“Friends Don’t Let Friends Live in Chesterfield” is the slogan some residents may begin seeing in bumper stickers and coasters throughout the area. The phrase is part of a marketing campaign of UIC, a building developer and design company based in the city of St. Louis.
“Hey, Chesterfield is a comfortable place with an affluent population, great sales tax base, and high quality schools. It is St. Louis’s flagship suburb, so we thought they could take a little good natured ribbing,” according to a statement in one of UIC’s websites.
The campaign, they say, is not really about Chesterfield, but about encouraging people to live in the city of St. Louis and develop “vibrant, urban neighborhoods.”
“It is about a vision of our beloved central City (St. Louis) growing into a marquee diverse urban environment, with an emphasis on green planning and design,” read a statement on their website. “The City of St. Louis offers exceptional walkable historic neighborhoods, exciting night life, unique shopping options, a strong downtown, and a growing base of educational opportunities for families.”
Bruce Geiger, Chesterfield's Mayor, said he was not aware of the campaign.
"I may have to call and ask them about that," he said.
A spokesperson for UIC was not immediately available for comment Monday. Chesterfield Patch will work on expanding this story.
In the meantime, share your opinions on the developer’s marketing campaign in the comments section of this story. Should friends let friends live in Chesterfield?
Yes, the slogan is divisive, but you have to remember, this isn't the Mayor's idea--it's a private business's, one that's trying to promote city living. The slogan is effective at drawing the contrasts between life in the city and suburbs, without even saying much. Of course there are many legitimate reasons to live in the suburbs, but that doesn't mean that a developer promoting city living should have to bow down to the sensitivities of those people. In many ways, this argument reminds of me of those people that claim that "reverse racism" has surpassed white-on-black racism. City dwellers are in the minority, especially in the St. Louis region, so a little fun at the expense of the predominant lifestyle CHOICE in our region doesn't register as a controversy in my book.
If this reminds you of reverse-racism, I suggest that you're making a far and unreasonable intellectual stretch.
I have the privilege of driving to the city for entertainment, staying the night there if I want to, and returning home where it's peaceful, quiet, and serene. I like the excitement of St Louis City, but I don't have to live among it.
Let's say those of us in the county moved to the city. Run-down, uninhabitable row houses would be torn down and replaced by large homes with green fenced lawns, then people who have lived in the city for years would complain about the lack of character and the influx of cookie-cutter suburbanites. A comfortable, less congested suburban life is, apparently, what more affluent people in the metro area want. It doesn't matter what the geographical location is.
I wouldn't pick STL either.
I think whoever hired UIC and whoever let this slogan pass for approval should be fired. How many did they go through before they picked Chesterfield as the desired city to have your friends say... "Oh my lord you DO NOT want to live there there.The city is sooo much better". I am sure the residents of Webster, Kirkwood, Ladue, Florissisant, Ferguson, Ellisville (forgive me for not listing all) would be highly offended as well it was their city listed in this slogan. Is this the best the UIC could come up with???????? What a lack of imagination. My slogan is CITIES WHO LIKE CITIES DO NOT USE UIC TO MARKET THEM. This Chesterfield resident is offended and you can take your STUPID slogan and stuff it.
There's always Defiance and Augusta not too far away for those who prefer small town living.
City and County living are totally opposite which is why the slogan offends County people everywhere. The chances of County people moving into the City, giving up good schools, low crime, nice parks, open green space, cooperating communities with exceptional amenities, easy parking, etc. for a new home development within urban decay with additional taxes and poor community services, not to mention unaccredited struggling schools in slim to none. Therefore, the campaign can only work to reach the City people who can only mock what they don’t have. They see the County as conservative bedroom communities in cookie-cutter subdivisions with manicured lawns with parents who attend PTO meetings and cheer at soccer games as dreary. Their City lives are full of character and diversity. Good luck. City people unite. Take care of your City and improve your community. Create a place where all people would want to live!
With respect I stand corrected. I am sure this real estate developer is building nice houses in cool neighborhoods in south city. I guess my point is I do not think any city should have been singled out and have their name associated with this campaign slogan. I really think they could have come up with something better. As a Chesterfield resident I wish they would have. I'm just sayin.
This campaign is insensitive to our history and perpetuates unnecessary animosity.