April Ford-Griffin on Proposed “Open Space”
I wanted to note that Alderman April Ford-Griffin called me today to discuss the proposed open space map that NorthSide Regeneration Regeneration LLC submitted as part of its plan for a $8.1 billion development of the city of Saint Louis.
I have written about how owner-occupied homes appear to be slated for open space, as are some area businesses.
When I asked Ford-Griffin about the fate of Fehlig Brothers Box & Lumber, a 137-year-old area business that, according to NorthSide’s plans, will become open space, she said that much detail can’t be read into the company’s plans.
“That is a concept,” she said. “That is not a document where you take it and say this is what’s going on this block and this is what’s going on that block,” she said.
You can read the updated report, with Ford-Griffin’s comments, here.
Look, the ONE thing that seems to be concrete about the NorthSide plan submitted to the Board of Aldermen (other than, y’know, McKee’s pursuit of hundreds of millions of taxpayer subsidies) is the map outlining the streets and open space that the developer envisions. Other than that, there is literally NOTHING that tells citizens – or the Board itself – what to expect from this project. It strains credulity even to call it a “plan”.
Comment by Dave Roland — March 2, 2010 @ 8:10 p.m.
I wondered today whether, given Boldrin’s convincing testimony against planning for the very long-term future, it is fair to critique the details of the planning maps NorthSide has submitted to the city. But ultimately, these are all we (or anyone else) has to go on. I am fine with assuming that a company applying for $400 million in tax increment finance from the city submitted its most up-to-date plans for the area. Otherwise, these documents were a… sham from the get go. Therefore, I will continue to look at the details and write about properties slated for open space until I see an updated version.
However, Ford-Griffin did return my call (apparently she is receiving different legal advice than Rainford), and I wanted to announce that I had added in her comments to the report about Fehlig Lumber.
Comment by Audrey — March 2, 2010 @ 9:17 p.m.