Stltoday - U.S. Defense budget for NGA headquarters matches land near Scott Air Force base
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt ... c4a51.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt ... c4a51.html
Ugh. They could have just as easily put the city site as a budget item placeholder. You want to budget high and come in lower anyways.David J. Berczek, a spokesman for the agency, said NGA Director Robert Cardillo hasn't made a decision and the budget item is nothing more than a placeholder.
"It's part of the process to get some placeholders in there and start the military construction authorization in advance of the next budget," Berczek said.
Berczek said the agency put in a request that included the least expensive site and the largest acreage site. It just so happens the St. Clair County land fits that description.
"We knew that if anybody went and read the document it would cause concern," Berczek said.
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Hard to argue with those numbers on paper if you have no context otherwise, and I'm sure most decision makers have no context whatsoever.
182 acres for $800,000 vs. 100 acres for $14 million
182 acres for $800,000 vs. 100 acres for $14 million
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This is starting to sound like the whole NFL/stadium saga, where all signs are pointing towards STL City losing, yet the government is denying these signs mean anything.
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^Yup. This appears to be a goner. Silver lining: hopefully Slay and St. Louis leadership realizes they need to spend more money to recruit businesses downtown and stop going after silver bullet projects. If St. Louis spent the same money it wasted on NFL and NGA luring businesses downtown, we'd be in great shape! Why can't we just focus on filling downtown?!
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^That sounds like the Gabe Lozano for mayor pitch I saw on this site previously.
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What in the Slay Administration's demonstrated pattern of behavior over the last 15 years gives you this hope?chaifetz10 wrote:^Yup. This appears to be a goner. Silver lining: hopefully Slay and St. Louis leadership realizes they need to spend more money to recruit businesses downtown and stop going after silver bullet projects.
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NGA explanation makes no sense either. You always put in the highest possible amount, it's easier to give money back then ask for more.I doubt Feds would have to pay $14 million for N. St. Louis City site at end of day. Heck, MO & city might have already matched IL offer at $800k for all we know. But what amazes me is even at $14 million you got a land acquisition cost of less then one percent of project cost. I think it is like 0.875% of project cost. That is a great number on that much property whether it be private development or government.
The $28M hwy interchange wasn't free (I realize the Feds didn't pay for that). Neither will running utilities to the cornfield.
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dredger, my understanding is that costs are much higher than that -- as much as breaking $100M -- but $14M is what the feds are being asked to pay.dredger wrote:I doubt Feds would have to pay $14 million for N. St. Louis City site at end of day. Heck, MO & city might have already matched IL offer at $800k for all we know. But what amazes me is even at $14 million you got a land acquisition cost of less then one percent of project cost. I think it is like 0.875% of project cost. That is a great number on that much property whether it be private development or government.
^ RW, wasn't a number of $130 million cost to the state and city being reported not too long ago. That would cover the $14 million on top of the $100 million or so you noted. My gut feeling is the state and city offered to match dollars on the side. Pure speculation but only way could counter offer. Either way, not too confident even if state and city picked up and handed the parcel over for free as the 182 acres vs. 100 acres gives everyone an easy out.
The cynical part of me as someone who works for private contractor on a number federal contracts and spends time on Small Business goals (including disadvantaged, women owned, veteran owned) and minority hiring goals believes the Federal Promise Zone is just bunch of BS. Feds hold contractors to high standards but don't have hold themselves. Promised Zone Looks great on paper, looks like a great promise to help urban cores and a great policy that a Democratic POTUS can state to his constituents like those who voted heavily for him in N. St Louis city but when time comes everyone will point at the 182 acres including a fellow and buddy Democrat Durbin that was the objective non partisan reason for the selection.
The cynical part of me as someone who works for private contractor on a number federal contracts and spends time on Small Business goals (including disadvantaged, women owned, veteran owned) and minority hiring goals believes the Federal Promise Zone is just bunch of BS. Feds hold contractors to high standards but don't have hold themselves. Promised Zone Looks great on paper, looks like a great promise to help urban cores and a great policy that a Democratic POTUS can state to his constituents like those who voted heavily for him in N. St Louis city but when time comes everyone will point at the 182 acres including a fellow and buddy Democrat Durbin that was the objective non partisan reason for the selection.
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^ that $130M sounds about right... iirc they have to not only bring the land to NGA but also developable infrastucture. I remember reading that the city basically would lose half of the earnings tax it gets by having to redirect those $$ back to paying off the infrastrure costs.
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i mean on the bright side (if there is one) NGA isnt leaving the city until 2021 at best.
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Alex with NextSTL has posted that the City, State, and others have scheduled an announcement next Monday. So it's not going to Scott?!
Link
Link
MONDAY: Federal and State Leaders Join Mayor Slay for Major NGA Announcement
WHAT: Following a private meeting with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Director Robert Cardillo this morning, Mayor Francis Slay will be joined by federal, state, and local leaders on Monday to make a major announcement regarding the City’s ongoing efforts to retain the NGA.
WHO: Mayor Francis Slay
Governor Jay Nixon
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay
Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed
Comptroller Darlene Green
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger
State Senators and Representatives
Community Leaders
WHEN: Monday, March 7, 2016 @ 10 a.m.
WHERE: St. Louis City Hall
Room 200 (Mayor’s Lobby)
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
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^ Looks like it's just an attempt to close strong with a show of unity. Maybe an announcement of other potential plans if they land it.
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Likely this. Can't have the agency director in region and not mirror what east side is doing.roger wyoming II wrote:^ Looks like it's just an attempt to close strong with a show of unity. Maybe an announcement of other potential plans if they land it.
^ Maybe a retention of some of the jobs. Maybe the city keeps 3,000 and outgrowth goes to Metro East. Or maybe technology specific jobs go to the city in a more urban format, while the later more space intensive jobs will go suburban. Maybe the promise for more technology jobs. Maybe the promise of more government jobs period in the area. Maybe the promise of other resources going into a Near Northside plan. Maybe St. Louis is retaining the whole thing....ya never know. Maybe a designation of the Northside NGA spot with contingencies....like a promise to build infrastructure or invest in the surrounding areas. If not then they leave the city.
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^ Maybe but unlikely... there is no decision to announce and there are no NGA reps on that roster.
This is just theater; much like the last few weeks of the Rams Riverfront stadium drive.roger wyoming II wrote:^ Looks like it's just an attempt to close strong with a show of unity. Maybe an announcement of other potential plans if they land it.
The NGA is gone and there's nothing St. Louis can do about it. Just like we had to watch Los Angeles celebrate when they got the Rams back, St. Louis will have to sit and watch while southern Illinois finally "gets what they deserve".
I think the one announcement that Slay and company could make is the city will provide the North City land and associated infrastructure for free. Essentially match and nullify land acquisition cost factor in the decision process. Still leaves the acreage issue wide open.
The other thing I can see playing out after the official announcement is Blount or Durbin announcing they will fight the appropriation process which conveniently pits the separate parties & the presidential election. Remember, the new facility still has to go into the federal budget, signed off by Congress and approved by POTUS. The political fight to land the new facility is the easier one of the two dog fights involved. I pretty much consider Claire a weak Senator who will fall in line for Obama administration decision first and MO second.
But whoever loses gets token lip service from the administration. Just think of POTUS 100 day in office speech just down the road of two auto plants that were promptly shuttered for good and later demolished once Fiat bought Chrysler under a government brokered bailout deal.
The other thing I can see playing out after the official announcement is Blount or Durbin announcing they will fight the appropriation process which conveniently pits the separate parties & the presidential election. Remember, the new facility still has to go into the federal budget, signed off by Congress and approved by POTUS. The political fight to land the new facility is the easier one of the two dog fights involved. I pretty much consider Claire a weak Senator who will fall in line for Obama administration decision first and MO second.
But whoever loses gets token lip service from the administration. Just think of POTUS 100 day in office speech just down the road of two auto plants that were promptly shuttered for good and later demolished once Fiat bought Chrysler under a government brokered bailout deal.
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City will indeed make the land free and the state will pay for other improvements