Residential Area in Maplewood Designated as Blighted

A plan to designate nearly 20 acres of Maplewood residential area as blighted properties gained final approval by Maplewood City Council earlier this month. 

The vacant homes are owned by Sunnen Products Company and are generally located south of Manchester Road between Hanley and Laclede Station roads. State statutes define blighted areas as those that are an economic or social liability, resulting from inadequate design, crime and other factors.

Council members took a final vote  of the proposed bill.

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In a previous Patch article, Ward 3 Councilman Shawn Faulkingham said any redevelopment of the area is still several months, if not years, away.

The designation makes Sunnen eligible for a tax abatement on any future development, though the company still needs to apply for funding assistance through city council before any tax breaks are approved, City Manager Marty Corcoran said.

If approved in the future, Maplewood would enter into a hold harmless agreement with Sunnen. The agreement would make up any monetary difference should the tax jurisdiction be affected, Sunnen representative and attorney James Mello said.