The members of the Shrewsbury Board of Aldermen have a “life changing” decision to make when the January 23rd Board of Aldermen meeting takes place next week regarding the Kenrick Plaza Development.
These members, five of six who live in the Affton School District where their friends, neighbors and children also reside, will have to face and share the same space with these people if they in fact put the Affton School District and tax paying citizens on the financial hook for the next 23 years.
Moreover, the Board of Aldermen members also work and make their living in this community, some selling real estate in the same exact area that will be affected by their vote.
How can you face the people and not get shunted? Shunted to the point that may affect their livelihood or losing their Board of Aldermen position at the next election.
The Shrewsbury Mayor has said, “The residents have supported members of the board who have supported this project” in a Post Dispatch Jan. 10 article. I say, which residents? Not the over 200 plus that attended the Jan. 9 TIF meeting.
Another Shrewsbury resident has said, "I think we have to look at the more important issue than if it's a Walmart or if it's going to be near our residences,” in a Webster Kirkwood Times Jan. 11 article. I say, live adjacent to this proposed development and let’s see how you react.
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Every Now and Then Go Away, Have a Little Relaxation, For When You Come Back to Your Work, Your Judgment Will Be Surer.”
The answer is plain to see through the Walmart Trees. Take a breath, sit back and think of the proper way to encourage growth to our city by generating a plan that will fill the Kenrick Plaza property once again, encourage and promote the current developer to overhaul and renovate the current buildings and property to encourage new tenants and start acting like a developer.
Craig and Terri Diliberto
Related articles:
Chris P
10:11 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Regardless of the vote, regardless of what people think of Wal-mart (I personally don't care), Shrewsbury needs to answer why the city has not enforced its codes and allowed a property owner to let a property devolve to such an uninhabitable state that the city now must finance its remediation.
An excerpt of the relevant code is below, but doesn't really begin to do justice to the level to which the owner and property manager let the property rot. The city needs to prevent this from happening again and again and again. The TIF is 23 years. What did Kenrick Plaza look like after 23 years??
-----
The following conditions of buildings and structures ..constitute a nuisance:
*Those which are ...open at door, window, wall or roof.
* Those containing therein substantial accumulations of trash, garbage or other materials susceptible to fire, or constituting or providing a harboring place for vermin or other obnoxious animals..
* Those which have parts thereof which are so attached or deteriorated that they may fall upon public ways or upon the property of others or may injure members of the public ..
Any building or structure found to be a public nuisance because of the conditions described in Subparagraph (7) of Section 550.020 of this Chapter shall be ordered demolished.
The owner, occupant or lessee in possession ... shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day that a person fails to comply ..may be deemed a separate offense.
Jody Hoffman
12:12 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
I hope our local government says "No" to this. Thanks for your letter to the editor.
Francis Soyer
12:26 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
I would love to see a list of alderman's names and a picture so "we the people" can voice our opinion to them every time we see them.
Chris P
12:28 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Francis, the aldermen are very nice folks. If you can get to a BOA meeting you can see them in person.
dave garren
7:57 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Nice folks make bad decisions, too. There is no reason public money should be put at risk for this private development. If these nice folks cared about this community they would hold the current property owner's accountable for allowing this property to become "blighted." And in my humble opinion, the only residents whom are in favor of this project are the one's who stand to profit from it. Personal GREED, not what is best for the community, is the only rational reason to make this un-popular decision! You obviously do not care who is displaced or the burden being placed on the Affton School District for the next 23 years, as long as you get yours.
dave garren
8:13 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
I also agree that the Board of Aldermen should be shunted and their businesses boycotted should they go against the County Commission recommendation and vote for this project.
These Aldermen will make a huge decision with their vote and the residents will make huge decisions with their votes as well.