Do we have local examples of someone buying an old gas station and building an apartment building or anything on that lot?
The Standard at Forest Park and Vandeventer.
Best part of that example is how there used to be two gas stations at FPP & Vandeventer. IIRC, the Standard replaced a Waterway, and the Ikea parking lot took a BP.
@RockChalkSTL I'm not looking to drop bets on it being 100% deliberate, that it's all part of a bigger strategy, but it sure wouldn't surprise me.
^I suspect they'd never again build something as durable or substantial, so I'd be hesitant to see it demolished. The parking lot surrounding it is a shame, but the building itself seems fine and fits its neighbors fairly well.
I have been unable to find out if anything came of the TCA meeting. I haven't seen anything in the public-facing bits to indicate it's being pushed through. No board bills, no variances on the Board of Adjustment agendas, no demo on the Preservation Board agenda.
I wonder how the new wards coming might play into this. It'll be in the new Ward 7. Davis doesn't live in it. Ingrassia does, but isn't running, correct?
I know a Chapter 353 can get around demo regs, we saw that with the Pevely, but the house at 3616 McRee isn't within the 353 boundaries. They can also give tax abatements. They used to have eminent domain powers, but that stopped for ones created after Aug 28, 2006, though that's moot here since QT owns the parcels. Does anyone know what powers they have beyond those?
Serious: Any attorneys on this forum wanting to do some pro bono? This could be your opportunity, to help @quincunx find out the right civil procedure here. As complex as this looks to be, it seems the board could use the benevolent help of a professional before more happens. Cheers.
Serious: Any attorneys on this forum wanting to do some pro bono? This could be your opportunity, to help @quincunx find out the right civil procedure here. As complex as this looks to be, it seems the board could use the benevolent help of a professional before more happens. Cheers.
We all know where McCloskey lives. Go ring his doorbell, I'm sure he'd be glad to help.
^I'm thinking this was a serious question, and McCloskey seems only to be pro his own bono. What's the timeframe on this? I can ask a friend who does some pro bono work. I'll see her next weekend. She's in Boone County, so there is that. Alternately, I'll see if she or her husband, who is also an attorney (though a very busy one), if they can recommend anyone. (He's the former deputy chief counsel to Koester I've mentioned every now and then.) What are we looking for here precisely so that a musician can successfully describe it to high level legal professionals? They're extremely bright and very well connected, so . . . PM me. I can't personally do anything, but I will ask.
We're interested in knowing what powers a Chapter 353 Redevelopment Corporation has to bypass the usual city processes beyond the ones I already stated. Can they change zoning? Grant zoning variances? Vacate streets or alleys? Establish a CID? I think/hope the answer is no to all that.
^I'll ask. "Chapter 353 Redevelopment Corporation" isn't terribly composer friendly, but . . . I'll find a way to simplify it and see if I can keep it in my brain between now and then. (Or maybe even text or some such. Get it out quicker.) What's your deadline?
What's your deadline?
