The new Menards in Richmond Heights is on schedule, with one house remaining of the neighborhood that once occupied the 17 acres.
Menards is progressing through the MSD permitting process and finalizing construction documents for final review and permitting, Richmond Heights City Manager Amy Hamilton said in an email Thursday.
The house, at 1705 Berkley Avenue, belongs to Jelani Aitch. He fought demolition and won the court decision to stay in July, but said he still might decide to sell to Menards eventually.
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He said he doesn’t know the plans for what surrounds him, but he hopes they hurry up, because it’s kind of strange now.
“My family built this house,” Aitch said. “We’ll be here. We’re part of the fixture.”
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Menards got the OK to build its latest St. Louis store from Richmond Heights officials in October, 2013. The $63 million development is set to open in 2015.
He may be holding out for a better offer. I am sure when his family built the house it cost a fraction of what it should be worth now. A lot of developers come in wanting to majorly low ball buyouts. I admire him not giving in!
Nice looking house. I wouldn’t have wanted to give it up either.
It’s impressive what the home owner did, but why would you want to live next to a shopping center, family-built house or not?