May 10, 2010 - A resident of 'Hopeville,' who identified himself only as the letter 'D,' reads a final notice left by division of homeless services workers Monday morning at camp sites under Tucker Boulevard. The notice declared that people would be trespassing if they stayed past 8 a.m. on May 14. Workers also left behind large trash bags and identification tags so that homeless residents could pack their belongings before a bridge is demolished over the railroad tunnel. (Robert Cohen/P-D)
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
ST. LOUIS -- The city has given homeless people living in an abandoned tunnel under Tucker Boulevard a deadline to leave the site: 8 a.m. Friday.
Workers with the Division of Homeless Services handed out notices this morning to the people who have created a tent community in the tunnel. The city plans to seal off the 80-year-old tunnel system on Monday so work can begin on a $34 million project to improve a stretch of Tucker Boulevard downtown, from Washington Avenue to Cole Street.
The homeless camp has swelled to as many as 65 tents in recent weeks, with many of the supplies and equipment provided by the Rev. Larry Rice of the New Life Evangelistic Center. He is pressing the city to set aside an acre of land for the homeless, but city officials and social service agencies have accused him of aggravating the situation and exploiting homeless people by drawing more of them to the Tucker tunnel.
In addition to the notices, workers this morning handed out bags and ID tags so the tunnel dwellers can pack and keep track of their items. Bill Siedhoff, director of the city's Department of Human Services, said anyone who doesn't leave the camp by Friday morning may be arrested.
"They are trespassing right now as we speak and they need to leave that area," he said. "We don't want to arrest anyone, but if push comes to shove, and we are forced into a situation like that, those are the measures we will take. We've tried to be as reasonable as we can."
The city has also offered to help the homeless people find a shelter.
"We want everybody to leave peacefully," Siedhoff said.
A few have already left and others said today they were planning to relocate, possibly near the river so they can fish and be closer to water.
"I gotta find another place to go," said Brad Rosemann, 37, who's been homeless since being released from jail about a month ago. He added that he wasn't aware there was housing or shelter available.
Michael Large, 27, who has been one of the more outspoken tunnel residents, wasn't sure when he would leave. He's interested in waiting to see how events play out on Friday morning.
"I just want to see" what happens, he said. "That's why they call this the Show Me State."
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