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Grand Center 314-533-1884 "When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area. St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com  |
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), October 17, 2002 - After nearly 20 years of delayed efforts to rebuild the Grand Center Arts District, a financing tool in the form of a TIF proposal may give new life to its redevelopment. The Grand Center area is anchored by the Saint Louis University campus to the south, Fox Theatre, Sheldon Theater, Powell Symphony Hall and St. Alphonsus Rock Church to the north.
On Thursday morning, October 17, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay joined Father Lawrence Biondi, former Mayor Vincent Schoemehl, 19th Ward Alderman Michael McMillan, Steve Trampe, developer of Continential Life Building and others for a media tour of the area. A caravan of golf carts drove down the sidewalks in Grand Center. Speaking from a golf cart driven by Father Biondi, Mayor Slay talked about the importance of Grand Center as a bridge between downtown and the Central West End. "A tremendous amount of things are happening over here under the leadership of Vince Schoemehl, who is the Director of Grand Center," stated the Mayor. The Mayor stated that the City of St. Louis is working in a partnership with area institutions, including Saint Louis University and others, to structure the TIF proposal. "We have a lot of good plans by using TIF to spur development," said Mayor Slay. "Right now, we have the Continental Building being renovated and the old Coronado Hotel is being developed with 165 apartments. The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts has just built a new gallery and the Forum for Contemporary Arts has a new building." Mayor Slay noted there is growing interest for Grand Center. "We are hoping that by doing the TIF, it will allow us to have access to a great deal of new money for investment in this area." When questioned how Grand Center compared with blighted areas originally designed for TIF, Mayor Slay responded that the location is ideal for TIF. "It is difficult to redevelop areas where there are older buildings. We have environmental problems and other issues with the old buildings. You need additional help and access to resources to be able to do it right and to make the numbers work." Diane L. Jones, vice president marketing & development, Grand Center, was excited to talk about plans for new housing while driving one of the golf carts on the tour. "Development is underway at Bell and Grand with the groundbreaking for the Blumeyer Housing Project. McCormick Baron is installing a new Hope VI model housing project with about $160 million worth of investment," stated Jones. Pointed to a location where the Vashon High School used to be, she noted that the Clyde C. Miller Career Academy will be a $30 million investment.
In addition to housing projects being planned, 19th Ward Alderman Michael McMillan stated that," At Page and Grand, the Charmaine Chapman Community Center is slated to be built for all of the Jeff Vanderlou and Blumeyer residents. The Grand-Rock Economic Development Corporation and other institutions are coming together to build the nearly $5 million recreation center. There is nothing right now for the youth in this area," stated McMillan. After the tour concluded in front of the Continental Building, former Mayor Vincent Schoemehl commented that projects currently underway such as the Contemporary Art Museum, Cardinal Ritter College Prep School and the Coronado are being used as the launching pad for new development. "We want to relaunch Grand Center and hopefully fulfill the vision that we had back in 1987 when we started all this," stated Schoemehl. When asked why has it taken 15 years to get the TIF together and launch the plan, Schoemehl stated, "I think Missouri in some respects lagged behind other states in the terms of adopting TIF as a redevelopment tool. I think that the economy in the St. Louis region did not grow as rapidly as the rest of the country. Our population has been somewhat stagnate for the past thirty or forty years in the St. Louis Region. So there are a number of contributing factors," stated Schoemehl. "However, you can start to feel the change in the city. I live in the city and I see the demand for housing go through the roof. I just sense that this is St. Louis' time and I think we can make this happen," concluded Schoemehl.  
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