Jury finds city liable in prolonged sidewalk encampment outside Tower Grove South home
A civil jury on Sept. 30, 2026, awarded two St. Louis homeowners about $36,000 after finding the city fell short in responding to a makeshift shelter that remained outside their property for 44 months, court coverage shows.
The plaintiffs, identified in court records as Steven McClanahan and Richard Baumhoff, argued the encampment near South Spring Avenue and Chippewa Street existed from 2020 until April 2024 and that repeated municipal responses failed to remove it or resolve the conditions affecting their home. The homeowners had sought $66,000—an amount they calculated as the rent value of their property over the 44 months, at $1,500 per month.
What plaintiffs told the jury
At trial, the homeowners described persistent problems they said arose from the encampment, including offensive odors that entered their house and limited ability to open windows and shades. In court, Baumhoff recounted the impact on daily life.
"Couldn't open shades or windows, you know? The smell was coming in; it was really bad,"
McClanahan read messages he had sent to the Citizen Services Bureau that reportedly spanned dozens of pages, documenting repeated requests for assistance. He testified that city workers, staff from the International Institute and police had appeared and tried to persuade the residents of the encampment to accept help. He also acknowledged that the people living in the shelter did not physically damage the house or become physically aggressive toward him.
City's defense and outreach efforts
The city disputed responsibility for the encampment’s continued presence, contending its efforts focused on securing housing and services for the people living at the site. Assistant City Counselor Erin McGowan told the jury municipal agencies held meetings over the years and worked to build trust with the encampment residents to move them into housing. A task force was formed in 2023 to address the situation, the city said.
City testimony emphasized attempts to link the encampment residents with services; the defense also noted that the occupants at times refused offers of housing. McClanahan, however, testified that on at least one occasion he declined a police officer’s offer to remove the encampment because of the cold.
Timeline and damages
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Encampment location | South Spring Avenue and Chippewa Street |
| Period encampment stood | 2020 to April 2024 (44 months) |
| Amount sought by homeowners | $66,000 (calculated at $1,500/month) |
| Jury award | About $36,000 |
| Jury verdict date | Sept. 30, 2026 |
Community consequences and questions for city policy
Neighbors and property owners in areas where long-term encampments take hold often raise concerns about public health, safety and quality of life. The plaintiffs’ suit focused not on crimes committed by the people living in the encampment but on the city’s handling of complaints and its obligations to both housed residents and people living unsheltered.
- Documentation: The homeowners provided extensive written communications to the Citizen Services Bureau, seeking municipal action.
- Agency involvement: City departments, police and non-profit staff were involved in outreach, with a task force created in 2023.
- Legal outcome: A jury concluded the city’s response warranted monetary damages to the homeowners.
The verdict places renewed attention on how St. Louis coordinates outreach, shelter placement and encampment removal while balancing the rights and needs of housed residents and people experiencing homelessness. City officials defended their conduct in court, pointing to years of meetings and efforts to secure housing for the encampment residents, while plaintiffs emphasized persistent neighborhood impacts and delays in physical removal.
As this matter proceeds — and as city governments across the country grapple with similar disputes — the decision underscores the potential legal and fiscal consequences when residents sue over long-standing encampments. For Tower Grove South homeowners and nearby neighbors, the jury's award offers monetary redress; it also raises questions about how municipal policies will change to prevent comparable conflicts in the future.
