Ballwin alderman inquires as to whether Parc Place at Vlasis apartments are still happening

 (Here is one of my very different recent West Newsmagazine article regarding a project for which dozens of area citizens have been blatantly opposing due to increased traffic congestion.)

                Aerial view of proposed Parc Place at Vlasis (Source: V Three Studios LLC)

For the past several years, Vlasis Park has been at the forefront of many Ballwin projects. 

First, it was the location of the city's new Government Center. Next, came the Vlasis Park Master Plan, which highlighted the recently-opened Police Station.  More recently, there has been a good deal of discussion regarding new playground plans, the demolition and rebuilding of which will begin immediately. 

At the Dec. 11 Board of Aldermen meeting, options and details for an updated public works facility at the edge of Vlasis Park was discussed. However, lost in the shuffle of all of this activity were the Parc Place at Vlasis apartments at the site of the former government center.

                      Rendering of the proposed Parc Place at Vlasis (Source: V Three Studios LLC)

“I was curious if there was an update on the Vlasis apartments?" Alderman Kevin Roach (Ward 2) asked at the meeting. "I tried to look at what they’re doing to decide whether anything looks significant. But I haven’t seen much and I don’t know if there are events that have gone on and construction that we don’t know about.

"I’m asking this because we have an SUE (special use exception) that we approved. There has to be a clock on that, and a building permit that’s been approved.” 

City Administrator Eric Sterman answered that a building permit for the project proposed by the Landau Group, LLC and V Three Studios had not yet been approved.

“Just to clarify, the site plan and rezoning were approved two or three years ago," Sterman said. "But at this point, although there have been plenty of discussions, they have not come forward with building plans other than for demolition of the former government center and the former automotive facility.

"So, at this point, there doesn’t appear to be any movement at all on the site.  Obviously, if they were going to come forward with a plan, we would have to review it. I don’t know if what they have is still valid or if the clock can expire.”

             Rendering of the proposed Parc Place at Vlasis (Source: V Three Studios LLC)

Sterman added that he would need to double check to see if a building permit was ever submitted on the proposed seven-story, 196-unit apartment building, and if a SUE was approved for that or just part of a development plan regarding Manchester Road overlay district, which has its own set of regulations for development. 

City Attorney Robert Jones Jr. said he doesn’t remember all the specifics either. But added that “the period of validity for a SUE is normally unlimited.”