Shopping center owners sue against Arnold road construction project

Arnold officials have said that a large section of Water Tower Place would have to be acquired to build the road.

ARNOLD, Missouri – The owners of Water Tower Place Shopping Center have filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County District Court to block the city of Arnold from building a new road that would connect the city's north and south shopping districts.

Editor's note: The above video aired on August 13.

The lawsuit was filed late Monday evening.

The mall is located on Michigan Avenue, off Jeffco Boulevard. Arnold officials have said that a large portion of the space would have to be acquired to build the street.

City officials recently announced plans to build a 2-mile, two-lane road connecting Highway 141 and Richardson Road.

RELATED TOPICS: 'We don't want to move': Homeowners won't give up without a fight as Arnold offers settlement to build new road

The lawsuit says the city of Arnold acted in secret over the past three years to develop the road plan and acquire land for the project, which the Water Tower owners say is not clearly defined and not justified. The lawsuit also says Arnold officials failed to prove that the road construction was necessary.