Resident's Opposition to Old Bonhomme Road Rebuild is Mounting

Despite the fact that Olivette has been planning to rebuild the entire stretch of Old Bonhomme Road from the University City limits to Olive Street Road for almost two years, and has dialogued often at the council level; done a post card mailer, held a public engagement session and included information on the city’s website and released information several times to the media, there are some who believe this whole project is being done under the cover of night.

So often the case, citizens get involved in projects, well after they are underway. The project is fully-funded by a federal grant and city money to rebuild the road; including a new overlay; five-foot side walks; new curbs and gutters.

The opposition to this project seems to be mounting. Twice now, citizens have spoken to the council, displaying their overall displeasure with the project.

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Sima Baker, who lives at 9360 Old Bonhomme Road, simply wants to know if this project is a fait accompli.

“We deserve to know where we are in the budgeting (process) and who decided what for this project," she said. She wants to know so citizens along the right-of-way can consider alternative options.

Hillary Zimmerman, 9612 Old Bonhomme Road, said there has been a glaring lack of public engagement, input and conversation concerning this project.

She thinks the rebuild is too aggressive for the community’s well being. "We don’t want it to look like a planned community like a Chesterfield," she said.

Other spokespersons have expressed the view, they want Olivette to maintain the look and feel of a country station.

Zimmerman also spoke on behalf of Stephen Estep who has lived in Olivette in excess of 30 years and could not attend the meeting.

The Estep family moved from Webster Groves because the community had larger lots and in his view, nicer homes.

Estep is concerned too many mature trees will be hacked down in the construction phase of the project. He thinks the look of wide sidewalks will not be pleasing. “It will look like a bowling alley on both sides of the road,” as expressed in his message, delivered by Zimmerman.

Isaac Young, who lives on Arbor Road and served on the Olivette City Council more than 40 years ago is concerned with a drastic change.

“It is too bad this is being planned by our public works department. They approach projects like this with a bulldozer mentality. They want to take down everything in their way,” said Young.

Opponents of the project who live along Old Bonhomme Road vow to come back and express their continued opposition at future meetings.