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Legislators Host Press Conference and Tour of Near North Side Neighborhoods
State Representatives Jeanette Mott-Oxford (D-59th) and Jamilah Nasheed (D-60th) are hosting a press conference and tour tomorrow, Thursday August 16, to showcase the how properties owned by developer Paul J. McKee, Jr. on the north side have created detrimental conditions within and served as an impediment to the ongoing development of the JeffVanderLou, St. Louis Place and Old North St. Louis neighborhoods.
This is your opportunity to hear from the persons who know this issue best, elected officials and residents of the 5th and 19th wards. Alderwoman April Ford-Griffin and Alderwoman Marlene Davis will be on hand to share information about the McKee properties and redevelopment efforts underway in their wards. The event starts at a tent at 2950 Montgomery at 10 a.m., where elected officials and residents will make statements. A bus tour of the wards begins at 10:30 a.m..
Here are directions to the meeting site: From I-44 or Highway 40, take the Grand exit and go north. From I-70, take the Grand exit and go south. Montgomery is one block south of St. Louis Avenue. Go east on Montgomery to the tent and bus at 2950. Call 314-775-8940 if you need further directions.
State Representatives Jeanette Mott-Oxford (D-59th) and Jamilah Nasheed (D-60th) are hosting a press conference and tour tomorrow, Thursday August 16, to showcase the how properties owned by developer Paul J. McKee, Jr. on the north side have created detrimental conditions within and served as an impediment to the ongoing development of the JeffVanderLou, St. Louis Place and Old North St. Louis neighborhoods.
This is your opportunity to hear from the persons who know this issue best, elected officials and residents of the 5th and 19th wards. Alderwoman April Ford-Griffin and Alderwoman Marlene Davis will be on hand to share information about the McKee properties and redevelopment efforts underway in their wards. The event starts at a tent at 2950 Montgomery at 10 a.m., where elected officials and residents will make statements. A bus tour of the wards begins at 10:30 a.m..
Here are directions to the meeting site: From I-44 or Highway 40, take the Grand exit and go north. From I-70, take the Grand exit and go south. Montgomery is one block south of St. Louis Avenue. Go east on Montgomery to the tent and bus at 2950. Call 314-775-8940 if you need further directions.
Remember the best and most successful of St. Louis neighborhoods are those which were started by individuals rather than large developers.
Not exactly true. Do the names Lucas, Lindell, O'Fallon, Christy, or Parkview Realty ring any bells for you?
good point! but it's interesting to note that NONE of those mentioned were developed after 1950!
Too bad this isn't an evening event, I might have attended. don't most people have JOBS to go to at 10:00 AM?!
^It is a press conference after all. Several people involved in this forum will be there tomorrow, and hopefully lots of media. There was also some interesting goings on today involving grass and city crews that weren't scheduled to be cutting it today, but I'll wait till tomorrow to post more about that...
There's reasons for that as well, unfortunately. The special session was not expected to be so soon. They were expecting it to be at the same time as the veto session, thus saving the state money. But it just got called a couple of days ago for Monday. It was press conference more than anything. Get the word out and give politicians a tour. The public was invited to show support, but it wasn't set up specifically for the public to voice their opinions. You will get that chance on Thursday, August 30. More details to follow on that. I would encourage everyone that is concerned to attend the forum that night.
More importantly, call and email your state reps, as well as Blunt, Kinder, Jetton, and anyone else you can think of.
KWMU, Channels 2 and 5, The Post, and PubDef were at the news conference. Look for stories on those media outlets later today.
I'll have more later.
More importantly, call and email your state reps, as well as Blunt, Kinder, Jetton, and anyone else you can think of.
KWMU, Channels 2 and 5, The Post, and PubDef were at the news conference. Look for stories on those media outlets later today.
I'll have more later.
Paul McKee is claiming to not be looking to acquire any more property, again. I'll believe that when I see it. If the credit passes he will be right back in the game acquiring like crazy. But he is willing to partner with another developer. He just modified the credits to allow him to partner. I don't know what developer in their right mind would want to partner with McKee after all the anger he has stirred up. They will also have to get a development bill passed in the city, and right now McKee's only support is coming from the Mayor's office.
Aldermen oppose tax-credit plan
By Jake Wagman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/16/2007
ST. LOUIS — A pair of aldermen hosted a tour through their wards today, a move they hope will build opposition to a tax-credit plan targeting the area.
Next week, state lawmakers will meet in special session to again consider legislation that would provide up to a $100 million in public money to developers that acquire large swaths of land. The bill was authored with help from lawyers for developer Paul J. McKee Jr., who has purchased over 500 pieces of land in and around the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.
Alderman Marlene Davis called the plan a tax bill for “one man.”
“One man who says, 'I don't want to give any other developer a chance to do anything because it all belongs to me,'”Davis said.
Davis was joined by Alderman April Ford Griffin, who narrated an hour-long bus trip through blocks where McKee's companies own property, including homes with with boarded-up windows and crumbling facades.
"They create their own blight,” Ford Griffin said.
Joining the aldermen on the tour were several city officials, including Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, and one state legislator from outside the area, Ron Casey, D-Crystal City.
Continue Reading
Aldermen oppose tax-credit plan
By Jake Wagman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/16/2007
ST. LOUIS — A pair of aldermen hosted a tour through their wards today, a move they hope will build opposition to a tax-credit plan targeting the area.
Next week, state lawmakers will meet in special session to again consider legislation that would provide up to a $100 million in public money to developers that acquire large swaths of land. The bill was authored with help from lawyers for developer Paul J. McKee Jr., who has purchased over 500 pieces of land in and around the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.
Alderman Marlene Davis called the plan a tax bill for “one man.”
“One man who says, 'I don't want to give any other developer a chance to do anything because it all belongs to me,'”Davis said.
Davis was joined by Alderman April Ford Griffin, who narrated an hour-long bus trip through blocks where McKee's companies own property, including homes with with boarded-up windows and crumbling facades.
"They create their own blight,” Ford Griffin said.
Joining the aldermen on the tour were several city officials, including Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, and one state legislator from outside the area, Ron Casey, D-Crystal City.
Continue Reading
On their way to testify against McKee and Blairmont, Alderwomen got in a car wreck and never made it to Jeff City. Minor injuries, but no testimony. Bummer
Link
Link
That was disappointing. But we got one amendment on, and I got to check out Winghaven on the way back. I nearly puked.
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Developer Paul J. McKee, Jr. will be speaking at a public meeting hosted by Metropolitan Congregations United on Thursday, October 25. McKee will be talking about his goals for development in north St. Louis.
Where: Holy Trinity Church, 14th and Mallinckrodt streets in Hyde Park (one block south of Salisbury)
When: Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Holy Trinity Church, 14th and Mallinckrodt streets in Hyde Park (one block south of Salisbury)
When: Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.
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Anyone willing to listen to what he actually has to say before they start protesting?
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MCU has reported that he has 2 minutes to speak. What exactly do you think people will hear in 2 minutes?
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He will probably at least be able to discuss something about his plans. I think its amazing how everyone piles on when no one knows the truth. Have some optimism that maybe someone in this town knows what they are doing. Stop believing that stupid Show-Me moniker
Wedding crashers -
Jeremy - Please don't take a turn to negative town.
Wedding crashers -
Jeremy - Please don't take a turn to negative town.
southcitygent wrote:Anyone willing to listen to what he actually has to say before they start protesting?
He has already said enough through his actions. It is time to protest. PM me if you are interested.
Why does he only get 2 minutes? That's ridiculous. I'm with YUP and Gent; give the guy a chance to state his case, for crying out loud.
Seriously, I want to know what he has in mind. Maybe, just maybe, he'll surprise some people.
Seriously, I want to know what he has in mind. Maybe, just maybe, he'll surprise some people.
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I guess people have different reasons for being upset about this subject. As far as I'm aware, there is no law that obligates him or anyone else to share plans for owned property (until they are ready to build/apply for permits, etc). Therefore, that is not so much an issue for as is his neglect for the properties that he has purchased. I don't think anyone's going to get an explanation for that at any meeting.
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I wonder what the plans really are, 
you know if the market declines or the recession deepens. This project could be abandoned.
If he abandons his plans and leaves the neighborhood to rot,
He should be thrown in JAIL..
That wont save the beautiful well built houses that he let fall apart.
Any all brick and stone house that is still stable is worth saving..
He should be forced to follow thru with restoration on all his existing properties he hasnt already torn down...
and not 10 years from now, IMMEDIATLY
you know if the market declines or the recession deepens. This project could be abandoned.
If he abandons his plans and leaves the neighborhood to rot,
He should be thrown in JAIL..
That wont save the beautiful well built houses that he let fall apart.
Any all brick and stone house that is still stable is worth saving..
He should be forced to follow thru with restoration on all his existing properties he hasnt already torn down...
and not 10 years from now, IMMEDIATLY
Did anyone go to the meeting? Please tell me this isn't just another wannabe bashing cession of someone we know little about. Maybe he has big plans for north STL-it really needs it. I know on this board we love to talk about the positives in NSTL and I agree with 99 percent of it but lets be realistic; alot of NSTL is in need of a major rehab. I only hope that anything that is built is held to some sort of const. standard.
metzgda wrote:McKee didn't show at the meeting. Shocking.
I don't know what to make of this McKee person. Why would he stockpile all of these properties without some plan? His no show is very disheartening.