City of Frontenac, Missouri

The City of Frontenac is home to many points of interest including historical homes and landmarks, award-winning restaurants and upscale fine retailers. Plaza Frontenac, home to the region’s only Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, continues to be a destination that draws from several hundred miles. Additionally, Old Frontenac Square, Le Chateau Village and the Frontenac Grove have several specialty retailers. The elegant Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel is a premier destination with its location next to Plaza Frontenac.

Historical Points of Interest

The Old Des Peres Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (referred to as the Old Meeting House), was built in 1832 and is the first of its kind west of the Mississippi. Located on Geyer Road, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Van Dyke home on Oak Valley Drive was built in 1854, and the Drum home on Spoede Road near Clayton, was built in 1860.

Schools and Places of Worship

The City of Frontenac eclipses two public school districts. The majority of homes are in the Ladue School District, while some homes in the southern portion of the City are part of the Kirkwood School District. Two private, all-girls’ schools, Villa Duchesne and St. Joseph’s Academy, are located within Frontenac, as well as coed Oak Hill School.

Also within the City are the Church of the Latter Day Saints and Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church. The City lies between two Catholic parishes, Our Lady of the Pillar in Creve Coeur and Saint Clement in Des Peres. The Novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy Conference and Retreat Center is also located in Frontenac and sits on over 70 wooded acres off Geyer Road. 

Frontenac Businesses

The City of Frontenac is home to over 250 businesses predominantly located in the City’s two thriving commercial areas, the Clayton Road Corridor and the Lindbergh Boulevard Commercial Corridor.  These shopping areas include Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue in Plaza Frontenac, Forshaw’s in Old Frontenac Square and Honda Frontenac and Calico Corners in the Lindbergh Commercial Corridor among others.  There are also over twenty-five different businesses in Le Chateau Village and the Frontenac Grove Development. Frontenac continues to be the metropolitan area’s upscale retail destination with a regional draw of several hundred miles.

View the complete City of Frontenac business directory at this link.

New City Hall

The City of Frontenac is proud of its new City Complex that opened in May 2011. The state-of-the-art, 37,886 square foot building combines the City administrative offices, meeting rooms, Police Department and Fire Department into a single facility. Previously, these entities were each housed in separate buildings on the City Hall grounds at 10555 Clayton Road.

This new building was necessary, as the near-50-year-old former City Hall, Police and Fire department facilities did not have adequate space or the capacity to provide necessary services at the desired level. The buildings were outdated and in need of costly updates and maintenance. There was inadequate meeting and daily administration space, and no separate locker rooms or sleeping quarters for male and female Fire personnel. Additionally, the Police Department facilities were cramped to the point of dysfunction.

Mandates from the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) including increases in Fire Department staffing levels, necessary quality improvements to the EMS service, and the need to replace deteriorating and inadequate facilities all contributed to the decision to tear down the old building and build a new one. The need to increase the staffing to the Fire Department and provide Ambulance service required either an expansion of facilities or a brand new building. After a thorough review by resident committees and Open House forums, the City felt construction of a new facility would be the best and most cost-effective measure in the long term.

Construction began in November 2009 with the demolition of the former City Hall. The project was financed through a combination of $4.5 million in Certificates of Participation and Build America Bonds. The bonds were offered for purchase first to Frontenac residents based on an extremely low interest rate of 2.3% due to economic conditions and the City’s extremely favorable triple A bond rating.

The process was challenging, as all City functions had to be maintained around-the-clock throughout the demolition and construction phases. Through careful planning and communication between the developer, builder and City staff, the process went smoothly and safely for all involved. The Police and Fire Departments moved into the new building on October 15, 2010 and their former buildings were demolished in November of that year. The new Police facilities provided for a greater amount of space for updated technology for Police Officers and Detectives, and larger engine room for the Fire Department apparatus.

The City was proud to show its new facility and held open houses and a ribbon cutting ceremony with dedication on May 7, 2011. Many residents attended the ceremony and enjoyed touring the new building.

The project earned the Keystone Project of the Year award for 2011 from the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis. Mayor Keith Krieg accepted the award at a ceremony in November 2011.