My previous post about Blairmont got some attention. What it has not gotten so far is calls for investigation into Blairmont by public officials or even a hint of citizen outrage. In fact the impact is probably minimal. This is extremely dangerous as this issue is one which every single property owning resident of this City understands. The dangers of land speculation is the devaluation of surrounding property values to the point that owners will move out of the neighborhood. They are even more dire when the speculator does not enclose the property thereby criminals and squatters are easily able to reside within. Who in the City of St. Louis would want their block surrounded by out-of-City land owners who are not accessible and do not maintain their property? Who would want to put money into their own property when their neighbors are devaluing the entire area? It is simply easier to sell at deflated prices and move to another neighborhood our out of the City. Those that remain, like Claire and Michael, are left with little sanity and money to do much of anything. They could be you.
The even more troubling aspect of this fiasco is the lack of government involvement and outright collusion evident in campaign contributions and the resulting inaction. Contained in my previous letter is documented contributions to the 19th Ward Democratic Organization as well as Jamilah Nasheed and Rodney Hubbard. Can we expect the government to regulate this outright conspiracy by a multi million dollar developer, especially when they are receiving campaign contributions? We must act now in order to address this situation.
Neil Peirce writes in the infamous 1997 Perice Report that civic engagement and regional citizenship must address the health of the region as a whole. Peirce says that a new breed of citizen-leaders must arise who are willing to reject the old St. Louis culture and take risks. Pierce is calling for citizen-leaders to arise and challenge the status quo. This is what must be done with Blairmont as clearly government is unwilling or unable to do anything except sit back. The political culture of St. Louis stymies any governmental confrontation with these developers.
The above building is yet another owned by Blairmont and is currently being left in neglect. Again Paul McKee of McEagle properties in Winghaven reports a 30% controlling interest in this LLC.
You can ask him why he is not using his financial capacity to preserve this building:
McEagle Properties, LLC
1001 Boardwalk Springs Place
O'Fallon, Missouri 63368
Main: 636-561-9300
Fax: 636-561-9301
Also be sure to ask Jim Shrewsbury why he has not done anything. Isn't Jim Shrewsbury's platform one of attacking building code violators? Didn't he tout the ordinance at pretty much every neighborhood association meeting? Is the City sending out fines to our friends in Winghaven? Moreover Jim claims to be for honest and open government. Then will he honestly answer why this is being allowed under his current tenure as Board of Alderman President? Will Lewis Reed do anything different especially when John Steffen of Pyramid has been shown to have connections to Blairmont?
It seems to me that they will not. It is time for us to change the agenda and address the problem. You and I determine the resolution of this chaos.
2 comments:
This "project" is appalling. I can't believe how long it's gone on without major attention.
Paul McKee and his advisors have long assumed that no one in this area was smart enough to figure out the game plan. They even lied to the head of the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, assuming the man to be a fool like they assume everyone on the northside to be.
Well, looks like they figured wrong. Not only is the Old North group smart on the matter, but they'd be surprised how many people in St. Louis Place and JVL are also aware of the scheme.
Contrary to Paul McKee's arrogant, racist assumptions, the near northside isn't just his for the taking. While there may not be a bunch of rich SUV-driving biotech workers living up there, the folks ain't dummies either.
To perpetrate this scheme against good people is not only arrogant but deeply unethical.
Shame on all of them.
I live in ONSL and drive a SUV and I am not going anywhere....... We all know who Paul Mckee is and exactly what he is doing.
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