Lindenwood expansion plans hit snag with private business right in the middle
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Big plans are underway for a grand entrance to historic Lindenwood University.
Tree plantings have already begun along First Capitol Drive near Tompkins Street. But there's a private business right in the middle of the project—AutoZone—and it stands out.
It's almost a landmark of sorts to some students.
"I always notice it. It's not part of Lindenwood, but it's kind of like in the middle. It's kind of weird," Isidora Garcia said.
AutoZone has reportedly declined offers to move, even though it's now surrounded by Lindenwood property.
"A peninsula, if you will," St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer said, adding that both parties are "butting heads a little bit. I know they had an appraisal done—they're $20 million apart, so obviously there's something going on there."
The university declined to have a representative talk on camera, but it's posted a video to YouTube making its case.
Dr. John Porter says on the video, "Together, we're focused on growth in the area, and AutoZone can be a major contributor."
Lindenwood University thought it had the perfect plan for a mutually beneficial solution. It's a piece of land about three blocks from the entrance—a former car dealership the university purchased—with the intent of giving it to AutoZone to move to the location.
Mayor Borgmeyer added, "It's the old Jim Trenary car dealership, which is 10 times bigger than this location. I understand they offered it to AutoZone, but AutoZone is at a stoplight, and it costs about a million bucks to put a new stoplight in, so they're arguing over all these alternatives and options they haven't been able to execute."
AutoZone has not responded to our multiple attempts to get a comment, including our two personal visits to the store in question and our three emails and two phone calls to corporate.
"I think it's kind of messy actually," Moreno commented.
Both the students we spoke to, and the mayor said they see both sides of this argument.
"The city is very encouraging to AutoZone. They've been a great taxpayer and customer in St Charles County for years. Lindenwood has some extraordinary ambitions as well so I'm hoping they'll be able to resolve it," Borgmeyer explained.
Lindenwood sent us a statement that said in part that it is "committed to continual improvement of our campus, city, and community."
The $100 million expansion plan will continue either way, in conjunction with St. Charles redoing the roads and adding monument markers along First Capitol Drive from Interstate 70 to the university.
