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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Monday, June 16, 2003

Missouri Receives $2.5 Million to Combat
Volence Against Women
JEFFERSON CITY, (SLFP.com), June 15, 2003 -The Department of Justice (DOJ) will send the Missouri Department of Public Safety $2,536,000 in federal dollars for the STOP Violence Against Women program.

In an announcement, U.S. Senator Kit Bond said, "Violence against women is a serious crime that law enforcement, the court system and community groups must face head-on. The $2.5 million for Missouri will help these groups form the strong partnerships necessary to make a real difference."

DOJ will send the Missouri Department of Public Safety $2,536,000 in federal dollars for the STOP Violence Against Women program. The STOP program encourages the development and implementation of victim services, victim-centered law enforcement, prosecution and court strategies to address violent crimes against women. STOP partners law enforcement, prosecution, courts and victim advocacy organizations to improve victim safety and hold perpetrators accountable for crimes against women.

Missouri will use 30% of the STOP funds for nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs, 25% for law enforcement, another 25% for prosecution and at least 5% for the courts. The remaining 15% will be used at the state's discretion.

Botanical Heights

Dell Breeland, president, McRee Town Redevelopment Corporation and McRee Town Neighborhood Association, expressed her enthusiasm for the development agreement to revitalize McRee Town during a press conference held at Mayor Francis Slay's Office.

Botanical Heights Development Will Create a New Neighborhood Near the Missouri Botanical Garden

by Bob Moore, SLFP.com

ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), June 4, 2003 - A Master Development Agreement with a public-private partnership to redevelop 90 acres north of the Missouri Botanical Garden was signed today in the office of Mayor Francis Slay.

McBride & Sons Homes, Inc. will invest an estimated $40 million for the construction and marketing of the new development which will be called Botanical Heights. More than $12 million has been raised to support the predevelopment costs of acquisition, demolition, relocation and site preparation of the neighborhood which consists of numerous abandoned and burned-out buildings.

Following the press conference, Dell Breeland, president, McRee Town Redevelopment Corporation and McRee Town Neighborhood Association, spoke with Saint Louis Front Page about the community-based project.

"Since 1996, we have been trying to find a way to revitalize McRee Town," stated Breeland. "In order to get rid of most of the decaying and vandalized buildings, the drugs and the gangs, we were approached by the Missouri Botanical Garden." The 14-block area borders the Garden to the north of Hwy 44.

Breeland related that the stakeholders had numerous meetings. "At the first meeting held at the Garden, we showed sketches and asked for input. We asked the neighbors from Laclede Town, Tiffany, Shaw and Southwest Garden to come to the meeting. We began developing the Garden District Commission and met for three years."

According to Breeland, the commission's focus was to turn the area around by building new single family homes. The plan would reduce the density and alleviate some of the crime. "We felt that it would bring in more taxpayers and more families that cared about the neighborhood."

Breeland, a resident of the neighborhood for twenty-three years, emphasized that there are so many abandoned houses, vacant buildings and vacant lots, that the area needed to be totally redeveloped. She noted that the plan would change an environment that some said 'looked like something left over from the Vietnam War.' Graffiti covers many buildings and trash litters the streets and the alleys.

"One of our prime reasons for the redevelopment was that we had to consider the people that lived in McRee Town first," stated Breeland. "When we started, there were only 6 families who were homeowners. One is protesting the project, the others have agreed. We also have landlords who have agreed."

She stated that residents being relocated are compensated for moving costs and for up to 42 months in the difference for any increase in rent. "We have renters who have become homeowners because of the move. We have people who are happy with the move."

Throughout the press conference, a small but vocal group of protestors holding signs continuously interrupted the speakers and the Mayor. When asked about her expectations for the development, Breeland stated that, "This is a fair and fine situation. I know that the people here demonstrating are not residents of McRee Town. They have rental property in the area. We are relocating residents and the children are being put into uncrowded conditions."

The agreement was signed by Dell Breeland, Darryl T. Jones, president of the Garden District Commission board, Rick Sullivan, CEO of McBride & Son Homes, Inc., with the participation of Mayor Francis Slay, George Robnett, executive director of the Garden District Commission, and residents of McRee Town. Alderman Joseph Roddy, whose ward includes McRee Town, and Alderman Steve Conway, of the adjacent 8th Ward and an original proponent of the plan, also participated.

McBride will begin building 140-160 new owner-occupied market-rate single-family homes in the second quarter of 2004 and oversee the development of a number of affordable housing units.

Throughout the press conference, a small but vocal group of protestors holding signs continuously interrupted the speakers and the Mayor.

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