COULD THIS BE YOUR HOUSE IF DEVELOPERS CHOOSE IT FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES?
Dogtown is facing a tremendous crisis: Use of blighting as a way to force homeowners to sell to developers.
Folks, I am Bob Corbett and live at 1419 Tamm Ave. I am a strong proponent of development of the greater Dogtown area. At the same time I am utterly disgusted and horrified in FORCING Dogtown residents or intimidating Dogtown residents to sell their property to developers.
When people WILLING sell their property to developers without pressure and direct or subtle force, I support those actions. But when the tools of blighting and even emminent domain are used, I am both furious, disgusted and terribly frightened. Will my own house be the next one the developers will find useful? Will yours? Will your neighbor's?
The alderman of the 24th ward, Tom Bauer, has introduced a bill for more houses yet to be taken from people by these tactics.
The home pictured above is an important one. The upper part of Fairmount, toward Mitchell, has already been developed. Now Mr. Bauer has introduced a bill which includes a home toward the bottom of the steep hill of Fairmount, a "blighting" which would put enormous pressure on other home owners on that street to sell to developers.
You can get information of this bill from the board of alderman web page on-line, but below is some summary material.
The first meeting on this bill of Mr. Bauer is on July 12th, a Tuesday, at 9 AM at City Hall, room 208. I IMPLORE concerned residents of Dogtown and others to come to this meeting and voice objections to this process of stripping people of their homes by the use of blighting, and the subtle pressures that go with this process.
Summary: An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 1526, 1557, 1558, 1561 Fairmount Avenue, 1600, 1606, 1612, 1616 Prather Avenue & 6279 Famous Avenue Area ("Area") after finding that the Area is blighted as defined in Section 99.320 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, 2000, as amended, (the "Statute" being Sections 99.300 to 99.715 inclusive), containing a description of the boundaries of said Area in the City of St. Louis ("City"), attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A", finding that redevelopment and rehabilitation of the Area is in the interest of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people of the City; approving the Plan dated April 26, 2005 for the Area ("Plan"), incorporated herein by attached Exhibit "B", pursuant to Section 99.430; finding that there is a feasible financial plan for the development of the Area which affords maximum opportunity for development of the Area by private enterprise; finding that no property in the
Area may be acquired by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis ("LCRA") through the exercise of eminent domain; finding that the property within the Area is unoccupied, but if it should become occupied the Redeveloper shall be responsible for relocating any eligible occupants displaced as a result of implementation of the Plan; finding that financial aid may be necessary to enable the Area to be redeveloped in accordance with the Plan; finding that there shall be available ten (10) year real estate tax abatement; and pledging cooperation of the Board of Aldermen and requesting various officials, departments, boards and agencies of the City to cooperate and to exercise their respective powers in a manner consistent with the Plan.
Sponsor: Tom Bauer Co-Sponsors: Committee: Neighborhood Development Documents: Introduced (PDF)
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