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News Briefs - July 7-20, 2010
Central West End
San Luis group drops appeal
A year after filing suit to stop the demolition of the San Luis Building, a preservationist group has given up its legal fight to challenge what it saw as a legal loophole regarding the definition of stakeholders.
Last summer, a judge denied a demolition injunction, based on the fact that Friends of San Luis did not have a residence or office within the neighborhood surrounding the building. Since then, the St. Louis Archdiocese, which has long owned the former hotel and senior citizens residence, has torn it down and replaced it with a surface parking lot that serves the neighboring St. Louis Cathedral Basilica and Rosati-Kain High School.
Despite the demolition of the San Luis Building, Friends of San Luis sought to overturn the judge’s decision, to clarify the right of appeal for future preservation battles. The fight, however, ended in early June when the Court of Appeals ruled against the preservationist group.
“While the Friends of San Luis had hoped for a ruling by the court of appeals that would have affirmed the public interest rights in a community, we accept the ruling issued this week,” read a statement issued by Friends of San Luis after the Court of Appeals’ decision. “We will not appeal the cause further, but instead will rededicate ourselves to the outreach and education needed to prevent future losses.
“The Court of Appeals ruling suggests that the ultimate remedy is not judicial but legislative,” the statement continues. “The city preservation law is a wonderful example of government recognition of the public interest in historic preservation and urban planning, but it has a major weakness in leaving the public right to appeal as clear as a red brick. That should change.”
Budget problems force major change in Taylor Park plans
Plans for a pocket park on Taylor just north of Lindell Boulevard have changed, due to an over-budget design and logistical problems.
Lyda Krewson, alderman for the 28th Ward, said she found out this spring that the original kid-centered design for Taylor Park was expected to cost around $1.1 million rather than the $550,000 that had been budgeted for the park.
That design, which was announced last year, was to feature a ramped playground that wrapped around the park, as well as a climbing rock in the center of the park. The ramp would have also required moving a utility box onto private property; however, the property owner would not give permission for the move.
The new design calls for a circular “labyrinth” path and sculpture in the center of the park, surrounded by tables, benches and landscaping. Krewson said that it is expected to cost under $500,000.
“I understand that everyone is disappointed that we spent a lot of time working on what we can’t build, what we all planned on doing. But [the cost was] double what we planned,” Krewson said. “There’s no playground equipment, per se, but I think kids will find this a good place to run around and parents will find it a good place to relax and watch their kids run around.”
The city Parks Department signed off on the new design in early June. Initial work on Taylor Park has already begun and construction is expected to be finished this fall.
Heather Navarro, a CWE resident who leads the CWE Families and Friends group, said that while she and the other parents in the group are disappointed in the change of plans, she understands the budget constraints and thinks that the new park will be “lovely.”
“We still plan on going over there with our kids, but we’re also going to look at other options” for neighborhood playgrounds, Navarro said.
City of St. Louis
Governor, mayor announce 300 new high-tech jobs
Governor Jay Nixon and Mayor Francis Slay recently announced that worldwide information company Unisys is locating a new application modernization center of excellence in St. Louis, a project expected to create 300 new high-tech jobs in the area in the next two years.
The new center will provide a central team of highly skilled experts focused on building, operating and maintaining cutting-edge software applications for Unisys government and commercial clients.
“Unisys’ decision to invest in the state of Missouri is the latest indication of the undeniable momentum of our economic recovery,” Nixon said. “The strategic use of state economic incentives, which are providing an excellent return on investment to Missouri taxpayers in terms of jobs created, helped pave the way for this announcement to become reality.”
The state of Missouri awarded Unisys $4.5 million in Missouri Quality Jobs program tax credits, which provides tax credits to businesses that created a predetermined number of jobs, among other qualifications.
“I’m pleased to welcome Unisys into the city of St. Louis. Unisys is the type of forward-thinking company that will thrive in our urban environment, ” Slay said. “Unisys will provide good jobs to city residents and our city will provide the talent this company needs to succeed. ”
Unisys’ new facility will serve as the core application development hub for Unisys Federal Systems, centralizing non-client site application modernization services and support provided for the company’s government clients, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The company has already begun staffing the center with a variety of occupations, including IT positions in the areas of application and architecture development.
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