Three Brentwood businesses in Missouri are currently embroiled in a legal battle with the City of Brentwood over a redevelopment plan that could potentially lead to the demolition of their shops along Manchester Road. The businesses, Time for Dinner, Feather-Craft Fly Fishing, and Convergence Dance & Body Studio, are contesting a $436 million redevelopment project that the city wants to implement in the area.
Convergence Dance and Body Studio, one of the businesses involved in the lawsuit, believes that the redevelopment plan is not only wrong but could also be illegal under Missouri law. The owner, Carter Maier, expressed shock at the city’s intention to give private property to another private company in order to boost economic benefits and increase tax revenue for Brentwood. According to Maier, such actions are prohibited by Missouri laws, and they are determined to fight against it.
The lawsuit was filed after the city designated the area as “blighted,” which would allow them to use eminent domain to take over the properties of the businesses. The city’s redevelopment plans include the construction of apartments, a luxury hotel, a brewery, and office buildings in place of the existing establishments along Manchester Road. Business owners like Amy Stanford from Time for Dinner argue that while they are in favor of progress and development, they should not be forced out of their properties to make way for new constructions. Stanford highlighted that her business, which has been operating for two decades, was deemed blight due to minor issues like peeling paint, trash outside, and cracks in the parking lot.
In response to the legal challenges posed by the businesses, the City of Brentwood emphasized that they are unable to make any comments or take actions that could jeopardize the ongoing litigation. They maintained that the redevelopment plans were thoroughly discussed and decided upon in public meetings spanning two years.
Both Time for Dinner and Convergence Dance & Body Studio have expressed concerns about their future if their businesses are indeed demolished. They have no alternative plans or funds for relocation at the moment. The legal battle between the businesses and the City of Brentwood is set to commence in May 2025.
The situation highlights the complex dynamics between private businesses and government-led redevelopment projects. It raises questions about the use of eminent domain, the definition of blight, and the impact of such redevelopment plans on longstanding local establishments. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of the case will have significant implications for the businesses involved and the broader community in Brentwood.
