Sounds like a positive thing to me. They are also being proactive by inviting the people most impacted by this "proposed" teenage residence to a meeting to explain the project. Sounds like they are just trying to give these kids a chance to succeed they normally would never get. I hope Brentwood residents at the very least give them a open mind and a chance to explain what it's all about!

What are Brentwood's regulations regarding group homes?

I think that Brentwood is not the proper kind of place for any type of childrens facility. Webster Groves has two already. I know this because I have been a resident of both. Group homes are disruptive despite all their good intentions. Kids in these types of environments tend to runaway more often than not. Is Brentwood prepared to chase after runaway teenagers?

I think it is really insulting to only invite 2 blocks of residents to the meeting. If the church or organization wants community support, they are not making friends with the community only inviting a few people. What impact will this have on our already short funded school district? The comment from Sheila is also very correct. At any teen facility there are a lot of runaways. How are the kids picked for living in this home? I do not know of any houses on Madge that are large enough to house 29 teenagers, Would this group get a waiver from the city for housing a larger number of people than are normally allowed in one home? Lots of questions and I nor most of the city are invited, Shame on this organization and the church for limiting the number of people invited to come. Where does City Hall stand on this issue?

Sorry for the typo it should read a home for 20 teens not 29.

This seems like a poor idea - I'm not saying that at-risk kids don't need a good safe, home... but if the group running this home hasn't thought that the entire community should be invited - and hasn't informed the community of the impact (and there will be one) on the school district, then have they really thought this through sufficiently?

On this group home proposal - look for an article Thursday with more details on the home and the kids. I talked with the director of the group today. I think it will help answer some of these questions.

Oh this is gonna be great, you couldn’t even make this up! The city of warmth will get a chance to show their true colors as this proposal to aide disadvantaged youth within our area slowly winds its way through the Brentwood machine.

Lets see….if Boys Hope Girls Hope asks for a Tiff and Tax Abatement, hires the right law firm, contracts with the right builder, applies the required ego stroke to the right pols and sticks a water feature in the front yard they might just make it into the rarefied air that is Brentwood, City of Marmth.

God only knows but maybe some of the reefer heads at BHS will benefit from Boys Hope Girls Hope too once they get out of rehab.

Something that the whole community should get behind and help out with is already being shot down by the mindless drones that inhabit this once inclusive, vibrant community. Instead of supporting the idea that could diversify the high school, encourage volunteerism, and bring people into a vacant space, you have already dismissed it because of "raging hormones" and traffic concerns.

Perhaps if some chain bank, gas station or fast food chain wanted to set up shop there, you'd be more welcoming. Or maybe you'd complain about that, too.

Anyway, more broadly, this is a perfect representation of the kind of fragmentation between the poor communities in the region versus the affluent suburbs. The only time most of you set foot into the city is for Cardinals games, and the rest of the time you talk about the city or East St. Louis, you make fun of its crime and poverty. And then the same people muse about "why can't St. Louis be better?" "Why is it so boring?" "Why do people keep moving out?" It's because instead of supporting each other to lift the region up, you segregate yourselves going to the same old stores, talking to the same old people.

Wake up. This not only benefits Brentwood, but will have a positive impact on the entire region. If these youth know that the community they've moved into supports them, they will respect the community and help it grow. If they read some of these posts, though, I don't know why they would want to come here in the first place.

One thing about lefties... they always attack the person instead of the issues... well done BSD...

The reason that the Boys and Girls Hope group only notified people on Powell and Madge is because by rough measurements they are the residents who would actually need to be notified under the zoning code if and when they decide to advance their plan through P & Z and B of A. The whole city is not impacted only those who live nearby.

When first reading about Boys Hope Girls Hope home moving near my home, I was reluctant. But, after looking into the program more yesterday and with today's story, I welcome them. I think a wonderful well run program and home such as this, makes an excellent addition to our community. So I would like to say welcome to Brentwood Boys Hope and Girls Hope!