tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post6045415426481954201..comments2023-10-02T08:28:06.724-05:00Comments on Ecology of Absence: Another North Side Building Lost Under Blairmont ProjectMichael R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17262548806079447404noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-87529777941004260262008-05-19T18:05:00.000-05:002008-05-19T18:05:00.000-05:00do you know exactly what year this building was bu...do you know exactly what year this building was built? i need it for a projectAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-9173577636462052872007-06-28T15:17:00.000-05:002007-06-28T15:17:00.000-05:00Sadly, the mayor and city development staff have e...Sadly, the mayor and city development staff have either let or allowed this "new vision" to get too far without speaking clearly. Instead of more pr, the mayor could use his political skills to communicate to city residents, including organizations, developers and residents of this affected area, a clear statement about the relationship between McKee's plans and the work that has been going on here, as limited as it has been. <BR/><BR/>Some of us have long memories of being asked to participate in the various public and civic planning processes that have occurred over the past 15 years and, in doing so, being asked to committ ourselves to making a difference in our neighborhoods. That participation and committment provides both responsibilities but also a right to be treatly honestly and respectfully, not with casual condenscension. <BR/><BR/>Folk deserve at least some straight talk, not more blog bullshit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-82097386993350546492007-06-28T14:20:00.000-05:002007-06-28T14:20:00.000-05:00The assurance that he will not displace most curre...The assurance that he will not displace most current residents is a joke given that his five years of purchasing has made the number of current residents a lot smaller.<BR/><BR/>Does "current residents" mean the number as of June 27, 2007?<BR/><BR/>Since McKee is still buying occupied houses, including some in June, what exactly does the mayor's assurance mean?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-90102470235952825562007-06-28T14:17:00.000-05:002007-06-28T14:17:00.000-05:00Here's an excerpt. Note the bolded items: "Paul h...Here's an excerpt. Note the bolded items: <BR/><BR/>"Paul has spoken in general terms of building new homes and schools, adding green space, attracting new businesses, and <B>restoring historic properties</B>. Whatever he does with his properties will end up being <B>subject to a battery of commission and legislative approvals, and a forest of hearings and meetings</B>. If he is able to use a new state tax credit program designed to stimulate investment in the state’s poorest areas, <B>he will have to agree not to use eminent domain to acquire properties; not to displace most current residents</B>; and to build on a scale that will change the area’s character quickly, rather than over decades.<BR/><BR/><B>No project in north St. Louis, no matter how significant, will be able to treat current residents or employers unfairly</B>. No property owner, no matter how substantial his holdings, <B>will be immune to the City’s regulations</B>. And should there ever be a redevelopment plan for the area, <B>current stakeholders must be included in the process."</B>. <BR/><BR/>I would say the blogger world has had quite a bit of influence in how this new vision is being presented.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-48028130773419263522007-06-28T14:07:00.000-05:002007-06-28T14:07:00.000-05:00Actually, Slay's blog doesn't use the word preserv...Actually, Slay's blog doesn't use the word preservation. The statement is the sort of wishy, washy public relationship speak, promising everything to everyone without making any real committments either way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-67172425626956772342007-06-28T13:13:00.000-05:002007-06-28T13:13:00.000-05:00Slay's blog:"If you do read the newspaper’s story,...Slay's blog:<BR/>"If you do read the newspaper’s story, ask yourself these questions: If Paul McKee is chased away, [...] who will do something <I>today</I> with the thousands of vacant lots and buildings there?"<BR/><BR/>I don't know, but McKee hasn't been doing anything there <I>today</I> for the last thousand-some <I>today</I>s.<BR/><BR/>"And, finally, ask yourself why developers would ever do anything in the most challenging neighborhoods of the City, when they could more easily invest their money in other neighborhoods or the suburbs and exurbs — if this "coverage" is what they get?"<BR/><BR/>Because they didn't anticipate the rise of local political blogs that expose political/private corruption to the point where it would become an embarrassment for mainstream news sources not to cover it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-43010334373699041292007-06-28T12:40:00.000-05:002007-06-28T12:40:00.000-05:00We read the mayor's blog closely. It reveals that...We read the mayor's blog closely. It reveals that the "vision" calls for new schools, parks, etc. They'll probably preserve Crown Candy. Obviously someone in the Mayor's office has seen or heard something more than a "vision." Engagement is sounding like it will be a presentation on what will go where in the new near northside. Not uncommon in eminent domain whole new slate endeavors. I think Greisheimer's bulldozer comment is alot more revealing than the Mayor's blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-786095859275130752007-06-28T10:20:00.000-05:002007-06-28T10:20:00.000-05:00Read the Mayor's blog closely. It describes a for...Read the Mayor's blog closely. It describes a forest of regulations and meetings. It calls for preservation of historic buildings and engagement of the community.<BR/><BR/>Activists should be pleased and ready to participate in a community based planning effort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-85598618398973595642007-06-27T20:52:00.000-05:002007-06-27T20:52:00.000-05:00Careful not to be too critical! You might chase t...Careful not to be too critical! You might <A HREF="http://www.mayorslay.com/desk/display.asp?deskID=737" REL="nofollow">chase them away</A>, and then who's going to prevent the proliferation of abandoned buildings?<BR/><BR/>P.S. I think that the mayor - who is the one who writes the mayor's blog - forgot to mention the <B>$100 ****ing million completely self-serving tax credit issue</B>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-18896720491738308972007-06-27T16:29:00.000-05:002007-06-27T16:29:00.000-05:00A nice storefront with possibilities above... Buil...A nice storefront with possibilities above... Built of Brick... soon to be imitated, but hardly replaced.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-84232340852161235412007-06-27T14:33:00.000-05:002007-06-27T14:33:00.000-05:00Emergency demolition permits and six-figure purcha...Emergency demolition permits and six-figure purchase prices. Is it just me or does this seem to be moving quickly?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-28828834133311553772007-06-27T09:27:00.000-05:002007-06-27T09:27:00.000-05:00Prior to McKee's acquisition, what was the narrati...Prior to McKee's acquisition, what was the narrative on this building?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com