Board Approves Improvement Deadline for Suemandy CID

A Suemandy Community Improvement District (CID) was back in front of the St. Peters Board of Aldermen asking for another extension. 

G.J. Grewe, Inc., the owners of the Mid Rivers Plaza shopping center that includes Big Lots and Toys "R" Us, received approval for CID in November 2008. The original CID required the improvements to be finished by Dec. 1, 2011, but that didn't happen.

The owners asked for an extension in September 2011 and were given until December 2013 to finish the project. On Thursday at the board work session, the Suemandy CID asked for more time to complete the projects.

Since the improvements started, G.J. Grewe, Inc. has spent $1,621,432 on a variety of improvements. According to documents presented to the board, $941,525.50 is still left to be spent. Projects not finished included expanding Chuck's Boots, installing new roofing on several buildings, and replacing the HVAC units at several stores. 

The two Suemandy Community Improvement District cover the entire Mid Rivers Plaza shopping center. The area imposes a special tax on customers, money that is then used for improvements. 

Jerry Hollingsworth, Ward 2, motioned to approve the item to place it formally on the agenda for the next board meeting.

"He's making good progress," Hollingsworth said. 

Don Aytes, Ward 4, disagreed.

"How long are we going to keep asking the taxpayer to take care of these people's businesses?" Aytes said. "... This guy is going to milk this death. He'll be back here next time wanting another extension. It's never going to quit. This is senseless." 

Hollingsworth pointed out that the CID was on customers at the plaza, not everyone. 

"In all honesty, we haven't said no to anyone that has wanted one," Hollingsworth said. "But Don, we have to remember, they're taxing their own people. He hurts himself. If a one cent CID, TID, whatever hurt his business, that hurts him."

Board president Patrick Barclay, Ward 4, pointed out to Aytes that all G.J. Grewe, Inc. was asking for was an extension to finish the work, not an extension on the CID. 

The board voted 7-1 to approve the one-year extension. Aytes was the lone no vote. At the next board meeting on May 9, the board will vote to amend the original agreement to reflect the change in completion dates.