-owned businesses who either own the buildings and the businesses, or who just own the businesses but have leases that have never been in default in any way.
Some of the businesses have invested their life savings in their businesses. Some of the business owners, while being only tenants, have the legal rights to purchase the properties at a specified time during their leases affirming the American Dream. Should they not have the right to do so? We all add good things to our community, whether it be contributing to the residents hobbies, education, health, beauty, or entertainment. We want to be part of Brentwood’s future, not it’s past. We are relevant and thriving businesses that have grown steadily since conception in spite of the prevailing circumstances of the past 3 years….
See the complete description and petition.
See also: Post-Dispatch on $400 million redevelopment proposal in Brentwood