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one includes 500 residential units located in a 50-block area. It’s bound by St. Louis Continued from A1 Place Park, Cass Avenue on the south, North Florissant on Louis American that he hoped the east – immediately adjacent the new facility will help curb to the eastern edge of the new crime in North city. NGA facility. He expects to “A lot of things happen finish the first phase in five in this part of the city that years. they definitely don’t tolerate Marilyn Melkonian, Telesis’ in other parts of the city,” founder and CEO, told the he said. “You got a mapping American the residents living agency. They’re like the spies in the area are the “bedrock of for the world, so they should the community” and that an know about what’s going on important part of their work is everywhere.” “citizen engagement.” During the public comment “It’s just good manners and portion, Joyce Belk-Miller necessary to having a successspoke on behalf of her mothful program,” she said. er, Kathleen Belk, who will However, Melkonian also have to move out of her home was not present at the comon the 2300 block munity meeting on Mullanphy, where June 6. n “A lot of she’s lived since Catherine Lynch, things happen director of planning 1957. Because of the rise in housing for Telesis, said she in this part of costs surrounding attended the first the city that NGA, she will have part of the meeting they definitely to move out to but left before the don’t tolerate St. Louis County, public comment Joyce said. in other parts portion. She said in “My mom is 80 hindsight, it would of the city.” years old,” she said. have been a good “She’s not familiar idea for Telesis to – Kevin with the county. set up a table and Huntspon She wouldn’t know talk with residents. where she’s going.” McKee also has It’s not too late, a long-standing she said, for the city partnering with to help residents like her moth- Larry Chapman, principal with er to obtain one of the new CRG Real Estate Services – homes that will be built around which is a part of Clayco, for NGA. the Northside project’s comSeveral people asked about mercial development. Chapman the housing development that said he didn’t even know about will take place around NGA. the Project Connect community The person in charge of that meeting. development – Paul McKee But Chapman wasn’t Jr., the developer for the pubthe only one in the dark. licly-subsidized Northside Residents said that the city only Regeneration project – was not announced the meeting online, at the meeting. McKee told and the news didn’t reach many the American he didn’t attend neighbors. Stefene Russell, an because large-scale meetings editor with St. Louis Magazine are often unproductive, and he and a resident in St. Louis prefers to have meetings with Place, gave a moving and emoless than a dozen community tional comment at the meeting members. about project’s process. On June 7, McKee “I know a lot of people in announced that he will partthe city are happy about the ner with Washington-based financial part of it, but there Telesis Corporation to develop is some genuine trauma that’s 3,000 market-rate residential going on that needs to be recunits within the Northside ognized,” she said, speaking Regeneration project. Phase through tears. “I’ve never seen
ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 9 – 15, 2016
NGA
Ali in STL Sam Moore, now aldermen of the Fourth Ward, and his partners paid Muhammad Ali to come to St. Louis in 1987 for a week to pitch a closed circuit TV presentation of the Michael Spinks-Gerry Cooney fight, which Moore’s company was promoting. During one long autograph session at Delmonico’s Diner, Ali met with residents and kissed a baby.
anything like this. The sacrifices and the trauma that’s occurring needs to be acknowledged and honored.” The site includes 76 percent vacant land, 9 percent vacant residential lots (lots with vacant homes), and 13 percent owner- or renter-occupied residences, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Final Environmental Impact Statement published on April 1. About 28 families were uprooted as part of the land acquisition, and eminent domain proceedings are currently underway for some of those. In March, St. Louis city
leaders offered the federal intelligence agency free land if it agreed to build its western headquarters in North St. Louis. The original price tag for the North City land was $14 million. The city also has committed to providing a $1.5 million annual contribution for up to 30 years. The state has committed $131 million for infrastructure improvements – $95 million in Tax Incremental Financing and approximately $36 million in Brownfield Tax Credits. On June 2, NGA Director Robert Cardillo signed the Record of Decision, indicating
NGA’s final selection for its west headquarters is the north St. Louis City site. “Ultimately this location, near a quickly-growing technological and professional environment, will allow for NGA to integrate capabilities and technologies in support of our mission to provide accurate and relevant geospatial intelligence to our customers.” he said. While St. Louis leaders rejoiced, Illinois officials criticized the move and questioned the process, according to St. Louis Public Radio. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.,
called the choice of north St. Louis short-sighted. Illinois proposed a 182-acre site in St. Clair County that also came with $115 million in infrastructure upgrades. “I am deeply concerned about the security of the St. Louis site and I do not believe we have received acceptable answers from Director Cardillo,” Durbin said in a statement. Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois has already asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office for an investigation into the NGA’s decision.