This made me laugh out loud! You da man GCGone Corporate wrote: although I wouldn’t be rude enough to openly declare individuals ignorant, especially as they do so themselves through their words.
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Paul McKee was interviewed by Charlie Brennan this morning on KMOX for about 40 minutes. It was all about the Northside project. I thougt Paul held his own and had his facts together. Charlie asked a number of difficullt questions given to him by others, and occasioinally got off-topic. It was an intense exchange.
Here is the recording from the KMOX home page:
Here is the recording from the KMOX home page:
Here are 2 opinion pieces published side by side in today's St. Louis Post Dispatch. The first one is pro - Paul McKee and his plans for the Northside, and the 2nd is against Paul McKee's development plans.
FOR the McKee Northside Development:
McKee is the visionary St. Louis needs
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
AGAINST the McKee Northside Development:
Resident rejects imposed redevelopment
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
FOR the McKee Northside Development:
McKee is the visionary St. Louis needs
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
AGAINST the McKee Northside Development:
Resident rejects imposed redevelopment
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
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^ And parts of it are. He also said that he doesn't consider some of his own properties within the project area to be "blighted," among other things.
The legacy property and demolition list won't be introduced until next year after the ordinance comes out of the BOA. Thoughts? We're giving him redevelopment rights and financing before we know what he wants to save and tear down.
We also have no penalties if McKee does not reach 25% minority employment.
Eminent Domain has not been banned from the project.
We have no idea how much affordable housing will be built -- there are no numbers -- or of office space either. McKee has admitted he has no idea what types of businesses will locate to the project.
We also have no penalties if McKee does not reach 25% minority employment.
Eminent Domain has not been banned from the project.
We have no idea how much affordable housing will be built -- there are no numbers -- or of office space either. McKee has admitted he has no idea what types of businesses will locate to the project.
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If the Board of Aldermen approves the TIF, what will happen first with the project?
They have to approve the TIF and the redevelopment plan. As soon as that is done, it has to go to the state for the state tax credits, then we will begin to consolidate the land. We have all of these disparate parcels, and we need to consolidate them. Then we’ll work on the design standards inside the redevelopment area and will meet with the community on that.
The redevelopment agreement starts the TIF clock over by the Mississippi River Bridge and the I-64/22nd Street interchange. We will begin to assemble the TIF financing for those two areas.
I can’t disclose the details yet, but we’re working on five or six new projects right now. They are significant, multi-million dollar projects. Once we have the redevelopment rights, then we can start marketing The NorthSide Regeneration as an entity.
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... ocus2.html
They have to approve the TIF and the redevelopment plan. As soon as that is done, it has to go to the state for the state tax credits, then we will begin to consolidate the land. We have all of these disparate parcels, and we need to consolidate them. Then we’ll work on the design standards inside the redevelopment area and will meet with the community on that.
The redevelopment agreement starts the TIF clock over by the Mississippi River Bridge and the I-64/22nd Street interchange. We will begin to assemble the TIF financing for those two areas.
I can’t disclose the details yet, but we’re working on five or six new projects right now. They are significant, multi-million dollar projects. Once we have the redevelopment rights, then we can start marketing The NorthSide Regeneration as an entity.
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... ocus2.html
At the ONSL meeting McKee effectively said he has no idea what types of businesses will relocate to The Blairmont Project.
McKee calls North St. Louis ghetto, refers to rehabers as nickle-diming it.
^ No need to get your knickers in a bunch, Doug. Ghetto or not, the NorthSide isn't exactly in stellar shape. Rehabbers are great and all, but there's a bit of a difference between an $8B plan and a smattering of hundred thousand dollar plans or whatev. I think we all understood what he was saying. Drama is better served in movies than in urban development.
If I was Paul McKee and wanted City support I wouldn't go around calling North St. Louis the ghetto, especially given how I treated the community in the last 5-6 years with brick rustlers, fires, dumping, squatters, and all in all numerous building code (ordinance) violations. All actions which could be seen as making the area even more "ghetto," while justified under the auspices that ghetto poor have no rights nor standing to contest what grandfather Paul McKee considers economic development.
McKee said essentially all efforts in North St. Louis were in vain: that any progress resulted in the area reverting to ghetto again. He's insane and completely wrong.
Calling rehabbers cheap ***** is demeaning and shows a complete misunderstanding of what it means to rehab a home -- and what housing corporations happen to be about. If anything, with $100,000,000 from the state and a TIF, they could do what we've seen in Soulard on the North Side. It would be done in a clear and transparent manner with far less displacement and gentrification which will result from McKee "converting the ghetto."
This is urban renewal or "negro removal" as it was called by James Baldwin. McKee's actions and words confirm that reality.
McKee said essentially all efforts in North St. Louis were in vain: that any progress resulted in the area reverting to ghetto again. He's insane and completely wrong.
Calling rehabbers cheap ***** is demeaning and shows a complete misunderstanding of what it means to rehab a home -- and what housing corporations happen to be about. If anything, with $100,000,000 from the state and a TIF, they could do what we've seen in Soulard on the North Side. It would be done in a clear and transparent manner with far less displacement and gentrification which will result from McKee "converting the ghetto."
This is urban renewal or "negro removal" as it was called by James Baldwin. McKee's actions and words confirm that reality.
He could have used a more effective word.Doug wrote:If I was Paul McKee and wanted City support I wouldn't go around calling North St. Louis the ghetto, especially given how I treated the community in the last 5-6 years with brick rustlers, fires, dumping, squatters, and all in all numerous building code (ordinance) violations. All actions which could be seen as making the area even more "ghetto," while justified under the auspices that ghetto poor have no rights nor standing to contest what grandfather Paul McKee considers economic development.
Not in vain. It's just a difference between nickles and dimes being tossed in a pool and a thousand truckloads of quarters dumped in the same. Organic growth is great and rehabbers have performed excellent work but what he suggested is that this type of development ain't gonna put a dent in NorthSide. Old North rocks, but we're talking about an area much, much larger. Are rehabbers going to bring in job creation centers like a Mastercard or whatev? No.Doug wrote:McKee said essentially all efforts in North St. Louis were in vain: that any progress resulted in the area reverting to ghetto again. He's insane and completely wrong.
No one is calling anyone cheap. Is it possible your emotions could be getting the better of you?Doug wrote:Calling rehabbers cheap f***s is demeaning and shows a complete misunderstanding of what it means to rehab a home -- and what housing corporations happen to be about.
Old North provides a model. Other existing housing corporations in North St. Louis could work just as efficiently or better with adequate funding and support. But they don't have Steve Stone on their side.
Organic growth brought about our best, most desirable neighborhoods.
Clear cutting was planned for Soulard. This is the same thing with McKee. Only difference being McKee isn't calling for cul-de-sacs. Actually we're not really sure what residential will look like...
Organic growth brought about our best, most desirable neighborhoods.
Clear cutting was planned for Soulard. This is the same thing with McKee. Only difference being McKee isn't calling for cul-de-sacs. Actually we're not really sure what residential will look like...
^ Those other housing corporations don't have the means (funding and support) to do the job. McKee does. The fact of life is that there is both organic and inorganic development. Someday you will come to understand that there is room for both.
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Comparisons to Soulard are apples and oranges. Yes there was a time when Soulard was not an example of urban renewal as it is today, but it was never depleted and abandoned to the extent that the area of North STL you are comparing it to is.
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Much of north city is GHETTO. I'm sorry but large swatches of the NORTHSIDE are dilapitated, run down, abandoned, dangerous, and in need of massive outside investment. The northside has unlimited potential but right now I can't think of a more fitting word to discribe said area than "ghetto."
As usual I couldn't disgree with Doug's blog more.
As usual I couldn't disgree with Doug's blog more.
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Moorlander wrote:Much of north city is GHETTO. I'm sorry but large swatches of the NORTHSIDE are dilapitated, run down, abandoned, dangerous, and in need of massive outside investment. The northside has unlimited potential but right now I can't think of a more fitting word to discribe said area than "ghetto."
As usual I couldn't disgree with Doug's blog more.
I never understood the backlash against Doug on this board, I think more often than not he has legitimate concerns.
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Doug's concerns are valid, but he chooses to convey them by indulging in the same stereotypes and name calling he decries.
For example, it's hard to get incensed by McKee calling parts of North city "ghetto" when he regularly calls all St. Charles county residents "racist hoosiers".
It's a one way street with him.
For example, it's hard to get incensed by McKee calling parts of North city "ghetto" when he regularly calls all St. Charles county residents "racist hoosiers".
It's a one way street with him.
It's not just Doug, but lots of people on this forum (including some moderators) think it's OK to call people "Hoosiers". Look, folks, it's a derogatory term meant to put down other people and make you feel superior. It's not cool. Can't we please stop using it around here?
southsidepride wrote:Doug's concerns are valid, but he chooses to convey them by indulging in the same stereotypes and name calling he decries.
For example, it's hard to get incensed by McKee calling parts of North city "ghetto" when he regularly calls all St. Charles county residents "racist hoosiers".
It's a one way street with him.
Well I grew up in St. Charles County and when someone from that area calls the City "ghetto" it's not simply a joke.
Nor when Rainford or Kinder essentially do the same.
^ A ghetto in today's parlance is essentially a slum or depressed condition. That seems fairly accurate for much of NorthSide (not all, but much of it.) Portraying those that may differ from you ideologically in the fashion you have is an advertent mischaracterization and therefore both unfair and unproductive.
On the flip side, labeling St. Charles county residents as "racist hoosiers" is a crude generalization and offensive.
Over-emotional, mischaracterizing diatribes will serve no one. You should know better, Doug...
On the flip side, labeling St. Charles county residents as "racist hoosiers" is a crude generalization and offensive.
Over-emotional, mischaracterizing diatribes will serve no one. You should know better, Doug...
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I grew up in St. Charles as well. You generalize and assume everyone who lives there ran away from the city. Most of my family has been in St. Chuck since they emigrated from Germany.
Yes I love the city and don't regret making the move here, but when I hear you toss around stereotypes about St. Charles, Jefferson County, West county, etc. it makes me every bit as angry as hearing stereotypes about the city.
Yes I love the city and don't regret making the move here, but when I hear you toss around stereotypes about St. Charles, Jefferson County, West county, etc. it makes me every bit as angry as hearing stereotypes about the city.
St. Louis aldermen OK McKee’s Northside plan
Developer Paul McKee Jr.’s $8.1 billion Northside redevelopment plan was approved by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in a vote of 19-2 Friday.
As part of their vote Friday, the aldermen gave initial approval to nearly $200 million in TIF for the first phase of the project. The aldermen are expected to take a vote on final approval for the nearly $200 million in TIF in January, said Deputy Mayor Barbara Geisman.
Link: http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... a=from_rss
Developer Paul McKee Jr.’s $8.1 billion Northside redevelopment plan was approved by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in a vote of 19-2 Friday.
As part of their vote Friday, the aldermen gave initial approval to nearly $200 million in TIF for the first phase of the project. The aldermen are expected to take a vote on final approval for the nearly $200 million in TIF in January, said Deputy Mayor Barbara Geisman.
Link: http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... a=from_rss