Friday, December 9, 2011
It may be at least several months before the TIF process gets back on track.
The changes being made to the controversial Kenrick Plaza site plan by developer GJ Grewe may delay the project by several months, or even call into question the future of the Walmart-anchored redevelopment. The changes are being made to avoid having to move the guy-wires that anchor a nearby radio tower, a move that Grewe said was necessary to avoid “years of litigation.” However, having to build around the cables may mean changes to the size and shape of retail spaces in the development, which could affect the profitability of the profitability of the project. Shrewsbury Director of Administration Jonathan Greever said it would be at least 60 days from the moment he gets the go-ahead to reconvene the commission before the TIF would be …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The public hearing set for Wednesday will be rescheduled again with several weeks notice.
Shrewsbury announced Tuesday that the public hearing Wednesday on the $20 million tax increment financing (TIF) assistance proposed for the redevelopment of Kenrick Plaza has been canceled. The TIF commission heard at its last meeting on Nov. 9 that changes were being made to the site plan for the planned Walmart-anchored redevelopment. The commission was told that several of its questions would have to wait until the cost/benefit analysis of the redevelopment had been revised. Shrewsbury's special counsel on the project, Mark Grimm, said then that the changes would be done in a week. But three weeks later, Shrewsbury Director of Administration Jonathan Greever said in the email announcement that the hearing would be rescheduled "if and/or…
Is it fair for low-income Walmart shoppers to pay for the cost of Shrewsbury services?
This Wednesday, November 30 the city of Shrewsbury Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission will consider G.J. Grewe’s proposed redevelopment of his property, Kenrick Plaza. This project requires reconfiguring the site for the big-box retailer, Walmart. Most of the attention in the public meetings has been focused on the developer; on Walmart and its tactics as a competitor, employer and retailer; and on the design of the proposed redevelopment, especially the closing of Trianon Parkway and the locating of a massive structure so close to residential neighborhoods. But what has been largely overlooked in the discussion of this project are both the tax and public policy implications from the use of TIF. Even though the process by the mayor…
Friday, October 7, 2011
The commission missed the statutory window to notify the public, so the hearing was pushed back.
The public hearing on the proposed $20 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for G. J. Grewe's Walmart-anchored Kenrick Redevelopment has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. November 30 at the Shrewsbury City Center. The 12-member Shrewsbury TIF Commission had originally set the hearing for November 9, but then found that they had run out of time to notify the public about the hearing date. At the hearing individuals and organizations who wish to address the commission will be given 5 minutes each to speak. Before being called up, they must first fill out their name and address on a speaker card. After the hearing the TIF commission will have 30 days to pass a resolution advising the Shrewsbury Board of Aldermen on whether or not to approve …
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Thursday, September 15, 2011
The second meeting adjourned immediately after a motion from the commission's Affton School District representatives.
Members of the Shrewsbury TIF Commission clashed over scheduling issues at their second meeting Wednesday, which caused the meeting to be adjourned and delayed until a later date. The 12-member commission is composed of representatives from Shrewsbury, St. Louis County government and the Affton School District. Its task is to issue a recommendation on developer G.J. Grewe’s request for $20 million in public financing to assist his redevelopment of Kenrick Plaza, which is centered on building a controversial Walmart Supercenter. Wednesday’s meeting would have included the presentation of a cost/benefit analysis of Grewe’s proposal from independent urban planning firm PGAV. As soon as the meeting opened, however, Affton School Board …
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Shrewsbury City Center
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The new alderwoman elected in April continues her opposition to the Walmart project.
Shrewsbury alderwoman Dee Wiecher registered the only “nay” vote on a procedural resolution related to the redevelopment of Kenrick Plaza. The resolution concerned setting a date for a public hearing for the Shrewsbury TIF Commission to discuss the plaza’s redevelopment plan. The site’s developer, GJ Grewe, revealed a preliminary proposal for revamping the ailing shopping center at a meeting of the St. Louis County TIF Commission Aug. 17. The centerpiece of Grewe’s proposal is the construction of a Walmart Super Center as an “anchor store.” After the meeting, Wiecher said her vote was based on her opposition to the Walmart-centered effort. “I don’t think we should be doing this at all,” she said. Wiecher was elected this year in a hotly …
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Friday, August 19, 2011
The Shrewsbury TIF commission met for the first time Wednesday.
The redeveloper of Kenrick Plaza is seeking $20 million in public assistance from the City of Shrewsbury to build a controversial Walmart Supercenter. G. J. Grewe revealed a preliminary plan for the approximately 25-acre site, located in the 7400 block of Watson Road near the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. Grewe made the presentation Wednesday at the City of Shrewsbury's first Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission meeting at the Shrewsbury City Center. In addition to a Walmart, Grewe's total $43-million redevelopment plan calls for several other smaller retailers to replace the site of the vacant Kenrick 8 Cine movie theater, which closed in 2007. That area is referred to in the plan as Upper Kenrick Plaza and includes a …
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5200 Shrewsbury Ave, Saint Louis, MO
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Tony
8:33 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
As I noted on the previous article on the topic, something STINKS in Shrewsbury. The guy wires were always a known factor. In fact, Grewe, PGAV, and Bert and Barry all used the guy wires to convince the citizens of Shrewsbury that we HAD to have big box retail at Kenrick, and have done so for YEARS. Citizens pleaded for mixed use, something less intrusive. But we had to have big box. Why? Let's … more ›