urbanSTL

Reminder...

STL63101 wrote:Meeting This Tuesday night--



Hello Neighbor,



We will discuss the next steps in developing a relationship with St. Patrick's Center, the City of St. Louis, and the Residents of Downtown St. Louis. Your voices were heard. An action plan has been developed by your neighbors. Come to St. Patrick's Center Tuesday March 10 7pm- 8:30 to help shape the future discussions about issues that are very important to our neighborhood. This will be a very informative and important step in our voices being heard. Join us to guarantee our actions have standing with the city. We are a neighborhood that cares about ALL our neighbors!





Public Meeting Details



Location: St. Patrick Center, 800 N. Tucker (just north of Washington)



Time: 7:00 – 830



Date: Tuesday, March 10th



Topic: Next steps related to St. Patrick’s project HERO at the Washington Avenue Apartments, including a report from the newly formed residents and retailers steering committee.



Moderator: Jeff Rainford

JCity wrote:i still don't understand why government grants have encouraged this type of use in a building like this, in a redeveloping area like this. They should get MORE tax credits or whatever else, for having MARKET RATE apartments, not gov subsidized housing. i'm all for homeless vets for having a good place to stay, but come on, this is at the epicenter of Washington's renaissance. would you want to live in this building? would you allow your daughter?

I don't have a daughter.

JCity wrote:i still don't understand why government grants have encouraged this type of use in a building like this, in a redeveloping area like this. They should get MORE tax credits or whatever else, for having MARKET RATE apartments, not gov subsidized housing. i'm all for homeless vets for having a good place to stay, but come on, this is at the epicenter of Washington's renaissance. would you want to live in this building? would you allow your daughter?

No - she's 7 months old.



IMO - this is a fine program and is part of the diversity of a city. We shouldn't seek to clense downtown in order to attract 30-something white professionals only. One example - there's a very large homeless veterans shelter (without the many regulations and safeguards in place that this project has) right in the center of downtown Boston. It's noticeable when you're right in front of it as there's always a couple rough looking guys hunched in a corner smoking, but a block away you would never know it's there. What's missing in St. Louis are the thousands of other people that make up a city and specifically a downtown. You might say that we can't have these types of projects if we hope to attract new residents, but it's self-defeating to homogenize downtown as you then attract residents who seek something different than a diverse, active city.

^ Absolutely true.

^ Dude - you're "East of Hanley" location cracks me up every time.

^ Was there as well (FYI the guy in the black suit).

Allow me to reiterate that the concerns were not for HERO and its participants, nor were they for Saint Patrick's Center, nor was it regarding safety of residents (internal & external), and nor was it regarding property values. The most important concern was whether or not Larry Rice & NLEC will try to mimic Saint Patrick's Center and try to group-house homeless people in a hovel.



Other points discussed were:

- the wants to have more open channels of communications between residents & the institutional constructs in Downtown;

- the creation of an oversight committee of volunteer prominent residents of the neighborhood;

- that such programs on an individual basis are conducted at apartment complexes throughout the area without anyone noticing;

- legal questions about zoning;

- that the drunk club kids at Lure/Pure/whatever that new club is are more of a nuisance than homeless veterans living across the street; and

- that Saint Patrick's is so worn out from this process that they will never try to work with housing people on Washington Ave ever again.



Again, the only real hesitation is fear of a Larry Rice mimicry.

Like MegaMaid, Larry's gone from suck to blow.



For the record, I do support the HERO program renting apartments in the building, and I note that it is being done according to market demand, with a cap on placements, and with treatment programs & oversight. I further think that your daughters should move into this building, not only giving these guys reasons to excel in life but also because it will probably be one of the safest buildings in the whole area. I am happy to welcome these guys to the neighborhood and hope to support Saint Patrick's Center any way I can in these and other efforts.



And all the NIMBY libs, who talk a big progressivist game and shy away when the ball's in their court, are getting real tiresome. (including the StL Post-Dispatch)

I was not a fan of this, until I realized that St. Patrick's center was the one doing this and I read the stipulations. I am all for helping our veterans that are down on their luck and need some help. I think it is a good thing.

i think everyone's fears of Rice mimicking this program is ludicrous. This guy wants to warehouse and build tent citys from tarps, not lay out the cash to house these people in genuine housing.



Furthermore, no landlord downtown would agree to take on Rice's tenants anyway. St. Patricks has their reputation, Larry Rice has his, and it will prevent him from making a similar move.

TheWayoftheArch wrote:i think everyone's fears of Rice mimicking this program is ludicrous. This guy wants to warehouse and build tent citys from tarps, not lay out the cash to house these people in genuine housing.



Furthermore, no landlord downtown would agree to take on Rice's tenants anyway. St. Patricks has their reputation, Larry Rice has his, and it will prevent him from making a similar move.

This is correct, with cash being the key point. Rice has the money, but won't spend it.