By Gloria Lloyd
News Editor
glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com

The developer of a proposed U-Haul storage facility at the former Show Me Lanes Bowling Center is holding a community meeting today from 5 to 7 p.m.

The public can attend the event, which is being held at the former Show Me Lanes, 4574 Lemay Ferry Road, and look at the plans for the proposed U-Haul storage site. Refreshments will be served.

The developer, Steve Langford, said that questions from the public about the project are welcome.

The new four-story U-Haul facility could replace the Show Me Lanes bowling center that has operated at 4575 Lemay Ferry Road since 1978. Local U-Haul owner Langford proposes to reuse the current bowling alley building in the same way he’s repurposed old warehouse and factory buildings in downtown St. Louis for U-Haul buildings.

The county Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the project Jan. 22, where dozens of residents came out to oppose the new U-Haul facility, while only two objected to the senior apartment complex. They have since come to the County Council, after the planning panel recommended the rezoning.

The project is currently being held by 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-Oakville.

Show Me Lanes owner and Oakville resident Ron Leveque said he and his co-owner Nora Hoechstenbach have worked double-shift days seven days a week at the bowling alley since 1978, and they are ready to retire.

“To be quite honest with you, we’re tired — I was 28 when we opened and I’m 68 now,” Leveque said. “South county has treated us well, and we think we’ve treated south county well.”

Hoechstenbach told the planning panel that both she and Leveque have had health problems and would like to step back from day-to-day work at Show Me Lanes.

“If we could take a pill to be young and healthy again, we would,” Hoechstenbach said. “We feel like we’ve done what we could do at Show Me Lanes.”

The site is listed for sale for $1.65 million, with real-estate fliers touting its direct location on Interstate 55 and access to more than 185,000 people within five miles.