A vacant corner in Soulard is now officially off limits after the City of St. Louis slapped it with a condemnation notice over what neighbors describe as a mini mountain of dirt. Trucks have been unloading soil at the lot at South 7th Street and Shenandoah Avenue, and officials say the pile has grown to roughly 20 feet high. The heap is visible from nearby second story windows and has prompted complaints about safety and stormwater runoff. City officials have now set a firm deadline for removal and warned the property owner could face daily fines if the dirt stays put.
Condemnation Notice Sets July 29 Deadline
On Thursday the city posted a bright condemnation sign along with a letter that gives the property owner until July 29 to clear out the dirt and warns of fines of up to $500 a day if that does not happen, according to First Alert 4. Ward 8 Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi said the recent surge in the size of the pile turned it into “a major safety concern” for people living nearby. She added that the city has more enforcement tools it can use if the deadline comes and goes without action from the owner.
Neighbors, Developer And MSD Investigation
Neighbors told station reporters the dirt mound is “massive” and “unsightly,” and one resident said he worries heavy rains could send soil washing into nearby sewers. The material started arriving in April and was hauled from a construction site at 18th and Barton. Both that project and the Soulard lot were identified as being tied to developer A. J. Adewunmi of JLN Soulard Properties, according to First Alert 4. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District has opened its own review into any runoff and drainage impacts from the pile.
What The City Can Do
The city’s property maintenance code gives officials several ways to deal with public nuisances, including administrative fines, ordering removal of problem materials and then seeking to recover the costs. Those tools are laid out in board bills and ordinances that govern how St. Louis handles vacant or hazardous properties and other code issues, as detailed in the city’s ordinances portal: City of St. Louis Ordinances. If the owner does not comply, the city can pursue civil remedies under local law.
For now, neighbors and elected officials are watching to see whether the developer clears the dirt by the July 29 deadline or whether the city steps in to remove the pile and send the bill.
