Eminent Domain requires an enabling ordinance that blights an area and gives someone development rights including the power of eminent domain. This means there should be a paper trail, as well as the alderman knowing about it. This is assuming a developer is doing it. Not sure if the LRA or other city department needs an ordinance for a particular piece of property.
Not sure if the LRA or other city department needs an ordinance for a particular piece of property.
But this isn't just one property...it happened to everyone on their block. (And possibly beyond - they're not sure.)
Or am I misunderstanding your point?
I meant I'm not sure if the city needs a specific ordinance for any property, or if a department has the automatic right. This is whether it is a whole block or just one house. Developers always need an ordinance, but a city agency may not. If there is an ordinance needed you should be able to find out all the details. This is assuming there isn't just some sort of misinterpretation.
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A letter to the editor in today's P-D:
Use tax money to help neighborhood developers, not out-of-towners
I read with interest the article "Tax subsidy backer cites St. Louis blight" (Feb.. A bill to expand tax credits for businesses that create jobs is fine, but to include a provision to "spur large-scale developments" of at least 75 acres in St. Louis sounds like a giveaway of my tax dollars to a large St. Charles developer. Advertisement
While state Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, would not name the developer, we who live on the near northside know who has been trying to buy the privately owned property. It may be doing nothing illegal, but its practices allegedly verge on unethical, such as allegedly misleading a near-illiterate woman, allegedly trying to scare homeowners with untruths about a neighborhood-based developer and allegedly displacing people by telling landlords they will buy property only if it is vacant. We do not need a shadowy developer in our neighborhoods. Our tax money should be used to help existing, smaller-scale developers and neighborhood groups that are working here now and have taken the risk to make the area more stable. We don't need someone from St. Charles deciding what should happen in our neighborhood.
So unless, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Mr. Griesheimer and the unnamed developer come to St. Louis and disclose their plans to the people in the neighborhoods, and people agree that this is what they want, this part of the bill should be deleted. And all Missouri taxpayers should request that no special subsidies be given out unless all the details and individuals involved are made public.
Gloria Bratkowski | St. Louis
Got this email...thought this was interesting...
[/b]Most Influential St. Louisans
Sponsored by UMB Bank, SLU John Cook School of Business and Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C.
The Three People You Meet In St. Louis
Join the St. Louis Business Journal and our special guests Deborah Patterson, Paul McKee Jr. and Catherine Hanaway. These are three St. Louisans we think any newcomer to the city would want to meet. To hear what they have to say and to meet the other Most Influential St. Louisans, be sure to attend this special event.
Breakfast Reception
Friday, March 2, 2007
John Cook School of Business
3674 Lindell Blvd.
7:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8:00 a.m. Panel Discussion (concludes at 9 a.m.)
$25 per person if paid before 2/23/07
($30 if paid after 2/23)
Make your paid reservations online below. Reservations not held without payment. No refunds after 2/23/07. Individual seats only; no table reservations available. No tickets will be mailed; reservations held at the door. You may also mail, fax or e-mail your reservations to:
Kelly Rowland
St. Louis Business Journal
815 Olive Street, Ste. 100
St. Louis, MO 63101
Fax: 314-621-5031
E-mail: stlevents@bizjournals.com
For questions, call Kelly at 314-421-8307.
Big surprise, the st. Louis BJ is in bed with McKee. Lets all pay $25 dollars to hear him talk about how much money he makes building tens of thousands of houses out of plywood and recycled monopoly boards.
shannon wrote:I was just told that at least one block of St. Louis Ave. between Jefferson and Grand was served eminent domain papers today. This came straight from my husband's assistant, who's mother was one of those directly impacted. I only know about this particular block, and not any of the surrounding ones.
Is this the beginning of the end?
There are a few occupied spots along STL ave in that area, but a good portion of it is in severe decay or an empty lot.
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BSH wrote:shannon wrote:I was just told that at least one block of St. Louis Ave. between Jefferson and Grand was served eminent domain papers today. This came straight from my husband's assistant, who's mother was one of those directly impacted. I only know about this particular block, and not any of the surrounding ones.
Is this the beginning of the end?
There are a few occupied spots along STL ave in that area, but a good portion of it is in severe decay or an empty lot.
That's a depressing image. To think that at one time those blocks were full of well kept brick houses and a very vibrant city scape.
stlmizzoutiger wrote:
That's a depressing image. To think that at one time those blocks were full of well kept brick houses and a very vibrant city scape.
And at that time, those houses were blocks away from the ballpark. It makes you wonder about the possibilities for the area if the city would have thought about preservation and planning in the 50's and 60's.
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JC wrote:stlmizzoutiger wrote:
That's a depressing image. To think that at one time those blocks were full of well kept brick houses and a very vibrant city scape.
And at that time, those houses were blocks away from the ballpark. It makes you wonder about the possibilities for the area if the city would have thought about preservation and planning in the 50's and 60's.
Ironically St. Louis was seen as a very progressive city back in the 50s and 60s and made a lot of decisions that we look back at today with regret. There have been so many poor decisions made on St. Louis's behalf in the past and in spite of these many essential aspects of the city remain. I drive up North Grand sometimes (North of Midtown) and see the area around where Sportsman's Park was. You can definitely tell that at one time it was a prominent area in St. Louis. Especially where Gaslight Square was and the famous Column water tower. A remarkable number of significant buildings remain on North Grand. It makes me wonder how great that area could be once again with some development money and a great community revitalization plan. Unfortunately I think many of the remaining buildings will end up being vacant lots as slow as development on the North Side has taken flight (That's not to say that they can't/won't be saved before it gets to that point). It kind of pains me to know that I used to live in the actual City of St. Louis and live in the county now (It's not out of personal choice, believe me). After I retire I plan on moving back to the actual city but that won't be for a good 25-30 years. I spend a lot of time in the city even though I don't work or live in it. It's where my heart is and where I grew up (My parents moved out to the county when I was in elementary school because they didn't like the city schools).
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It makes you wonder about the possibilities for the area if the city would have thought about preservation and planning in the 50's and 60's.
And if racist policies had not be implemented by the power elite and supported by the racist attitudes of much of the population. My point is that practially no amoun of planning could have changed what happened - short of federal government and/or southern state government efforts to employ African Americans in the south.
Is there any new Blairmont information. There was quite a bit in the news a few weeks ago and now nothing - have we learned anything more?
According to Michael Allen they have acquired more parcels and are up to 637.
BTW, I do not see how our policies were progressive during the 50's and 60's. What policies do you cite?
BTW, I do not see how our policies were progressive during the 50's and 60's. What policies do you cite?
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Big Blairmont story in the Sunday paper. It already is online and in the bulldog edition:
By Virginia Young and Jake Wagman
OF THE POST-DISPATCH
Residents were alarmed when they discovered that scores of homes and historic buildings near their Old North St. Louis neighborhood had been sold and left empty - their doors and windows removed, speeding decay.
When they traced the purchases, the trail led to prominent developer Paul J. McKee Jr. But McKee, best known for the 1,100-acre WingHaven development in St. Charles County, wouldn't say why he was amassing hundreds of parcels in St. Louis for more than three years.
A clearer picture emerged in Jefferson City this year, when the Legislature approved a $100 million tax credit for large-scale developments in impoverished areas. McKee spurred Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to champion the bill, hired several lobbyists to push it and gave thousands of dollars - and use of a corporate plane - to politicians who helped pass it.
Gov. Matt Blunt still must sign the measure...
Go here for the rest of the story.
By Virginia Young and Jake Wagman
OF THE POST-DISPATCH
Residents were alarmed when they discovered that scores of homes and historic buildings near their Old North St. Louis neighborhood had been sold and left empty - their doors and windows removed, speeding decay.
When they traced the purchases, the trail led to prominent developer Paul J. McKee Jr. But McKee, best known for the 1,100-acre WingHaven development in St. Charles County, wouldn't say why he was amassing hundreds of parcels in St. Louis for more than three years.
A clearer picture emerged in Jefferson City this year, when the Legislature approved a $100 million tax credit for large-scale developments in impoverished areas. McKee spurred Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to champion the bill, hired several lobbyists to push it and gave thousands of dollars - and use of a corporate plane - to politicians who helped pass it.
Gov. Matt Blunt still must sign the measure...
Go here for the rest of the story.
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Complaint: It goes on forever!
Positive: It exposes the reality of a developer reinviting crime back into neighborhoods somewhat abandoned by crime. These last vestiges of former stable neighborhoods deserve a developer who would rebuild the neighborhood like a New Town St. Charles with attractive civic amenities to allure young families and build a density to make Metrolink expansion a possibility.
Whittaker, North St. Louis needs a real developer who builds for the people and community and not for the profit! Come build a New Town and hire DPZ and rebuild North St. Louis; since other developers do not have the wise sense to do so.
Positive: It exposes the reality of a developer reinviting crime back into neighborhoods somewhat abandoned by crime. These last vestiges of former stable neighborhoods deserve a developer who would rebuild the neighborhood like a New Town St. Charles with attractive civic amenities to allure young families and build a density to make Metrolink expansion a possibility.
Whittaker, North St. Louis needs a real developer who builds for the people and community and not for the profit! Come build a New Town and hire DPZ and rebuild North St. Louis; since other developers do not have the wise sense to do so.
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it.A Tax-Credit Bill For One Man.
Extra. Extra. Page One.Sunday, June 17, 2007 Post-Dispatch.
Develper Paul McKee helped draft a $100 million tax-credit program. Residents and lawmakers decry secrecy of land purchases and legislation. . . .
(Just picked up the Sunday Post-Dispatch at Shop and Save.)
Page 9 A. http://www.stltoday.com/mds/news/html/214
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I'll be damned - it seems as if the Post actually investigated something. I'll have to double check that - can;t be right
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WOW. I'm very shocked to see that article in the P-D! 
I will be sure to send thank-you notes to the authors and editors at the P-D. They need to know when they do GOOD work.
Mike Allen has done such a great job covering Blairmont. Thanks!
Now, is sh*t going to hit the fan? Will there be backlash against Paul McKee / McEagle / Paric? I hope so. One man, essentially, shouldn't receive millions of dollars for letting buildings deteriorate. He should be held to a higher standard (as Paul said he should be) as a building owner. He is ruining the quality of life in North St. Louis.
I would be up for "picketing" at his offices in O'Fallon should the time ever present itself. Paul needs to work with the community up there, fix or sell his buildings, and come out of hiding.
I will be sure to send thank-you notes to the authors and editors at the P-D. They need to know when they do GOOD work.
Mike Allen has done such a great job covering Blairmont. Thanks!
Now, is sh*t going to hit the fan? Will there be backlash against Paul McKee / McEagle / Paric? I hope so. One man, essentially, shouldn't receive millions of dollars for letting buildings deteriorate. He should be held to a higher standard (as Paul said he should be) as a building owner. He is ruining the quality of life in North St. Louis.
I would be up for "picketing" at his offices in O'Fallon should the time ever present itself. Paul needs to work with the community up there, fix or sell his buildings, and come out of hiding.
rustedhinge wrote: One man, essentially, shouldn't receive millions of dollars for letting buildings deteriorate.
But my understanding is that he would only receive the tax credits if he actually develops the property.
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rustedhinge wrote:They need to know when they do GOOD work.
A few people on this forum need to give the P-D credit where it's due as well.
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Framer wrote:rustedhinge wrote: One man, essentially, shouldn't receive millions of dollars for letting buildings deteriorate.
But my understanding is that he would only receive the tax credits if he actually develops the property.
While the credits would have to be spent on development within the project area, the eligibility requirement is assembly alone.
However, the applicant for the credits would have to be appointed a redeveloper by a municipal authority. One assumes that city government would not appoint a redeveloper who did not have a plan for redevelopment, however compelling his "vision" may be.
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^Such "plan" would likely be adopted via a Board Bill considered by the Housing, Urban Development and Zoning (HUDZ) and/or Neighborhood Development Committee(s) of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. You would think that area aldermen and City development agencies would require the developer to have public meetings on a neighborhood-level and broadly publicize the opportunity for comments, but in this town, we're more likely to have to wait for a blogger to see the quiet albeit legal minimum of a public notice, so that concerned citizens might tesitfy at the last minute. Of course, such plans being kept secret, the public will have nothing to comment upon except their fears of the unknown. But as Northsiders know well from the Political Eye, whatever it ain't it is, when it comes to secretive plans in this town.
are these houses in a historic district? In particular, the ones on the cover of the PD. They look incredible.
St. Louis does NOT need another Mill Creek Valley land clearance! Imagine if everything in Mill Creek was preserved. It would be ANOTHER Soulard wrapped around downtown, but of course, no one in St. Louis had the foresight.
Sometimes I wonder if we always do things the WRONG way...
St. Louis does NOT need another Mill Creek Valley land clearance! Imagine if everything in Mill Creek was preserved. It would be ANOTHER Soulard wrapped around downtown, but of course, no one in St. Louis had the foresight.
Sometimes I wonder if we always do things the WRONG way...
Allowing these buildings to further deteriorate is unacceptable. To intentionally hasten it is unforgivable, especially in this day and age. Our architecture is one of our major assets. These structures could never be reproduced today. Where in blazes are our civic leaders? Why isn't someone in the city putting a stop to this? I'm absolutely stunned.