Saint Louis politicians, media, and bloggers have enthusiastically embraced proposed legislation that would create a package of tax credits and other incentives to establish Lambert International Airport as a "China Hub." The idea is that increased trade between Missouri and China could give both the state and city economies a boost.

In late December 2009, pressed to award nearly $20 million in tax credits to a single development company, the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) managed to review the company's formal application within the month, awarding the company, NorthSide Regeneration LLC, $19.6 million just a day before the end of the year.

Fehlig Brothers Box & Lumber has been in business since 1873, and located in Saint Louis' north side for 55 years. Company president Jack O'Leary said that while some area residents and businessmen are skeptical of the $8.1 billion plan put forward by developer Paul McKee and NorthSide Regeneration LLC, he’s generally for it. However, according to NorthSide’s redevelopment plan, a good portion of Fehlig Brothers is slated for “open space.”

Three houses fall squarely within the boundaries of the recently approved $8.1 billion development of the city of Saint Louis' north side. Of course, about 4,600 other properties also fall within those boundaries, but in the case of the 2200 block of Madison, NorthSide Regeneration LLC, the company behind the development, may be endangering one of its most frequently invoked promises. That promise concerns the use of eminent domain.

A much-debated $8 billion development in the city of Saint Louis' north side has been awarded $19.6 million in state tax credits. Those are in addition to city tax incentives, which could total up to $398 million.

A chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit today claiming that a city ordinance banning people from putting pamphlets on car windshields violates the constitutional right to free speech.

A circuit court judge ruled on Thursday that a contested 1,500-acre development of the city's north side can move forward. Critics had claimed in court that the city ordinance authorizing the development was invalid because the city hadn't thoroughly vetted the development company's funding before granting it up to $390.6 million in tax increment financing (TIF). However, Judge Robert Dierker wrote in his ruling that it isn't the job of the courts to second-guess the city's decision to approve the project.

A petition drive to put a recently approved large-scale development of the city's north side up for city vote to failed to gather enough signatures. The backers of the petition, critics of the 1,500-acre development put forward by NorthSide Regeneration LLC and developer Paul McKee, had gathered more than 3,000 signatures, said Jim Roos, an anti–eminent domain activist.

Another plaintiff (and set of attorneys) has joined the lawsuit filed against the development company that the city of Saint Louis recently approved for $390.6 million in tax increment financing (TIF) to redevelop 1,500 acres in the city's north side and in northern portions of downtown.

On Thursday, a circuit court judge heard arguments that the city of Saint Louis' Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Commission had not thoroughly investigated the financial backing of a proposed redevelopment of 1,500 acres in the city's north side before approving it. The lawsuit, by no means a certain bet, could halt the recently approved project put forward by developer Paul McKee and his company NorthSide Regeneration LLC.

The lawyer for a recently approved redevelopment of 1,500 acres in the city of Saint Louis' north side says that the development company, NorthSide Regeneration LLC, will likely need eminent domain to acquire about 20 properties in the redevelopment area. The project, put forward by developer Paul McKee, has been contentious in the past because of the perceived threat of eminent domain, and because it calls for nearly $400 million in tax increment financing (TIF) from the city.

With revenues down by about $1 million, the Saint Charles County Council met to debate the merits of granting $80,000 to market an airport expansion project that doesn't fall within the county. The project is a proposed expansion of the Lambert–Saint Louis International Airport that would create a China hub in the hopes of increased international trade.

The Saint Louis Board of Aldermen voted to perfect and approve an $8.1 billion development of the city's north side, along with $198.6 million in tax increment financing (TIF) for the first half of project, for the next 23 years.

A not-yet-approved $8.1 billion development of the city of Saint Louis' north side is already facing legal action. Critics of the development have been very vocal about their concerns of blighting, the use of eminent domain, and whether the project has any financial backers. The development company, NorthSide Regeneration LLC, has asked the city for $390.6 million in tax increment financing (TIF).