By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, January 19, 2007 at 5:46 PM
The following statement is from John Farrell, Comptroller Darlene Green's spokesman...
"The comptroller believes people on both sides of this issue have strong points. On one side are the citizens and taxpayers who want to protect their parks and have a say in plans to develop park land. On the other side is the city's largest medical facility that serves thousands of disadvantaged residents each year and is an economic engine for the community.
"The comptroller intends to move forward in an effort to bridge the gap on these two very valid viewpoints and hopefully reach a compromise solution. She is working now to hold meetings beginning next week with both sides that focus on common ground and building consensus instead of rehashing differences. This issue is too important to our community on a number of levels for us to settle for anything less than a mutual agreement.
"The comptroller is reserving comment on the new lease plan revealed today until after these meetings and, hopefully, a compromise is reached."
UPDATE: Meanwhile, Mayor Francis Slay has posted on his website a list of improvements in the latest version of the plan. He also says this deal, which he admits is "much better than originally proposed" (he supported the old one too), now has the support of Forest Park Forever and the Forest Park Advisory Board.
According to Slay, here is how the proposal is better:
"The comptroller believes people on both sides of this issue have strong points. On one side are the citizens and taxpayers who want to protect their parks and have a say in plans to develop park land. On the other side is the city's largest medical facility that serves thousands of disadvantaged residents each year and is an economic engine for the community.
"The comptroller intends to move forward in an effort to bridge the gap on these two very valid viewpoints and hopefully reach a compromise solution. She is working now to hold meetings beginning next week with both sides that focus on common ground and building consensus instead of rehashing differences. This issue is too important to our community on a number of levels for us to settle for anything less than a mutual agreement.
"The comptroller is reserving comment on the new lease plan revealed today until after these meetings and, hopefully, a compromise is reached."UPDATE: Meanwhile, Mayor Francis Slay has posted on his website a list of improvements in the latest version of the plan. He also says this deal, which he admits is "much better than originally proposed" (he supported the old one too), now has the support of Forest Park Forever and the Forest Park Advisory Board.
According to Slay, here is how the proposal is better:
- The size of the land covered by the lease has been reduced to 9.4 acres. In addition, BJC has agreed to set aside no less than 15 percent of the land for green space, effectively reducing the developable space by another 1.4 acres.
- Even though the amount of acreage is smaller, BJC has agreed to raise its lease payments to $2 million per year. All of that money will be put into a trust. It can only be invested to maintain Forest Park.
- One-and-a-half acres of land south of Clayton Road will be protected. A new park will be created with playground equipment and tennis courts. The new park will be more convenient for families in Forest Park Southeast. BJC will light the park, and provide security and maintenance.
- Some of the tennis courts at Triple A will be improved and made available to the general public at no cost. The handball courts behind the visitor’s center will also be expanded and improved.
- In all, BJC has agreed to set aside $1 million to pay for the changes and improvements.
- Forest Park Forever has agreed to match at least $1.8 million per year. Combined with the $2 million from the BJC lease, that means at least $3.8 million per year in dedicated revenue will be available to maintain Forest Park.
- In addition, $1.6 million in General Revenue will be freed up. That money will be set aside to help maintain the City’s other 104 parks. In the first year, that money will be invested within a mile-and-a-half of the Hudlin location to create new green space or recreational opportunities.
Labels: Board_of_Aldermen, Comptroller
4 Comments:
To Star Jones: So having BJC substantially increase their lease payment so the City has greater resources for its 100+ existing parks is a bad thing?
The logic escapes me. I guess that is the same logic that people used to oppose Prop P on the November ballot yet complain about the lack activites in neighborhoods for our youth.
1/20/2007 1:43 PM
Waterboy..oh I do love the name calling. Again, the Mayor sees a golden opportunity to provide resources to enhance the 100+ neighborhood parks throughout this city. Whether I work for the Mayor is irrelavant! If something is logical and supports the vast number of people in the city, then it is worth the effort to fight for.
1/20/2007 9:27 PM
They are many different and less obnoxios means of raising revenue to maintain parks then the current strategy of favoring BJC. More prosperous and dynamic cities like Chicago, Paris, etc. are finding ways to increase the acreage dedicated to green space in order to raise the quality of life and thus the attractiveness of city living. In StL local leadership prefers favoritism over democracy. Desperate leaders do desperate things.
1/21/2007 6:01 AM
Sorry but I am one of those guys who believes that in order to pay for a public good taxes should be raised. One should not sell of sections in order to pay for what remains.
Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the County, much bigger than Central Park in Manhattan. This is the site of the 1904 Worlds Fair. If we value the park then we should pay for its continued maintenance and preservation, not sell of sections for that end.
Are the taxpayers of this region so cheap they they wouldn't pay a few dollars in order to preserve this national gem? Or are the elected officials not independent enough to promote an alternative?
1/21/2007 5:01 PM
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