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stone. LOUIS — The council of city councillors broke with tradition on Friday.
In recent memory, the board has tentatively approved incentives for a development by a 19-4 vote, the fewest times in recent memory, without the consent of city councillors in the project’s district.
City Councilman Tina Pihl drew up plans for her old National Guard Armory Building in the 17th Ward in a bid to sidestep her calls for developers to be more responsible for communities and city schools, which Schools see property tax revenue being diverted by incentive programs.
“This shouldn’t have happened,” she said.
Before she was shunned, she said, she had been seeking donations to the city’s public schools and a deal that would limit the building’s impact on the surrounding community.
Since federal prosecutors this summer indicting three board members for taking bribes in exchange for supporting development tax breaks, city leaders have been debating the appropriateness of “council etiquette” — the implementation of projects in their own districts — for months. When it comes to obeying the actions of city councillors. The council-focused approach to transportation planning has also come under scrutiny following a series of hit-and-run incidents. During Friday’s discussion, Councilman Marlene Davis, who introduced the Armory program and whose 19th district is on the east side of the development, said negotiations over incentives should be left to city staff.
“It’s not our job,” she said.
But Davis also made clear that Peel also had problems, saying she had taken too long to reach a deal on the Armory project: Interest rates and construction costs were rising. Developer Green Street Real Estate Ventures can’t wait to redevelop the armory into an entertainment venue, Davis said.
Pihl was elected last year on promises to be a tougher negotiator with developers in her ward, which includes the desirable Central West End, Midtown and Grove areas. Her message echoes a longstanding call from progressive Democrats in the city and aligns with the incoming Mayor Tishaura O. Jones’ message matches.
Pihl and Jones initially collaborated to renegotiate incentives for important projects and announced a $1.8 million donation From City Foundry projects to affordable housing.Earlier this year, she received another $250,000 donation A condominium project from the city center.
But over time, Peel began to experiment with the patience of the developers and the Jones government There are delays Respond to project requests.
In June, the St. Louis Development Corporation, which reviews and negotiates development incentives, went ahead with a project subsidy — which also applies to Green Street — despite Pihl’s protests. Despite Peel’s calls to renegotiate the deal, Jones recently supported extending incentives for Cortex, a nonprofit tech district that is home to major institutions like the University of Washington and BJC HealthCare.
On the Armory Project, Pihl has been negotiating with Green Street and SLDC for a $470,000 donation to the city’s schools. But the SLDC doesn’t think current legislation can do that, and has asked Davis to move forward with the deal.
The agency also made clear the city councillor’s courtesy in a statement after Davis introduced the related bill.
“A councillor’s approval should not be the sole determinant of a development moving forward,” SLDC spokeswoman Sara Freetly said in the statement. “It should be considered by the full council.”
The idea ran into some resistance on Friday. Councilman Jesse Todd, whose district includes part of the Midwest and communities north of there, said the SLDC has no power to bypass councillors elected in their district.
“We are the only ones that taxpayers can hold accountable,” he said. “I think we’re setting a very dangerous precedent.”
Peel said the bills would open a free contest where developers could bypass anyone they didn’t want to deal with.
“Why doesn’t this happen to you?” Peel asked her colleagues at the meeting.
But only four councillors voted against it: Pihl, Todd, Anne Schweitzer of the Far South and Annie Rice of Tower Grove East.
Four voted to attend: Aldermen Megan Green of Tower Grove South, Bill Stephens of Far South City, Shane Cohn of Dutchtown and Norma Walker of Northwest St. Louis.
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