The signs appeared a few weeks ago. They stood in yards along Ridgeway and at key intersections for maximum visibility. Their message was simple, even cryptic: “Say NO to LDG.” They also referenced a city council meeting on April 14 at the Arterburn. They included no contact information—no email, website, or phone number—and gave no clue about who funded them.
I understood what the signs referred to. A local developer, LDG Group, had presented its proposal for Gilmans Pointe: 200 apartments at the corner of Westport Road and Ridgeway on land zoned for apartments for about 60 years. When the developer proposed a similar plan in 2023, residents pushed back, sending it back for revisions. The City of St. Matthews later posted a detailed version of the updated proposal and announced that it would move its regular council meeting from chambers due to an expected surge in attendance.
‘More people means more crime’
We arrived at the Arterburn early. A woman at the door informed us that petitions supporting and opposing the proposal would circulate. The crowd was overwhelmingly White and largely retired. Someone down the row handed a clipboard to the woman next to me. She asked what it was for, and I explained it contained petitions for and against the proposal.
“Well, we’ll just need one of these then, won’t we?” she said with satisfaction as she signed the petition opposing it.
She watched me sign in support but showed little interest in engaging afterward.
I noticed her note: “More people means more crime.”
I thought of Brown Park, surrounded by apartment complexes like Mallard Crossing, Cedar Pointe, and Waterford Place—far exceeding 200 units. The park is not overrun by roaming gangs, drug activity, or loud disturbances. Its playgrounds are not littered with condoms or needles. Did she believe any population increase leads to crime? Or did she envision a specific type of resident?
The mask drops
LDG presented its plan, emphasizing how it exceeded regulatory standards. It proposed fewer units than zoning allows, improved stormwater mitigation, more open space, and a traffic study based on the higher occupancy of the earlier plan, along with road upgrades beyond required levels.
Council members asked questions that began as relevant but gradually drifted into the trivial. What if more development occurs closer to the freeway? Will the apartments include trash compactors? It felt as though someone might ask them to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar.
Opponents introduced a spokesperson who, notably, does not live in St. Matthews. He argued the proposal failed to meet development criteria, outlining ways it was “incompatible” with the existing community.
I was reminded of my time in corporate America, when “culture fit” often served as a coded way to hire people who resembled those already in place. What we needed instead was “culture add”—people bringing diverse experiences and perspectives to avoid groupthink.
Then someone shouted, “Make ‘em condos!” and the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. I’ve written before about how White supremacy disguises itself. In that moment, the mask slipped. It became clear the issue wasn’t traffic, drainage, trash compactors, or even population growth. It was about resisting the arrival of certain people in St. Matthews.
Showing St. Matthews welcomes new neighbors
A clear fear emerged—that renters, including those working at Target, Walmart, Kroger, Oxmoor, hospitals, and other local businesses, would bring crime, drugs, and disorder—despite no such evidence in places like Brown Park.
The people who would live in Gilmans Pointe are not a threat; they are an asset. They already contribute to St. Matthews through their work but cannot afford to buy homes or condos. They deserve more than being the unseen workforce that keeps the community running. They deserve to live here and share in what others enjoy.
Many people at that council meeting supported the development—but not enough. The next meeting needs a few hundred more supporters, or at least emails sent to [email protected], to remind council members of what I’ve learned after living here for 10 years: St. Matthews welcomes new neighbors.
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