The Failure of Lindenwood Town Center

Ground is breaking again on a retail development project in the City of St. Charles. This time though it is not being hailed as solely economic development, but rather as “the creation of an exceptionally beautiful and accessible retail center that will not only provide economic revitalization in that area, but also one of the city's most fascinating entry points off Interstate 70.” (Post-Dispatch). Yet this is hardly the reality of what is to be built on the eastern portion of Lindenwood Campus across First Capitol Drive.

The development, called Lindenwood Town Center, consists of a relocated nearby Schnucks grocery store with an adjoined retail strip, hotel, student housing, three standalone out-lot businesses, a post office, five unit retail strip, and pharmacy/drug store. In total, a $69 million project.