Alderman Rasheen Aldridge has proposed changes to how St. Louis addresses nuisance properties, suggesting the replacement of the city’s sole administrative hearing officer with a seven-member nuisance property review board. The proposal aims to provide city officials and residents with an alternative process for addressing properties linked to ongoing crime and disorder, following complaints regarding a vape shop near City Hall.
What the board would do
Under the bill, the mayor would appoint a seven-member panel that includes the health director, building commissioner and streets director, along with four community members, all subject to Board of Aldermen confirmation. The board would be empowered to hold hearings, make findings of fact, issue compliance orders and shut down and board up properties for as long as one year. The draft also sets up a community petition option that lets residents request a review if at least 51% of eligible property owners, registered voters or business operators within 350 feet sign on. The city counselor would still decide whether a petition moves into enforcement, and any final order could be appealed in court, as reported by First Alert 4.
How residents can push for reviews
Right now, neighbors who want the city to act file complaints with the Citizens' Service Bureau by phone (314-622-4800), online or through social channels. The CSB then routes those service requests to the Problem Properties team and the Building Division for inspections and follow-up. The ordinance’s petition process would sit on top of that existing system, giving neighborhoods a more formal way to ask the city to review an alleged nuisance. According to the City of St. Louis Citizens' Service Bureau, filing a service request remains the first step in the city’s enforcement pipeline.
The downtown case behind the push
The proposal follows an investigation by First Alert 4 into EZ Vape and Smoke at 215 North 10th Street, a shop that neighbors say has drawn fights, overdoses and open-air drug activity. Police logs and court documents reviewed by the station showed dozens of calls for service to the location over the past year. The owner’s occupancy permit was briefly revoked after a police action, then the owner appealed and the business was allowed to reopen while that appeal played out, per reporting by First Alert 4.
Aldridge and city reaction
Aldridge, who represents parts of downtown and has previously backed redevelopment efforts in the area, requested a building inspection to determine whether the shop meets the legal definition of a nuisance. Residents and nearby businesses have complained that enforcement is lagging and have called for stronger tools, while the shop owner has denied any wrongdoing in interviews with reporters. For more on Aldridge’s broader work on downtown issues, see St. Louis Public Radio.
Legal process and rights
Under the draft, property owners facing a board review would receive at least 21 days’ notice and would have the right to show up, present evidence, call witnesses and be represented by an attorney. Supporters argue that a panel structure would bring more consistency and clearer due-process protections than a single hearing officer, while some state officials have cautioned that adding another layer could create extra bureaucracy and slow enforcement once appeals begin.
Aldridge plans to introduce the bill to the Board of Aldermen on Friday, Feb. 13. If it advances, the measure would strike references to the city’s administrative hearing officer and move pending nuisance cases to the new board. Expect a lively fight at City Hall over how to speed up action on problem properties without trampling on property-owner rights as the bill works its way through committee.
