Boys Hope Girls Hope to Host Informational Open House on Site

On Sunday, July 28, from 1 to 3 p.m., Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) will host an informational reception under a tent at 8815 Madge Avenue. 

The address is where the group would like to build dormitories for 10 girls and 10 boys, plus an office.

BHGH staff, alumni, parents, and students will be there to answer questions regarding the proposed development.

There will be no parking on Madge Avenue for the event. All parking will be on the west end of the 2525 S. Brentwood lot, just north of the site. 

See more on Boys Hope Girls Hope in Patch:

• Brentwood School District Considers Costs on Boys Hope Girls Hope Students
• Boys Hope Girls Hope Not in Brentwood's Best Interest, Group States
• Group Home For Teens Wants to Build on Madge, Neighbors Come to Meeting with Questions, Worries

BHGH offers this information about the proposal:

Is BHGH a quality program?

BHGH is 37 years old, has been nationally recognized, is present in 15 US cities, has excellent outcomes, and is licensed by the State of Missouri.

Why is BHGH moving?

The program can serve the kids better and increase its impact by being more centrally located and having the homes and office together.

Why did BHGH select 8815 and 8817 Madge Avenue?

BHGH would be on the edge of a residential neighborhood, serve as a buffer between residential and commercial, and utilize a long-time undeveloped site.

Doesn’t this represent an encroachment of commercial development into a residential neighborhood?

The proposed development is mixed use/multi-family with a residential feel, not commercial. It would rezone 8817 which is a rental and only 37’ wide.

What type of people will BHGH bring to Brentwood?

• Scholars: 10 boys and 10 girls between the ages of 10 and 18 who are academically capable and motivated to work hard and overcome the environmental challenges they previously faced, get a college education, and become productive members of society. They are not juvenile delinquents, drug addicts, or emotionally disturbed children. They undergo a competitive application process to be admitted and want to keep their spot in the program.
• Residential Staff: Thoroughly screened and trained live-in houseparents provide 24/7 supervision. Youth-staff ratio is better than industry standards.
• Donors and Volunteers: Individuals from around the area share their time, talent and treasure.
• Guardians and Family Members: On designated occasions, structured programming takes place. Guardians support program goals and work with the staff and scholars to create a loving and safe BHGH home.

Will the BHGH Scholars be a strain on the Brentwood School District? 

Over the past 8 years, 35% of scholars have attended public schools. There may be 6–10 students spread over as many as 7 different grades for whom BSD would be reimbursed by the student’s home district. The average reimbursement in the past 8 years has been $7,100. As a non-profit, would BHGH be an economic drain on the city of Brentwood? With the addition of 14 full-time employees, the added revenue to the district from BHGH students, over $125,000/year in consumables spending by BHGH, and the consumption of staff, volunteers, and donors in Brentwood, the difference will be a net positive for Brentwood over the current state of affairs.

Won’t the development cause problems from traffic and parking points of view?

The city of Brentwood commissioned its traffic consultant to study the matter; the study found that no problematic increase in traffic would occur, and that the 23 planned on-site parking spaces were adequate.

Is this an experiment to have 10 boys and 10 girls on the same site?

The proposal represents a thoughtful initiative that has approval by BHGH International and the State of Missouri. While the boys and girls homes are connected by an administrative wing, they are functionally independent and adequate controls and supervision will be in place. Several BHGH affiliates have 10 or more scholars per home and Cleveland affiliate has the girls and boys homes next door with positive results.

What about property values? 

A large body of nation-wide research finds no consistent drop in property values in areas with group homes. BHGH takes excellent care of its properties and has had no negative impact on property values around its current homes.

Is the property too big for the site? Did the neighbors have input into the design and approval process? 

The plans feature 2 two-story residences that are connected by a one-story central administrative wing. The Planning & Zoning Commission allowed public comment at all four meetings. Based upon input from multiple sources, BHGH made many adaptations to the building mass, residential features, landscape buffering, and “fit with the neighborhood.” The Commission unanimously recommended that the Alderman approve the BHGH proposal.

For more information, visit hopebuildsinbrentwood.org or call 314-692-7477.