Stages St. Louis May Move Into Vacant Chesterfield Parkway Building

More than a year after Congregation Kol Am dissolved and abandoned its 4-year-old building on East Chesterfield Parkway, the location may soon have a new tenant.

According to city officials, Stages St. Louis has a contract pending with the building's owner, Frontenac Bank Realty, and has submitted plans with Chesterfield to move its administrative offices and classrooms from its existing location near the Chesterfield Mall.

The news came to light at a public hearing this week before the Chesterfield Planning Commission. On Monday, the commission heard a petition from Stages St. Louis to adjust the zoning for the building to allow administrative offices and educational facilities.

The commission voted 8-0 to recommend the change to the Chesterfield City Council. Aimee Nassif, the city's planning and development services director, said the petition now moves to the planning and public works committee, which will consider its recommendation to the City Council.

Nassif said Stages submitted the petition on Aug. 29; the entire approval process could take a couple of months.

"They have no plans to make any site changes or changes to the structure itself," Nassif told Patch. "They will of course do some new signage, but no building addition or anything like that. Most of the work will be interiors."

Ron Gibbs, managing director of Stages St. Louis, declined to answer questions on Tuesday, citing an agreement with a media partner. He said he might be in a position to address questions on Friday.

Nassif said the city has been told that interior renovations would include a small indoor theater for student performances for faculty and parents.

She said the building was erected in 2006 for Congregation Kol Am, which moved from a small location on Clayton Road. By and the building has been vacant ever since.