Residents hope to preserve undeveloped parcel of land

About 50 South Crestwood residents want to turn the last piece of undeveloped land in their neighborhood into a nature preserve.

The effort began with their recent success in stopping a development on the 6.5-acre parcel, which has an entrance at 12th Avenue and 50th Street South.

Tower Development’s plan to clear-cut the parcel and build 29 homes was rejected by a city planning commission subcommittee in February after residents voiced concerns about flooding, landslides, increased traffic, loss of wildlife habitat and the density of homes planned for the site.

“It’s probably a good fit for [the parcel] to be a green space rather than some other development,” said Brad Edmonds, one of the group’s organizers.

The group consists of South Crestwood residents along with a few from North Crestwood, Forest Park and Avondale, Edmonds said.

“This area is dear to a large part of the neighborhood, especially those nearest to it,” said Andrea Paschal, who has lived near the parcel for 17 years and started a petition to help stop the development.

The group planned to meet recently with several local and state conservation groups to explore their interest in the project.

The response the group receives will determine who is going to spearhead the project, Edmonds said.

“Having a resource like this for Crestwood South would be something special,” Edmonds said.

Neither the developer, Price Hightower, nor his attorney responded to requests for comment.

For more information about the preservation effort, contact crestwoodpreserve@gmail.com.