Neighbors seek city intervention in art dispute

How would your subdivision act in this matter? Do you have any “protection” available in your subdivision’s protective covenants? This article appeared in the June 26 edition of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

BALLWIN — It's a subdivision of quiet, quaint homes and tree-lined streets, just as its name — Whispering Oakwood — suggests, but all that changes when residents drive around a corner on Morena Court.

Clusters of colorful twisted metal and wooden spikes rise from the lawn. Silver bowls hang from the trees. At night, bright lights illuminate the entire project, which commemorates the Holocaust."It's got floodlights in all directions," said Charles Obermyer, one of the subdivision's trustees. "You could play baseball in the neighbor's yard."

And now, Lewis Greenberg's neighbors say they've had enough. For years, they have pleaded with the Ballwin Board of Aldermen to do something about the residence but haven't seen any action. They claim property values have plummeted. Homes in Whispering Oakwood are valued at between $250,000 and $300,000.

The entire article is available at: http://tinyurl.com/2ulrce. The newspaper article did not indicate if their subdivision had any restrictions outlined in their protective covenants. Based on what was said, it appears that they don’t. It’s better to be pro-active rather than re-active.