Residents pushback on proposed shelter for pregnant women as they wait for court order
By Jon Kipper
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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Missouri (KMOV) — Residents in a quiet west St. Louis County neighborhood fear that after fighting to block a proposed pregnant women’s shelter two years ago, a shelter will be approved through a court order with no input from neighbors.
“So they’re just trying to ram-rod this through us,” Michael Moade said.
Moade has been spearheading the fight against the proposed shelter for since he heard about it in 2022.
The proposal comes from Our Lady’s Inn, which said they’ve aided over 7,000 pregnant women in crisis for over 40 years. They aim to put a shelter on a seven-acre site at 13205 Big Bend Road in unincorporated St. Louis County. It’s currently a large field.
Moade and his neighbors said they support the mission of OLI but believe the shelter should be in any single-family neighborhood.
“If a shelter comes in, what about our property rights?” said Moade.
Back in 2022, the St. Louis County Council decided not to take the issue up and essentially deny the rezoning for the shelter for at least a year.
After failing to even get a public hearing, Our Lady’s Inn sued the county in late 2022, arguing a denial of due process rights.
“The Decision to deny the Petition by inaction is arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, and an abuse of discretion,” stated Our Lady’s Inn petition in court.
It didn’t sit right with resident Mike Warner.
”They’re denying us due process as well, we no longer have a voice in the matter,” said Warner.
Those neighbors’ voices tell First Alert 4 several concerns with a shelter coming in.
The facility would be large and likely lead to over 100 people at the site at any given time, including staff, volunteers, social workers, plus women and children.
“It would definitely change the dynamic. It would not be a residential neighborhood anymore,” said Chris Parks, a resident of the neighborhood.
They also worry about flooding and crime concerns. As Moade said, Our Lady’s Inn location in downtown St Louis has led to calls for police service.
“We don’t want any problems out here. We have a quiet neighborhood, kids running around, we don’t have any issues and have them come to us,” said Moade.
Our Lady’s Inn didn’t respond to a request for comment, but past minutes from county council show board member Don Goedeker call it a perfect site, saying it will be a safe and quiet place to live for pregnant women and their children.
“This will not be a commercial building, this will not be a daycare center, we are not a homeless shelter. Our moms stay as long as a year, have their own rooms, take care of their children, go to work, study, and adhere to a code of conduct,” said Goedeker in 2022.
According to court records the two sides plan to meet to mediate their disagreements this week.
Warner, who’s also a lawyer, worries it’s already a done deal, and any mediating would be on small matters.
“They’re not fighting the lawsuit. They’re negotiating with putting a facility up there,” said Warner.
The residents have pointed to other properties that are nearby but not in neighborhoods that they believe would be a better fit.
Councilman Dennis Hancock said he prefers the alternative sites.
He also said even if Our Lady’s Inn wins in court, he hopes for a series of restrictions that could ease some of the residents’ worries.
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