ST. LOUIS — A local business owner and neighborhood group are suing New Life Evangelistic Center Inc. and the City of St. Louis, citing an alleged nuisance.
1426 Washington Avenue LLC and Neighborhood Improvement Association-Downtown West filed a complaint on Jan. 12 in the St. Louis Circuit Court against the defendants alleging that the City of St. Louis failed to enforce its own laws against the New Life Evangelistic Center's violations.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that the safety of residents has been under an enormous threat due to violent crimes and nuisance behavior around the community. They allege that the New Life Evangelistic Center originally had a permit to operate a homeless center but has since added additional services, which are endangering residents.
The plaintiffs holds New Life Evangelistic Center and the City of St. Louis responsible because the center allegedly operated its facility without occupancy permits, and in an unsafe and unsanitary fashion for lack of fire protection and life safety, lack of adequate plumbing fixtures, and infestations.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury; and seek an order requiring the City of St. Louis to reject the center's permit application, to heighten its standards in reviewing the center's permit application and any other relief that is just. They are represented by Elkin L. Kistner, Sean M. Elam and Joseph H. Neill of Bick & Kistner PC in St. Louis.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number 1822-cc00078