By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:04 PM
Paul McKee, the man behind the mysterious Blairmont land assemblage project, was expected to address members of the community in which he has purchased dozens of acres of property at a forum Thursday hosted by Metropolitan Congregations United. But as it was rumored he may be, the developer was a no-show.
Labels: Blairmont, Development, Events
34 Comments:
Remind me why this guy should be getting millions of taxpayer dollars, if he can't even be bothered to talk to them?
10/26/2007 1:51 AM
Work with an individual who destroys neighborhoods and and displaces residents, a process which amounts to blockbusting? Stop clapping, nothing good can come out of such an unethical and illegal process.
10/26/2007 1:53 AM
What elected official supported this deal? We should ask that person to demand that he meet with the taxpayers.
10/26/2007 2:57 AM
Why the hyprocisy? Where are those people and elected officials who gave away millions of dollars of land and tax incentives to McCormack Baron, or to John Steffan and his 400 million dollar project, and hundreds of millions in TIFs, and credits, where's the outcry. Stop playing politics...not everybody in the community is stupid! I'm happy to see St. Louis doesn't have any real problems like crime and unemployment, that people can keep talking about this.
10/26/2007 5:39 AM
If we don't talk about it who will? The radio stations can talk about will La Russa stay or go but they do not address what is happening to its residents. It is very important to keep this issue on the minds of St Louisians and the nation. Polititians and those greasing their palms need to be exposed. Anyone who thinks this is an isolated issue is in denial (Botanical Heights is certainly not affordable to those who lived there before those homes were built. Anyone in NSL would welcome new development I am sure. But this is not the way. CH4 @ 10pm reported that a spokesperson of McKee gave a statement that due to rise in asking prices, the buyout has slowed down which could mean years could pass before there is a groud breaking. Also he stated there is NO PLAN as of yet. Why do we need to keep talking about this? Why do you think I live on the Near North Side. I own my home. I pay my taxes. I vote evry election. That's why I want to keep talking about it. Maybe you think you live somewhre safe from development. Don't sleep. While you sleep/they (Slay,Aldermen,State Reps,Congressmen et al) are planning. Don't think your safe because it's not your turn right now but when it come and it will come. When your home is in jeopardy you will pray someone is organizing,having meetings,protesting to save your home. GOOD LUCK.
10/26/2007 7:56 AM
If we don't talk about it who will? The radio stations can talk about will La Russa stay or go but they do not address what is happening to its residents. It is very important to keep this issue on the minds of St Louisians and the nation. Polititians and those greasing their palms need to be exposed. Anyone who thinks this is an isolated issue is in denial (Botanical Heights is certainly not affordable to those who lived there before those homes were built. Anyone in NSL would welcome new development I am sure. But this is not the way. CH4 @ 10pm reported that a spokesperson of McKee gave a statement that due to rise in asking prices, the buyout has slowed down which could mean years could pass before there is a groud breaking. Also he stated there is NO PLAN as of yet. Why do we need to keep talking about this? Why do you think? I live on the Near North Side. I own my home. I pay my taxes. I vote every election. That's why I want to keep talking about it. Maybe you think you live somewhere safe from development. Don't sleep. While you sleep/they (Slay,Aldermen,State Reps,Congressmen et al) are planning. Don't think your safe because it's not your turn right now but when it come and it will come. When your home is in jeopardy you will pray someone is organizing,having meetings,protesting to save your home. GOOD LUCK.
10/26/2007 7:59 AM
John Q. Public says...
Send Your $7.00 @ Month to PubDef. our one true source of news in the raw.
Oh yes Yall was plaid like a fiddle
Nice to see all you with great expectations-Sitting in the crowd.
10/26/2007 8:48 AM
McKee just offended the only advocate he add in this whole mess.
MCU tried to extend an olive branch in his direction, and he rebuffed them.
I bet he's pissed right now at whoever got him started buying all that property on the north side.
And he's gonna be even more pissed when those hundreds of "kill him with kindness" MCU stamped posts arrive in his O'Fallon mail box.
10/26/2007 8:55 AM
I am very disappointed with your side of the story. My congregation is a member of MCU, and a member of my congregation (jennifer heim)clearly said to your blog, that Mckee was invited to the event, but he said he was not going to show, and met with the Executive Committee prior to the meeting. MCU should have made that public.To say that he was expected to attend is totally false. I was at the meeting, and didn't like the tone of the meeting. Why are we beating up on this guy. The problems in the city were there long before Mckee showed up. This guy is trying to do something, and obviously made some mistakes along the way, just give him a chance. I don't see any another developer stepping up to the plate with their own money. Be patient. Look what happen at the North Park Development(it took a long time),but see the progress now. Mckee was part of that.
10/26/2007 9:35 AM
MCU is a bunch of fools--or cynics. To think that this blowhard from St. Charles would stand up and do the dog and pony show that they usually do at their annual meeting is silly. McKee should put or shut up--show neighborhood residents the plan that he has been showing the lucky few politicians and wanne-be politicians that have made the trek out to Clayton to meet with him and his lawyer. If the plan is good enough for Reverend James Morris to see--someone who at this point only represents himself and his ambitions to be state rep--than it is good enough for Mrs. Hoover who has had to live next to Blairmont property for the last five years.
On the other, the hand-wring elected hypocrites who took money from him aren't much better. When they should be stepping up to the plate and explaining carefully what sort of development they want, they seem to be lost. I predict that, ultimately, voters will remember this ineptitude.
10/26/2007 9:37 AM
^ When you say "jennifer heim clearly said to your blog", what exactly do you mean? I didn't speak to a Jennifer Heim at the meeting last night.
You might be getting me confused with Jake Wagman from the Post-Dispatch. He and I get mistaken for each other all the time ;)
10/26/2007 9:40 AM
Antonio,
On your October 15th, blog titled - "Paul Mckee to address Public", there are 8 cooments, and one of them is from Jenny Heim, stating exactly what I just said. You can check for yourself that posting, and also check if a Jenny Heim represent MCU. It will all confirm what I am saying. Thanks.
10/26/2007 9:55 AM
Blog comments stand in for effective grassroots organizing? Lets not kid ourselves, anonymous congregation member, MCU made no pretense of organizing around this issue. Instead, over the summer, when residents of McKee Ville were asking MCU leaders to not support him, MCU preachers went out of their way to support his attempt to get public funds and made no attempt to support even the ultimately meaningless amendments. Then, MCU ducked the issue by failing to have any meaningful local conversations prior to the meeting. Where were the organizers, staff members and preachers before MCU decided they were the ones to be the facilitator of some non-existent and poorly fleshed out process to "hold McKee accountable"? Oh, that's right, they weren't in the community. MCU could even be bothered to leaflet area residents about the meeting. Pathetic..
Noone is saying McKee is evil or that noone else is blameless; the the ineffectiveness of elected leadership is telling. However, when you roll around with a pig you get muddy. MCU leaders should have followed the advice given to them by those who are facing a potential Blairmont buyout--that McKee should put up and shut up, come to a public meeting to discuss his plans. If the plans are good enough for wanne-be state rep candidates and MCU preachers to see, then they are good enough for the general public.
10/26/2007 10:07 AM
I didn't state blog comments make for effective organzing. In fact I agree with you, MCU didn't do a good job organzing around this issue. In fact we told legislators we supported the tax credits because we believe it was right. Anyway I am talking to my pastor today, and make sure we are not the problem in this issue because we fail to inform everybody about Mckee's intentions, and not to accept top-down decisions from MCU. My intention is not to fight with you or Antonio. I was at the meeting and once again didn't like the tone. I am sorry if I offended anybody. Thank You.
10/26/2007 10:22 AM
Mr.French,
Was that Jeff Rainford at the meeting? I thought there was a blackout of Slay and Associates. What's he doing on the Northside? How come MCU not aware of it, since they claim to be a community/faith based outfit? Ha! ha!, they must have chickened-out as usual.
10/26/2007 11:05 AM
Can you do a story about Old-North Saint Louis? Who are there? Are there African-Americans in the organization? How much public money have they got so far?
I know for sure they got Affordable Housing Trust Fund money. Thank you very much.
10/26/2007 11:11 AM
Re: ONSL, there are African Americans in the neighborhood and organization. And there are African Americans moving into the new homes and apartments being developed in the neighborhood. Why do you ask?
10/26/2007 11:27 AM
Antonio,
If you were at the meeting from the start or got a program, you will see that it was Jenny Heim who called the meeting to order.
10/26/2007 12:59 PM
to:RE:ONSL
It seems like there are only white faces when those representing ONSL`speak. Are they working with any other neighborhood groups since they have thier ball rolling. It seems as if that is one of the reasons some support McKee buying property in the 5th ward because of the way it looks. Then you have those who say, "look @ ONSL." Now that they have the reconigtion for what they are doing do they share that information on how to access money to improve you neighborhood from the inside out.
10/26/2007 1:05 PM
What do you want to know about improving a neighborhood from the inside out? There are lots of examples in St. Louis. ONSL is only one of the most recent.
One question that must be asked: What does it mean to "improve a neighborhood"? McKee might have a completely different definition than someone living at the corner of Sarah and Cote Brilliant.
10/26/2007 2:34 PM
If you have a neighborhood that has a.1 or 2 homes on the block 2.no retail 3.no entertainment(no matter where you live) improvement whould be the in the form of investment,construction of new homes & businesses, financing ideas to improve ones home there are many was to start. Pick one or choose your own.
10/26/2007 3:38 PM
By the way if McKee wanted to improve. He could have started by now.
10/26/2007 3:41 PM
What about the remaining part of north city not owned by McKee? The whole place looks like a junk yard. What does the community say for themselves?
10/26/2007 5:00 PM
That's an ignorant statement. You have never been to NSL to say something like that. My neighborhood doesn't lokk like a junkyard. My neighbors and I keep our streets clean. There are many streets like mine over here. Don't be fooled by news media reports. But I think the NS community would probably say "Your Mama."
10/26/2007 6:33 PM
It would be interesting to see the Northside mapped into categories of; Well kept Owner Occupieds, Derelict Owner Occupieds, Under Constructions, Blairmonts, LRA's, Other Unnoccupied Derelicts, Absentee Landlords, Well kept Rentals, and Well kept Unoccupieds.
10/26/2007 7:04 PM
The entire city needs mapping. Property is being bought and sold. The elected officials either don't have time or the knowledge to do this. One would think with the embarassing Alderwoman of the 5th Ward stating that she did not know about Blairmont until M.A. mapped Mckee's holdings. Which I may add no one belives.
10/26/2007 9:18 PM
You mean she didn't know who that nice guy was who gave the campaign she was running $5k (and the opposition)?
10/27/2007 6:01 AM
I sense some jealousy at ONSL's success.
There is nothing that ONSL did that another neighborhood in north city cannot.
It all starts with good leadership. You can't rebuild a neighborhood is you let clowns like Sam Moore and Freeman Bosley call the $hots. Ya gotta ditch the opportunists and find leaders who live and struggle in the neighborhoods & who are not in the game to get elected or get bribed. ONSL is not tied to the 5th ward machine. It's led by neighbors. It took them decades to get real political power because the neighborhood never backed down on its principles and enver kissed up to the Aprils and Rodneys of the world. This is a diverse neighborhood, by the way. By diverse, I mean a mix of races and classes, not all worshippers of the corrupt and ignorant politicians who run north city.
10/27/2007 11:09 AM
Sam Moore and Freeman Bosley both "live in the neighborhood". Sam Moore was an area commander for Operation Brightside for years (hey newbies, ya know what one of those is?), and Freeman has been working block by block in his ward forever.
I remember a story about Freeman. A friend of mine once lived in his ward. Years ago. Then, some ten or or fifteen years later, Freeman and my friend met againi. Freeman remembered him, all the way down to the exact address of his old house in the ward.
Don't make the mistake of underestimating people like Freeman Bosley.
10/29/2007 8:07 AM
Why does it have to be jealousy? My family has lived in what is now the fifth ward since the fifties. I am sure there are people that have lived in ONSL for the same amount of time. It was not until the last decade or so that changes have started to happen. My neighbors have tried to purchase land next their home(we do not have very may vacant homes held by LRA) and have been denied. The property is being held for "Future Development" which as the pieces are coming together looks more and more like McKee since he employs someone who was with LRA for years and her LRA position was filled by an ex-employee of McKee (hello). We don't kiss a$$ in St Louis Place either but it has not helped us. I have seen many photo ops with Griffin,Hubbard,and Jeff Smith just hanging out in ONSL. So somebody kissing something. I believe the previous post was inquiring how they did it. So lets make this plain so that no one is confused. There is no river of money flowing from City Hall so how did you get funding? Public Private other? How about a seminar? I am sure there are many people in North St Louis that would like to know. NSL residents are still waiting for HUD money 20million was granted for the North Side and Greisman wants to give 1.8million to the residents. that's not enough to fix a community center or create a park. So when we see a pocket neighborhood rehabbing,tuckpointing,pouring foundations to fix buildings that are falling down, those of us that have homes in walking distance would like to know where to start. If we knew we would not ask. It's not jealousy it's curiosity.
10/29/2007 11:00 AM
If you call it jealousy why don't you call what ONSL is doing secrecy?
10/29/2007 11:45 AM
To "It's not jealousy it's curiosity"
If there's interest in learning from one another, that's great. Perhaps you might consider inviting your neighbors from ONSL over to tell their story sometime, perhaps over lunch. Your absolutely right, knowledge is power.
10/29/2007 12:30 PM
Secrecy?
10/29/2007 4:21 PM
I've met many of the people in Old Norths Restoration Group and am sure they would be open to letting you peek at the the way things have been put together. It took a lot of work. I'm pretty sure RHCDA is a big part of it all, but the group and it's administrators put in their hours on many fronts.
10/30/2007 2:43 PM
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