St. Louis Needs to Stop Dating and Settle Down
I’ve often argued that cities need to have more self-respect—especially when it comes to dealing with sports teams. We love...
Broken Approval Process Slows Development
Several disjointed developments in the Cortex and Grove areas of St. Louis nicely encapsulate the confusing involvement of elected officials,...
Tax Incentive Reforms Would Benefit Kansas City
A version of this commentary appeared in the Kansas City Star. Ulysses S. Grant was known to say that in...
Kansas City’s Economic Development Corporation Is in Need of Overhaul
The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDC) seems unable to provide meaningful assistance to city leaders regarding economic development...
St. Louis Officials Recommend “Blight Designation” for . . . A Gated Parking Lot
When is blight not really blight? Apparently, when tax incentives are involved. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St....
Developer Reportedly Ends Project After LCRA Vote
Steve Foutch is a Kansas City real estate developer who, at least before today, was pursuing taxpayer support to build...
Who’s Paying for $160 Million in Blues Upgrades?
The Saint Louis Blues had a very successful season, making it deep into the playoffs and just two wins short...
Del Blighto
News that the flying saucer–shaped Del Taco might be demolished has the Saint Louis community of architectural preservationists up in...
Less for More
Have you ever heard of a property developer spending more to rehab a building than he expects to make from...
Compare and Contrast: LRA and LCRA
I attended my first Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) board meeting in Saint Louis yesterday. I couldn’t help but...
Can St. Louis Really Support Another Performing Arts Facility? Local Government Certainly Thinks So
If I read the tea leaves correctly, I expect an announcement in the coming days, weeks, or months that the...
Under the Color of State Authority
Today, the Eighth Circuit held that St. Louis’ Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority must face the music for attempting to shut...
You Can’t Sue Us … We Had No Right to Do What We Did!
Tomorrow morning, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a rather unusual case. Jim Roos graduated from...
