Category: Northside Regeneration

Three Neighborhoods, Thousands of People

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date February 11, 2007

by Michael R. Allen

If anyone tuned into last night’s excellent program on the 6:00 p.m. news program of KMOV Channel 4, you would have seen a compelling, tightly-edited report from Russell Kinsaul.

Just don’t get the wrong idea. More is at stake here than Old North St. Louis with its eager young middle-class white rehabbers. The “Blairmont” project encompasses the lives of thousands of people, and the biggest impact is on a largely poor, African-American population. This population may not survive the development apparently envisioned by Paul McKee’s McEagle Properties. (That project is in line to receive a large subsidy from the state of Missouri should a proposed bill amendment go through this week.)

The concerns of renters in JeffVanderLou are as politically important as those raised by homeowners in Old North St. Louis. In fact, the fact that both share the same concerns show that the near north side already enjoys incredible diversity — and an unfortunate deep bond in fear over the possible changes to come.

In the future, that bond and that diversity could be improved by thoughtful, careful redevelopment efforts. Clearance would erase the potential for retaining the existing population that has maintained the cultural fabric of the area despite incredible obstacles posed by decades of disinvestment.

Instead of viewing the area as a potential blank slate, would-be developers should see an area already possessing a great array of architectural, cultural and social resources. The focus needs to be on filling the gaps harmoniously to create a strong urban fabric for three very cool neighborhoods.

These neighborhoods already are rebuilding block by block, neighbor by neighbor, house by house. While Claire and I are a part of this effort, so are many other people. We look forward to many others joining us in the next decade, and to seeing our fellow near north siders stick around for the good future we share.

Missouri Legislature North St. Louis Northside Regeneration

Blight Proposal Being Rushed In State Senate

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date February 10, 2007

by Michael R. Allen

Tax subsidy backer cites St. Louis blight – Virginia Young (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 8)

Imagine the possibility of a massive state-backed subsidy for large-scale urban revitalization in St. Louis.

Bet you don’t imagine it being spearheaded by senators from St. Charles County, arriving in a hurry with little warning and with almost no knowledge of the proposal among St. Louis development insiders.

What could be carefully-crafted, responsible policy seems to be rushed and made without the insights of those with the experience at the “tough sledding” of development work in depressed parts of St. Louis.

With some refinement, such a policy proposal might be appropriate. At the moment, the proposal raises concerns in St. Louis.

North St. Louis Northside Regeneration

Blairmont Site Assembly Heading to the Long Final March

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date February 4, 2007

by Michael R. Allen

Has Paul McKee Jr.’s Blairmont juggernaut slowed? Not likely. However, word on the street is that they various active purchasing companies — including Sheridan Place LC, MLK 3000 LLC and Dodier Investors LLC — are making contracts with close dates as far off as May. The hold-up may be due to capital flow issues, or perhaps it’s a strategic timing to avoid greater scrutiny in the wake of recent publicity.

If the hold-up is due to lack of working capital, that is not difficult to understand. A scan of their last day of recorded deeds, January 24, shows four sales totaling $333,500.00.

These purchases are a house and lot at 2219-21 Benton Street with a deed of trust for $80,500.00, a house at 2545 Warren Street ($86,250.00), a house at 2507 North Market ($92,000) and a house at 2911 James Cool Papa Bell.

These prices are very high for older homes in the St. Louis Place and JeffVanderLou neighborhoods, but there’s good reason for the elevated prices: these four homes were occupied and maintained up to date of the sale. No doubt, the families that owned and occupied these homes were not about to sell out their little acre for pittance, even in the face of the usual rumor-mongering Blairmont’s agents have been caught perpetrating.

As the Blairmont machine heads onward in the later stages of site assembly for the “bulldoze the ghetto” project, the last remaining properties are owned by reluctant owners, unyielding owners and unknowing owners. Now that the machine is trying to buy hold-outs and hard-to-locate owners, we may be witnessing the greatest displacement of residents since this whole messy business started in 2002. In the first few years, when few realized the plot, Blairmont purchased properties at sheriff’s tax sales and bought vacant land and buildings. Then, the agents began soliciting sales and picked up properties owned by folks ready to sell. They also began making inroads with public agencies, including purchase of the old Benton School site at 2333 Benton from the Board of Education and a disposition from the Public Administrator’s office.

Now, all that is left are people who own property that they have intended to maintain as residences and businesses. Now, all that is left is a full-on assault against the strongest parts of near north side neighborhoods. That, and a grab for the crucial public lands.

What will our political leaders say as hundreds of north side residents are displaced and a tremendous public land-grab is planned? So far, they are mostly silent.

2007 St. Louis Election Northside Regeneration

Blairmont’s Associates Giving to Both Shrewsbury and Reed

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date February 1, 2007

by Michael R. Allen

The two candidates for president of the Board of Aldermen have reported campaign contributions related to the “Blairmont” effort.

According to his 40 day before the primary election filing, Jim Shrewsbury received $750.00 from Eagle Realty Company on November 10, which represents the Blairmont family of companies. In fairness, Eagle Realty Company does appraisal work for the St. Louis Development Corporation and the Land Reutilization Authority and may have other cause to make this donation.

In his report, Lewis Reed shows that he raised in one day an astounding $4,000 in contributions from companies related to developer Paul J. McKee, Jr. including one of the Blairmont holding companies. On December 7, 2006 the following companies connected to McKee donated $1000 each: Create, LLC; Havenwood, LLC; Boardwalk Corporate Centre LLC; and Allston Alliance, LC. Allston Alliance LC is one of the Blairmont holding companies, owning the Cass Avenue Schnucks site; its registered agent is John Steffen, head of the Pyramid Companies. (On Reed’s report, Allston Alliance lists a return address of 906 Olive Street, Suite 600, same as the Pyramid Companies.) While Steffen’s role is unclear, McKee reported a 30% ownership stake in Allston Alliance LC. Also in fairness, McKee is chairman of BJC Healthcare that is seeking to renegotiate its lease of part of Forest Park. Shrewsbury opposes that renegotiation.

While these contributions may not amount to influence, they should be noted. The silence by public officials and candidates on the “Blairmont” project is notable. The private control of an entire ward’s future should be of utmost concern to all elected officials, since such control ultimately threatens the role of government to shape development to be responsible both to city residents and to existing law.

North St. Louis Northside Regeneration St. Louis Place

Blairmont: 1900 Block of Montgomery Street

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date January 31, 2007

Date of photograph: August 19, 2005.

LOCATION: 1915 Montgomery Street; St. Louis Place; Saint Louis, Missouri
CURRENT OWNER: N & G Ventures LC

Date of photograph: August 19, 2005.

LOCATION: 1937 Montgomery Street; St. Louis Place; Saint Louis, Missouri
CURRENT OWNER: N & G Ventures LC

North St. Louis Northside Regeneration People

Michael Allen & Randall Roberts on "The Wire" Monday

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date January 29, 2007

Monday night Michael Allen will be joining Randall Roberts of the Riverfront Times and hosts Thomas Crone and Amanda Doyle on The Wire. The show runs from 7:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on KDHX, FM 88.1.

While Randall is the main guest, Allen will join him in discussion of a certain large-scale development project on the near north side.

JeffVanderLou North St. Louis Northside Regeneration

Blairmont: 2900 Block of Montgomery Street

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date January 24, 2007

Part of the Photographic Survey of Blairmont Buildings.

Date of photograph: January 21, 2007.

LOCATION: 2933 Montgomery Street; JeffVanderLou; Saint Louis, Missouri
CURRENT OWNER: Sheridan Place LC

The building is at right The building at left is owned by the city’s Land Reutilization Authority. Date of photograph: January 21, 2007.

LOCATION (LEFT): 2949 Montgomery Street; JeffVanderLou
CURRENT OWNER: Private Citizen

LOCATION (CENTER): 2947 Montgomery Street; JeffVanderLou
CURRENT OWNER: Sheridan Place LC

LOCATION (RIGHT): 2945 Montgomery Street; JeffVanderLou
CURRENT OWNER: N & G Ventures LC

Date of photograph: January 21, 2007.

LOCATION (LEFT): 2946 Montgomery Street; JeffVanderLou
CURRENT OWNER: Sheridan Place LC

LOCATION (RIGHT): 2948 Montgomery Street; JeffVanderLou
CURRENT OWNER: VHS Partners LLC

JeffVanderLou North St. Louis Northside Regeneration

Blairmont: 2629 St. Louis Avenue

Post author By Michael R. Allen
Post date January 24, 2007
1 Comment on Blairmont: 2629 St. Louis Avenue

Part of the Photographic Survey of Blairmont Buildings.

Date of photograph: January 21, 2007.

LOCATION: 2629 St. Louis Avenue; JeffVanderLou; Saint Louis, Missouri
DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: c. 1880
CURRENT OWNER: VHS Partners LLC

The first block on St. Louis west of Jefferson is fairly barren. There are some homes on the south side, but on the north side there is only this building at the northeast corner of Elliott and St. Louis. It’s a predictable landmark that is so quintessentially a north side building. The side gables, wide front elevation, brick corbelling, cast iron storefront and tall plain chimneys are all typical of the common commercial and residential buildings of the 1860s and 1870s before the local vernacular was heavily laden with Italianate and Second Empire references. Of course, buildings like this are pretty rare on the north side today, especially here between Jefferson and Grand.

This landmark is a welcome marker on my way home from points westward in the city. When I spot this building, I know that home is near and I am back to the older northside where the blocks are shorter and the buildings very old. Seeing that it survived a whole block worth’s of other buildings only strengthens my appreciation of its hardy body.

Will this landmark be a marker for the next generation, or will I be among the last to see it stand?Â I hesitate to discover, but know that I must.Â ~ Michael R. Allen