Planning & Parks Committee delays demolition decision for Merrycliff residence; directs staff to pursue preservation leads and approves budget moves for Village

The Planning and Parks Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, voted to give the city’s planning staff additional time to pursue partnerships and private support aimed at preserving the Merrycliff residence at the Marianist Retreat Center in Ward 6, while approving several administrative items including bids and budget adjustments for park improvements.

The committee’s action came after more than an hour of testimony from city planning officials, members of the council and residents about the condition of the large, historic retreat residence and the options offered by the property owner, the Marianist order. Director Joe Rudich told the committee the owner has requested a decision on a demolition permit and has proposed either relocating the structure or selling the property, options the city finds “not very feasible.” Rudich said the local Historic Preservation Commission recommended against issuance of a demolition permit and described the city’s authority under local code as limited and largely voluntary.

Why it matters: The building is listed by outside preservation groups as endangered and has attracted interest from local preservationists and at least one nationally known architect. Committee members said losing the structure would be permanent, and several urged an aggressive final effort to identify a buyer or partners who could stabilize or restore the building before the owner moves forward with demolition.

Committee direction and debate

Council Member Mabry moved that the city department aggressively explore a public–private partnership and other preservation leads and report back to the council meeting in March; the motion asked staff to begin immediately and provide a status report if tangible progress is made sooner. “The motion is to give the department at least till the March meeting of city council to engage the state and county in terms of a potential partnership,” Mabry said during debate.

Rudich told the committee the order had been patient but that the owner believes the building is a liability and wants clarity on a demolition permit. “They are at a point where they'd like a decision from our city council on their demolition permit,” Rudich said. He also said the city has limited legal leverage: its historic-preservation code allows delays to investigate but does not create an absolute prohibition on demolition for privately owned structures not on a national register.

Several council members suggested targeted next steps: re-engage architect John Gunther and his network of potential donors, contact St. Louis County and state officials to gauge interest in contributing funds, and attempt to secure permission for a condition assessment if a potential funder will pay for an evaluation. After discussion the committee approved the extension and asked staff to return with a report at or before the March council meeting.

Turkey Tract Road and the Mergon Temple

The committee also heard an extended presentation about Turkey Tract Road and planned site improvements associated with a proposed Mergon Temple (Ward 1). Director Budnick told the committee the temple has completed site plans but that Turkey Tract Road is substandard to support the traffic volumes the full build-out could produce. Budnick said the temple has requested a city partnership to address off-site improvements beyond the project’s frontage; the city can currently require improvements only along frontage.

Budnick recommended continued coordination among the temple, the Meadow of Wildwood neighborhood, St. Louis Community College–Wildwood campus, the YMCA and the fire district to identify safety improvements and longer-term funding. Committee members asked staff to explore closing the Turkey Tract/Route 109 access as a safety measure, consult with MoDOT and the fire district about emergency access, and report back. The department indicated it will proceed with the site-development plan for a smaller initial phase (priest’s quarters and meeting space) while continuing to work on options for larger future phases.

Village Green utilities and funding decision

In parks matters the committee considered a $190,000 change order to place electrical lines serving the Village Green underground rather than leaving poles and overhead lines in the project area. Director Reidich told the committee Bombshell Construction and the city’s general-contractor team say undergrounding is needed for the planned stage area; city staff have been investigating the origin of the discrepancy and are pursuing responsibility with the consultant and utility partners.

Committee members said the Village Green is a signature project and that overhead lines would materially affect the finished appearance. After discussion the committee approved using city reserves/capital funds to pay the $190,000 so undergrounding can proceed now; staff will continue to pursue reimbursement or recovery from the responsible consultant or utility. “A hundred and $90,000 is too much to ask you for,” Reidich told the committee when laying out options; members voted to proceed with the undergrounding to protect the project’s long-term look and function.

Other administrative actions

The committee approved several routine items with minimal discussion: authorization to advertise for bids to build a replacement trash enclosure at City Hall (staff estimate $27,500), direction to staff to collect cost estimates and design options for an indoor veterans recognition feature (a “Hall of Heroes”) in City Hall, and continued appointment of Natalie McEvoy as market manager for the Wildwood Farmers Market at the same stipend used in 2024 (the committee approved staff to finalize terms and return as needed). Several members asked staff to focus veterans outreach and include veteran feedback in design choices.

What the committee did not do

The committee did not order or approve demolition, did not commit city funds to purchase the Marianist property, and did not mandate off-site road work for the temple beyond the existing code requirement to improve frontage. Where legal or fiscal limits exist — for example, the voluntary nature of the demolition-review process for privately owned buildings — staff and council members reiterated the constraints.

What’s next

Staff will report on the Marianist property preservation effort at the March council meeting (or sooner if substantial progress is made), will pursue coordination and safety options for Turkey Tract Road and the Mergon Temple site, will proceed with undergrounding for Village Green utilities and continue to pursue fiscal recovery, and will return cost estimates and design options for the veterans recognition project and the City Hall trash-enclosure bid results.

Ending

The Planning and Parks Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2025; among items the committee flagged for that meeting were further updates on Village Green construction and the all‑inclusive playground design.