Pace Proposes its Hadley Township Plan to City Council

Pace Properties on Monday night gave an overview of in Hadley Township during a meeting of the Richmond Heights City Council.

Mayor James Beck said the city has now heard all three proposals for the Hadley Township Redevelopment Area and intends to present its decisions going forward April 2. That meeting will occur at , he said.

Rick Randall, senior vice president for development with Pace, said he has dealt with projects of similar scope in the past. He said Pace has a good track record. 

(Read complete coverage of Hadley Township development on Patch)

He said he stood before the council "beginning what I hope will be a long and successful journey to redevelop the northern section of Hadley Township."

Pace would be "happy to work with either one of those users" in the south half of the township, Randall said. He referred to , which have proposed stores south of Elinor Avenue.

The company wants to bring in large retail users.

"It's not mixed use," Randall said. "We're not looking at bringing in office or any residential component."

The facility would be composed of two levels. It would include both surface and substantial underground parking.

Access to the site and traffic will probably be the largest issues Pace faces if it gets the opportunity to redevelop the area, Randall said. The company has by no means worked out all of those issues, he said.

He added: "We are going to put the best minds after it. We have a fairly significant budget."

Pace officials have run some ideas "by people who know MoDOT" but have not entered into direct talks with that entity or St. Louis County about the issue.

Loading docks and other such facilities likely would be contained within the four-sided building, Randall said. The goal is to make the area surrounding the building accessible to pedestrians. Ideas include a detention pond, fountains and a walking path.

The path would be located just southwest of and is the low point in the land Pace wants to develop, making it a good location for drainage. The area also would serve as a buffer and a "nice amenity" for homeowners, he said.

Pace understands requirements of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

Randall said he sees the tiered system with below-ground parking as the only option for retail at the site. Another option could be converting the area for residential use.

The tenant group is sensitive to implementing a transportation development district (TDD), so a TDD is not part of the proposal, he said. Companies know they have to deliver goods at the lowest possible price in order to compete with Internet retailers and other businesses.

District 4 Councilwoman Camille Greenwald said she likes the walkability of the project and encouraged Pace to focus on that component of the project.

District 3 Councilwoman Gina Mitten said she agreed. But she asked what would happen to people living along Berkeley Avenue were that road to be extended, as proposed in the plan.

"Is there nobody left? Is that the answer to that?" Mitten said.

Randall said that significant greenspace would be built around the homes and that homeowners in the area could look out and see the pond.

Mayor James Beck said TDDs are in place at surrounding stores and help the city get its money back, as well. He asked whether the retailers might consider that option in the future.

Randall said that while he would never say never, the issue of a TDD is a "nonstarter" at this time.

District 2 Councilman Jim Thomson said he would like the walking path design to be extended south of Elinor Avenue, which would be a responsibility of developers in the southern part of Hadley. It could help their water retention, too, he said.

He also indicated one of the southern tenants might like to relocate the city's public works department in financial cooperation with Pace. Randall indicated Pace hasn't signed off on a plan like that.

Thomson asked what the lag time would be between the time Pace enters a contract with a homeowner to leave the area and the start of construction.

"To be honest with you, Councilman Thomson, until I meet with the residents, I really don't want to go into specifics," Randall said.

He said Pace will treat homeowners with the utmost respect and that homeowners would have his office phone, home phone and cellphone numbers. Representatives won't duck their calls, he said.

"It's a project for us, but it's their lives," Randall said. He added that Pace will pay residents "well in excess of market value" for their property.

The company would meet with them shortly after receiving authorization from the city. Pace would likely meet with them as a group at the outset.

Thomson said he wanted to remind Randall that he described the project as having a significant budget.

"The goal is to get this $27 million in the hands of the residents," said Randall, noting that Pace would take his comments under advisement. He said he meets with homeowners himself during property negotiations.

Randall said there would be no other way to go forward with the project without relocating one business. He referred to the Shell gas station at Hanley Road and Dale Avenue. Under the proposal submitted to City Hall, Shell would be moved to the southeast quadrant of the intersection between Hanley and Elinor.

The council was expected to meet in closed session to discuss numbers for the development area after its regular meeting Monday night.

Erma Nevels has lived in the city for more than 40 years and reminded the council of its role as a representative for residents.

"We will be needing timelines," she said.