ST. LOUIS – Carmen Gamble lives across the street from the north St. Louis home where she grew up in the College Hill neighborhood. Her mother still owns the historic Kulage House, which is considered a St. Louis landmark and part of the National Register of Historic Places.

“It is very special,” Gamble said.

The Army veteran was working from home recently when a car crashed into the perimeter of the historical site.

“I served over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it sounded like a mortar round,” she said.

That crash was not a lone event, though. Three other crashes have done damage to the perimeter of the house, according to Gamble. She’s hoping to raise enough money to make repairs, as there are concerns that another insurance claim would lead to a policy cancellation.

Lester Bradley lives catty-corner from the historic site. He parks his car a few blocks away because his home has also been hit multiple times. 

“My home’s been hit four times, my car’s been hit five times,” he said. “This is a city-wide problem and needs to be addressed city-wide.”

A spokesperson for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones noted the mayor has supported the use of automated traffic enforcement, which was approved by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Monday.

Efforts to reduce crashes have also included infrastructure improvements and traffic-calming measures.

ARPA funding is also being used to improve infrastructure. 

The historic Kulage House is located in Alderman Rasheen Aldridge’s ward. He is working with Gamble to find solutions.

“The Board of Aldermen passed the red-light cameras bill, which I think will be a step forward,” Aldridge said.

Gamble is hoping for spherical concrete barriers to protect the landmark. Aldridge said creating a roundabout is a possible option for slowing down speed in the neighborhood. Curb bump-outs and narrower streets are also potential measures to slow down traffic.

“I would hate for this to happen to her or anybody else throughout the 14th ward,” he said.