Hardley township development sadly sounds like the latest wreck for one city in the hopes of generating sales tax revenue based on a developers promises.  A push that creates a few big winners at best.  I would hope that political leaders from both Richmond Heights, Brentwood and Maplewood would take this opportunity along Hanley Road to put faith back into strong residential neighborhoods and the blessing of having Metrolink access by promoting development without the ever expanding surface parking lots that we have gotten to date. 

Imagine putting the residential bounded by Dale, Hanley and Bruno streets back into focus by keeping the current homes and encouraging new denser housing by reducing the present commercial foot print.  Commercial space that has all but closed up due to the latest fiasco. New office and retail can easilty be accomplished between Dale and the freeway as well as across from Hanley where you got a lot of surface parking, an under used office building, and a light industrial building for sale.  Finally, stipulate that a portion of the Hanley Transportation Development District funds should be used for the betterment of pedesterian access in this area.

Tim Ekren
Shrewsbury