Developer Paul McKee, a man known to many for his secret Blairmont development plan for Old North St. Louis, is heading to China soon to lobby for Lambert Airport and his own 550 acres surrounding the airport to be used by the Chinese to distribute their goods in America, according to a story in today’s Post-Dispatch.
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has never been a major cargo facility. In 2006, according to a trade group, it ranked 58th among U.S. airports in cargo traffic, compared to 33rd in passenger traffic.
Fleming notes that Lambert has excess capacity, good highway connections and lots of developable land around it.
Some of that land is controlled by McEagle Properties, which is building a 550-acre office and distribution center just east of Lambert. The warehouses and freight forwarders that would spring up around a cargo hub would be logical customers.
“Something like this could bring a tremendous amount of opportunity to the airport, and thus jobs,” said McEagle spokesman Dan Brungard. So McEagle Chief Executive Paul McKee is heading to China, too.
The jobs are what interests St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who’ll also be making the trip, according to chief of staff Jeff Rainford.
McKee’s North Park Office Park will simply increase regional vacancy rates.
Is Paul McKee or the City paying for Slay’s travel expenses?
I can see McKee trying to get the Great Wall of China blighted and declaring eminent domain to buy it real cheap!If the Chinese know what we St. Louisans know,they won’t let him enter the country and that damn Slay also!
Northpark and the airport both in the county, not the city. So why would Slay go?
Slay would go because the City of St. Louis owns the airport.
What progress has been done to his properties on the Northside that caused the Specail Session the taxpayers paid for in Jefferson City? This corrupt land locked city gives away everthing to the rich and the bs-ers.
What is this IDIOT thinking. He is saying we need more products imported from China?!?o!kdo!!!?! And Jobs? We need more AMERICAN based companies that we buy products from. Not China. We have reached the point where we cannot compete because of low pay and unhealthy workplace standards that are used in many other countries. And now there are not many American Producers that we are dependent on importing cheap goods from foriegn countries. They have us by the balls and we let it happen. And slay what a dissapointment! You once gave me hope for this city and every day you continue to take all of that hope away. The corumption in this city will never change!!!! Tell us your plan of coruption for North St. Louis!