STLCardsBlues1989 wrote:Got an email back from mayorslay.com a couple weeks ago. I'm guessing the sarcasm means they've been asked before.
Thanks for your note. The City is aware of the issue. The developer is struggling. If you have a stray $3-$4 million, he would certainly be interested.
That's why I don't email mayoryslay.com. It is a campaign site, so they can be snarky. I think I would complain if that came from the official government email.
That is a smart-ass response for Mayor Slay's spokesperson to give to a citizen who is expressing concern for the well-being of the city and its architectural resources. Childish. At the end of the day, that building has major exterior violations that the owner is required by the city to mitigate. Also, if we had anyone in charge who gave a flying ***** about the future of this city, we would have some provision against demolition by neglect on the books. Especially for National Register listed buildings located in the our central business district. Apathy and ignorance among our "leaders" is one thing, but sneering condescension misdirected at concerned citizens is intolerable. ***** bullsh*t. Whoever wrote that response should be reprimanded by the mayor. They should also be ashamed of their callow and unprofessional behavior.
Yeah, I don't understand why Slay allows his staff to be so contemptuous of citizens. It's annoying, and exceedingly unprofessional. Being a smug smart-ass is cool, you know, if you're a 20 year old philosophy undergrad, but not when you're the mayor of a major city.
MattnSTL wrote:That's why I don't email mayoryslay.com. It is a campaign site, so they can be snarky. I think I would complain if that came from the official government email.
From:
"communicat" <communications> Then it lists the email address here. it's at mayorslay.com
That's what the email says.
Technically, I'm not a concerned citizen. I'm not a citizen at all. I'm just concerned.
I'm with Moorlander, lighten up. As a manager of project sites located several states away from my office its very easy to have emails taken differently then what is intended. I take the response as straight forward and honest assessment of the situation based on the current climate of project financing.
All you have to do is look in todays Business Journal about the problems with commercial foreclosures or note the numerous stalled projects waiting on financing. The Mayor's office is probably praying that a commercial HUD load will happen for someone downtown, either McGowan for this project or the stalled Park Pacific. McGowan is probably hoping to finance his next payroll. The reply is right to the point. He probably needs someone, anyone, to finance another 3 to 4 million.
STLCardsBlues1989 wrote:Yes, but you would expect an email from the Mayor's Office to end here:
Thanks for your note. The City is aware of the issue. The developer is struggling.
Seems like the last part was kind of unprofessional. And it could very easily be taken as a snarky comment.
The statement was the truth. The developer is struggling. To accomplish what you desire would cost $3-4 million. Did you want them to sugarcoat it for you? Should they have no personality?
MayorSlay.com had this article about the Lindbergh hangar in Forest Park, a few weeks ago. Except they spelled it "Hanger". I wrote them an email about it. They corrected it and responded with: "Your rite".
The last few posts brought me back to a thought I had a few years ago.
Wouldn't it be great if there was a (relatively) inexpensive way to cover and secure the roofs to prevent further degradation of otherwise salvageable buildings to preserve them for future redevelopment?
If only there were money in it.
BoA moves to foreclose on Cupples buildings
Two buildings at the Cupples Station complex in downtown St. Louis are headed toward the auction block.
Bank of America has filed legal notices of its plan to foreclose on both buildings Nov. 23. The notices and city records show that both structures are in the 900 block of Spruce Street.
or it might it in the hands of someone with deeper pockets.
I wouldn't be surprised if DeWitt's name or certain Cardinal boards members end up with ownership down the road. Maybe they will be smart enought not to include Cordish.
I doubt you will see any reasonable bidders as it seems most interested parties rather discuss privately once the bank has possession.
Two buildings at Cupples Station, McGowan|Walsh’s proposed $120 million historic redevelopment downtown, are no longer headed to the auction block.
Bank of America, which had originally moved to foreclose on Cupples 8 and Cupples 9 last month, canceled a trustee sale slated for Dec. 7, according to developer Kevin McGowan. Bank of America filed notices to foreclose Nov. 23 on both buildings. The planned foreclosure was then postponed for two weeks before being canceled.
Now, McGowan said the foreclosure was canceled and that all parties involved were “going to reach a settlement that works out nicely for both BoA and McGowan|Walsh.”
“I think the final stages of negotiations are occurring right now,” he said. “I doubt any foreclosures will happen for McGowan|Walsh.”
The third building, Cupples 7, located at 11th and Spruce streets, remains undeveloped. Montgomery Bank holds the loans on Cupples 7 and payments are current, McGowan said. He said the estimated cost to redevelop Cupples 7 hovers around $50 million, given the state of the building, which has a partially collapsed roof.
It begs the question? Is is it necessarily a good thing to have the foreclosure cancleded? In other words, without any real knowledge of the situation you could argue that pushing the foreclosure to another day or year means the buildings will only rot more and costs will only increase. Thus posing more risk of no development or the increased possibility that demolition is the only feasible alternative. That would be a shame considering their is plenty of empty space at BPV.
Hopefully I'm wrong and the developers have convinced BofA that they are on track for financing sooner then later.
Good, bad or indifferent? Curious on opinions as the Cupple warehouse area in my mind is a great location any way you look at. Great transit & freeway access, between to consistent draws in Busch Stadium and Scottrade Center and only matter of time you will see some office development @ BPV.
The new owner of a vacant Cupples Station building is an affiliate of the Koman Group, which bought the downtown St. Louis building out of foreclosure on Thursday for $3 million.
TKG Acquistions LLC was the only bidder for the seven-story building at 900 Spruce Street. In addition, TKG bid $350,000 for a parking lot next to the building. Bank of America had foreclosed on the properties' previous owner, Chouteau Properties Inc.
Executives of the Koman Group attended the auction but declined to provide details of their redevelopment plan. The building is west of Busch Stadium and next to the Westin Hotel.
