ST. LOUIS • Some downtown residents say the homeless population is becoming more aggressive and creating more havoc than at any time since the neighborhood transformed from empty warehouses to lofts more than 15 years ago.

Their frustration sits squarely with city officials, who, they say, either don’t respond or provide few answers when they do. And while the city has touted the opening in August of Biddle House, a 24-hour shelter just north of downtown, residents say it has done nothing to address the New Life Evangelistic Center, at 14th and Locust streets.

“It’s gotten exponentially worse,” resident Lauralyn Parmelee said Thursday night. She lives in the Terra Cotta Lofts, next door to New Life, often referred to as NLEC. Her comment came during a meet-and-greet in her condo for Lyda Krewson, a Central West End alderman running for mayor.

Krewson was there to seek supporters and their money as well as to answer questions. The 25 residents focused the conversation on homelessness, specifically NLEC, run by the Rev. Larry Rice.

“I’d be beside myself,” Krewson said. “I know you are beside yourself.”