When a group of local lawmakers lead a tour of some of north St. Louis’ most blighted areas Thursday, they’ll do so to call attention to the need for development and state investment in those areas.
They’ll also be illustrating why they believe the proposed $100 million Land Assemblage Tax Credit should be amended to allow other developers besides Paul McKee to qualify for it.
State Reps Jeanette Mott Oxford, Jamilah Nasheed and Rodney Hubbard*; and Aldermen April Ford-Griffin and Marlene Davis will lead a group of invited guests, including other state legislators, around parts of the 5th and 19th Wards where McKee has quietly aquired more than 500 properties.
Many of McKee’s buildings have become eye sores and nuisance properties in neighborhoods occupied by longtime residents holding out for the city’s “renaissance” to come their way and new residents pioneering to rehabilitate a once great area.
Oxford and Davis each told PubDef that they welcome the state’s attempt to spur development, but that they would like to see the legislation, which will be voted on next week, amended to allow more developers to participate.
The legislators’ press conference is set for Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at 2950 Montgomery, with a bus tour to follow at 10:30 a.m.
PubDef will be reporting next week from the special session in Jefferson City, following the negotiations as legislators, lobbyists and residents try to reach a compromise that allows north St. Louis to benefit from needed investment, while not cutting all but just one or two would-be developers out of the project. *Rodney Hubbard is a client of A D French & Associates
