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I'm tired of reading stories like this one. Oh, but here's another one fresh from today's paper.
I'm tired of reading that a developer bought a piece of property, had grandiose plans for the site, once a building or two is demolished ("because the site just won't work if I don't demolish something") and then lets the site sit vacant. Since most of these developers do not live within the City of St. Louis, they don't have to worry about what their inaction does to all of us who live here.
How can any legitimate developer not return the phone calls of an alderman who is wanting an update on a development plan that the city awarded them? What are the consequences to the developer if they fail to live up to their end of the bargain? Too often it seems there are none, and developers know that. Does the alderman or some other City employee do any research to check these developers out before the City awards them a development plan? Why are developers not being held accountable? Ewww, you're going to revoke my development plan? Ouch, so that's what a slap on the wrist feels like.
I personally feel alderman have no business in city development. I'm willing to bet most alderman have no experience in real estate, and yet they're able to sign off on these deals (with or without public knowledge it seems) that may or may not benefit a neighborhood. I can see how an alderman could serve as a middle man between city government and developer & residents if needed, but professionals in real estate development should do the heavy work. Is that something that happens here?
Why do alderman completely ignore the wishes of the residents they serve? Is this how citizens are supposed to feel?
"Josh Wiese, president of the Clifton Heights Neighborhood Association, said residents of the area had resigned themselves to the church being torn down and condos being built to replace them. He said they hadn't anticipated this situation."
Resigned??? City residents should feel empowered, yet how can they when their elected officials don't listen to them. (I realize the current 24th Ward alderman had nothing to do with the development plan in the linked article above.)
Why do I feel like St. Louis, because of its "up & coming" status, is being raked over the coals by greedy developers and alderman who need to rack up a bulleted list of "accomplishments" before the next election.
I'm so fucking SICK of politics and closed door deals...I wish for once someone would put the City and her residents above their own political aspirations. To all you developers who think you're getting in on a good thing, if you can't walk the walk, stay the fuck out of the City. Believe it or not, there are people who actually give a shit about our 61 square miles. It's not perfect, but it's ours.
I'm tired of reading that a developer bought a piece of property, had grandiose plans for the site, once a building or two is demolished ("because the site just won't work if I don't demolish something") and then lets the site sit vacant. Since most of these developers do not live within the City of St. Louis, they don't have to worry about what their inaction does to all of us who live here.
How can any legitimate developer not return the phone calls of an alderman who is wanting an update on a development plan that the city awarded them? What are the consequences to the developer if they fail to live up to their end of the bargain? Too often it seems there are none, and developers know that. Does the alderman or some other City employee do any research to check these developers out before the City awards them a development plan? Why are developers not being held accountable? Ewww, you're going to revoke my development plan? Ouch, so that's what a slap on the wrist feels like.
I personally feel alderman have no business in city development. I'm willing to bet most alderman have no experience in real estate, and yet they're able to sign off on these deals (with or without public knowledge it seems) that may or may not benefit a neighborhood. I can see how an alderman could serve as a middle man between city government and developer & residents if needed, but professionals in real estate development should do the heavy work. Is that something that happens here?
Why do alderman completely ignore the wishes of the residents they serve? Is this how citizens are supposed to feel?
"Josh Wiese, president of the Clifton Heights Neighborhood Association, said residents of the area had resigned themselves to the church being torn down and condos being built to replace them. He said they hadn't anticipated this situation."
Resigned??? City residents should feel empowered, yet how can they when their elected officials don't listen to them. (I realize the current 24th Ward alderman had nothing to do with the development plan in the linked article above.)
Why do I feel like St. Louis, because of its "up & coming" status, is being raked over the coals by greedy developers and alderman who need to rack up a bulleted list of "accomplishments" before the next election.
I'm so fucking SICK of politics and closed door deals...I wish for once someone would put the City and her residents above their own political aspirations. To all you developers who think you're getting in on a good thing, if you can't walk the walk, stay the fuck out of the City. Believe it or not, there are people who actually give a shit about our 61 square miles. It's not perfect, but it's ours.
2 comments:
By 
, at
2:24 AM
What a shame. I grew up in Dogtown, played at Clifton Park, & now live near the "old Velvet Freeze", but I couldn't recall this church. Google Satellite showed only the gap.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6201+Columbia+Ave,+St+Louis,+MO+63139,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title
Now I remember what a charming facade it was. You'll notice that the Church's (Cliften--sic) website hasn't been updated in quite a while.
http://www.archdt.com/church/CHPC/history.html
Anne
ps: Great site!
By
Urban Review, at
9:57 AM
Great commentary and thanks for the link. One issue, I think, is many of the developers are as inexperienced as the aldermen. The developers are either new and actually look to the aldermen for leadership or have some experience but are not necessarily creative about new solutions. With an alderman or better yet some aggressive zoning and an empowered planning dept the developers just do what they know.
The fault really comes back to us, however. We must demand more of our elected officials.