Council approves project for hospital site
By Todd Smith

The Kirkwood City Council has given approval to the proposed Ashfield Active Living and Wellness Communities Inc. development to be built on the current site of St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood.

Residents had complained about the height of some of the buildings, but the council approved the proposal in a 6-1 vote Thursday, Sept. 20.

Connie Karr was the only council member who voted against the proposal.

"What we have here is a Kansas developer, a Texas management firm and a Wisconsin architect projecting their vision on our community," Karr said. "It's simply too tall and too massive next to one of our 'Neighborhoods of Distinction.'"

Nancy Luetzow was among the area residents who had spoken critically about the height of the buildings. She said she was distressed there have not been any satisfactory concessions with the council's approval concerning the height and elevation of some of the buildings.

Residents have been critical of the proposed height of two four-story buildings on the project.

After the council's vote, Luetzow said she will scrutinize whatever landscape plan Ashfield proposes for the project.

"I want to make sure the plan includes a mix of evergreens and hardwoods as specified in the special-use permit, and to at least make our view of the tall buildings from the Craig Woods neighborhood not as glaring," Luetzow said.

Kevin Lowder, another Craig Woods resident, said he does not think the development is an awful plan, but it is "shoe-horned" into a site that is too small for it. He said his concern is that the new buildings in the development could be built closer to residents than the current hospital.

"I don't think it is a bad deal," Lowder said. "It just could have been designed differently for everyone, and I wish the city council members had put a little more effort in trying to make that happen."

Some Kirkwood residents are supportive of the project. Don Kern said he looks forward to the chance to move into the project, and Carolyn Karelitz said, "I think the project will be nicer than people imagine it to be."

Mayor Mike Swoboda said the council's approval process has been long and arduous and "was resolved right here in front of the citizens of Kirkwood and not behind closed doors."

"This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for Kirkwood and the new citizens that will live there," he said.

Ashfield Living and Wellness Communities received a special-use permit that included approval of a conceptual plan and an amendment to the zoning code to add a new special-use permit category for a continuing-care retirement facility.

Ashfield is a subsidiary of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America.

You can contact Todd Smith at tosmith@yourjournal.com.

Ashfield project at a glance

The $155 million project on the 20-plus-acre development includes:

> Two four-story buildings for independent living, with a total of 250 dwellings.

> A two-story catered-living building with 30 units.

> A two-story memory-care facility with 15 suites.

> A one-story skilled-nursing facility with 38 units.

> 18 cottage homes

> A three-story commons building.

> An aquatic-wellness center and accessory buildings.