In Their Own Words: Alderman Kauffmann 'On 50-Yard Line' on Walmart

Ward I Alderman Elmer Kauffmann is the latest interview we're featuring as part of an ongoing series where we speak with Shrewsbury's Aldermen about the proposed redevelopment of Kenrick Plaza. Previous interviews were conducted with alderwomen and , and alderman .

Patch: What are your thoughts about the project in general?

Elmer Kauffmann: We have got citizens that are split on it. A lot depends on what we present finally. What the buildings look like, how the landscaping is and the road situation. That’s where we are right now because there are just too many ands, ifs and buts.

Patch: Do you support the project then?

EK: I am on the 50-yard line. I would like to see the final product before I can go one way or the other.

Patch: What’s been your response to all the public reaction you have gotten over this proposal?

EK: I’m not really surprised. Walmart has been in the news an awful lot and has been sued for different things. Some people don’t like the looks of their buildings.

Patch: Why do you think people feel so strongly about this issue?

EK: One, Walmart is non-union and we have some people out here who are very strongly union. We have people who are very loyal to the two grocery stores out here, Shop 'N Save and Dierbergs, and they know it’s going to hurt their business, although they don’t know how much.

People who are for it want us to maintain the services that we have with the fire, police and parks. You need money coming in and with the economy being down the situation is not helped out. We have had all kinds of proposals, but we need a proposal, that if it does go ahead, is going to bring money in. Residential property is not going to do it.

Patch: Are there any other options for the city to close its budget gap besides a large retail development?

EK: Well, I don’t think there would be as much controversy if it was a different store other than Walmart, I’ll put that there. As far as other sources of revenue, with the economy being bad raising taxes would be a no-no.

Patch: Is the national economic slump something the city of Shrewsbury can ride out?

EK: We were running a balanced budget [prior to the economic recession]. Some years back we lost our No. 1 source of revenue, which was Grandpa’s … it was a discount type store. It had being doing very well here, but the company had to file bankruptcy. That hurt us.

Patch: A big concern for a lot of people is the closure of Trianon Parkway. Do you think that’s the best option?

EK: I am hoping that if this project does go ahead we can work out some kind of compromise. Right now there is tremendous controversy on it. You have some people who want the road closed, and other people don’t want have to drive on Laclede Station Road and go around.

Patch: Do you have any idea what a compromise would look like at this point?

EK: We could have some type of a back road, maybe electronic gates or something of that nature for people who live over there. We could cut down on the cut-through traffic and still allow our residents access.

Patch: Some people just don’t like Walmart as a company. Would you shop at Walmart if it was there?

EK: I don’t usually go to Walmart. I just don’t buy that kind of merchandise, being single.

Patch: So then you don’t have a problem with there being a Walmart in Shrewsbury?

EK: If it meets certain criteria. If it looks anything like a warehouse store than my answer is no. 

Patch: Can you tell me a little bit about the history of Kenrick Plaza and the different efforts the board has made for that space?

EK: It was developed before I was on the board. I wished at the time it would have been leveled over there, that’s what one of the problems is. It’s so hilly and that’s not ideal for a shopping situation. At first, it did fairly well with the different restaurants over there. Then it started slowly going downhill.

We have talked to people like Walgreens, and they said their stores were already too close to it. We have talked to different companies, but there has been, in a sense, no takers. CVS Pharmacy is another one but they are going to Yorkshire because they like corner stores with a lot of traffic. The traffic on Watson Road over the years has died down considerably. Crestwood Plaza attests to that.

Patch: The question for a lot of people is why Walmart?

EK: Walmart was the only one who submitted somewhat of a concrete-type proposal. We went to Capital Land, which is Dierbergs, and they had nothing of any substance.

Patch: Why do you think it has been so difficult to find people interested in that piece of property?

EK: One is the way it’s shaped with the guywires and the towers, they cannot be moved. There’s a creek running through it. The traffic has went way down on Watson Road, and we’ve got stores closed up.

Patch: The developer, GJ Grewe, has also drawn a lot of controversy. Having worked with him and his company for several months, what is your assessment of him?

EK: Well, the one meeting when he walked out after five minutes did not help his public image in the city of Shrewsbury. There was 350 people out there waiting for a presentation, then him and his entourage just walked out. It left people sitting there with a bitter taste in their mouth.

The mayor has had more dealings with it than we aldermen have. She is up there half a day every week, so she has dealt with him a lot more. He has done other projects and some people think he has done a good job and some have other thoughts on it.

Patch: Do you think the city will get a fair deal?

EK: If it’s in writing. That’s why we have our people like [special counsel] Mark Grimm. …He was hired because of this project and Grewe is picking up most of his tab.

Patch: How do you feel personally about his track record in the city of St. Louis?

EK: I have mixed emotions about it. Some of the projects I think are okay and some have been done a little bit better … that’s why you have to have things in writing and have it spelled out.

Patch: Do you think public financing is necessary or needed?

EK: I know he needs TIF money for certain things, but I don’t think the amount of money they are asking for is what they should get.

I wish there would be no public financing in the state of Missouri, but the state legislature will not eliminate it. It pits one city against another city. Until that happens, and it may never happen, it makes a really difficult situation. TIF is a really hated word by some people … for some people, that’s their No. 1 compliant.

Patch: So do you feel like the city has no choice?

EK: To get this project here, you are probably going to have some TIF. Now the amount there, that’s questionable.