Steve Smith will likely be one donor.

Do you think the election of 20th ward alderman will turn on the issue of expanding drinking establishments on Cherokee?

Surely that's not the number one issue on the minds of ward residents, is it?

What is going on in St. Louis? Could the result of the increase in candidates challenging incumbents for elected office, mean that St. Louisans are putting aside their apathy and getting involved in their community? This upcoming election sure will make for some excitement.

Who did not see this coming, The We're Hip and You're Not, We Want What We Want When We Want It, Liquor Licenses Equal Progress Candidate?

Hey Howard,

The 20th ward race will be real interesting from a racial politics point of view.

Craig Schmid is one of the most beloved white alderman among African Americans.

When the 20th ward was created as an "opportunity ward" to elect a black alderman, it was the black residents who came together in their support for Craig Schmid.

Now you have a young white progressive candidate, with an agenda supporting the expansion efforts of hipster bar owner, versus a neighborhood advocate type alderman, supported by conservative, neighborhood watch-type African Americans.

Should make for some interesting political dialogue.

I agree with 'Political Observer', it is nice to see more involvement this election cycle. And it is only the first day -- will the next month or so bring us even more candidates?

Drinking establishments is not the #1 issue in the 20th ward but I would imagine the future of Cherokee Street ranks high on the list.

Cherokee west of Jefferson looks better now than it has in twenty years. Under the steadfast leadership and neighborhood advocacy of Craig Schmid.

If the future of Cherokee is an important issue, and past performance is demonstrating positive results, why would neighborhood residents want to mess with success?

'Know the north', don't confuse vacant with better. But yes, much of the bad element has been run off the street but now what? The run out the problems folks are out of ideas.

Cherokee -- vacant?

It looks like Cherokee -- rehabbing!

When I say "looks better" I am seeing new investment.

What are you seeing?

Schmid has been methodic and diligent in retaining the 10th ward's housing stock potential. An easier way would have been wholesale razing. There are some who would have preferred that residents and the alderman had not stayed, had not held down the fort to preserve what they have. It would have made development so much easier to have had the place hit rock bottom and abandoned, assembled parcels by large tracts, tear down everything and build new.

Schmid is a tireless fighter for the 10th. A lesser person would have thrown in the towel after the redistricting kick in the pants. He didn't look at the new boundaries as being left with nothing. True, the institutional assets were carved out for others and a bizarre shaped ward with many problem properties and corresponding problems the result. Instead, he saw his home and his neighbors homes, he saw the people who have struggled the uphill battle for decades to retain their piece of the American dream, and that it was something, not nothing, something to continue fighting for.

Saying the 10th ward's election is not about a liquor license is like saying the 12th ward's election is not about a wheelchair.

But I am not the voice of authority, not a powerful person like Urban Review. I am just an old coot who knows the Circuit Clerk was re-elected earlier this month and is not on the spring ballot.

- When the 20th ward was created as an "opportunity ward" to elect a black alderman, it was the black residents who came together in their support for Craig Schmid. -

Mr. know the north

Why does the 20th ward have the fewest people in the city interestd in voting?

In the last aldermanic race about 650 people voted.

Most wards had over 1000 people vote.

I don't think the of alderman Schmit and commityman Rice as people that are loved, rather they are the lesser of evils.

Political Observer questiond about apathy in St. Louis. Craig Schmid needs Apathy to keep his job.

I say fire him in march.

It appears Howard and me are both old coots and city traditionalists.

We think of the 20th as a northside ward, and the 10th as the rightful designation for the Cherokee/Jefferson/Broadway's turf-not the Hill's.

There is tradition in the locating and numbering of wards in the city.

Who here holds Schmid or the committee people responsible for the lower voter turnout in the 20th ward compared to say the 16th ward, 23rd, or 12th wards?

Those people would be grasping for straws in search of defects in Craig Schmid rather than looking at the facts on the ground.

Important endorsements? I will be reading with great interest the blog entries from a certain Gravois Park/Benton Park West urbanist.

^Why, which blogging Gravois Park/Benton Park West urbanist? Joe Frank will surely back Schmid, but Travis Reems may back Gondolfi.

My goal is to keep the good name of the 10th ward alive and generate a groundswell of support for returning its good name in the next redistricting.

Travis Reems endorsement in this election will be almost as crucial as Steve Patterson's. I encourage both to work for the Liquor License Candidate.

I'd like to know of those who've posted so far...do any of you reside in the 20th ward?

Do any of you reside within 3-5 blocks of Cherokee street?

The liquor question is to keep every corner from having a bar. The most current question about bars has been met with resistance that the individual HAS to have their establishment in a particular location. There are other more suitable buildings farther up the street that would accommodate a kitchen.

As a resident within 4 blocks, I do NOT want a bar only in my neighborhood. I want to walk to an establishment where I can order food as well as a drink if I prefer.

Besides, there are four neighborhoods that the 20th Alderman covers. The leadership of these neighborhoods have no problem bending the ear of the alderman who supports bills or repeals any ordinance they don't agree with. If the neighborhoods had wanted bars, they'd have pressed to have the ordinance repealed. Ask any of the leadership of Gravois Park, Marine Villa, Benton Park West, and Dutchtown. I don't think you will find anyone who would say they want the ordinance repealed. AND these are the Leadership that the residents voted in as their neighborhood voice.

While the liquor issue could be a big issue in this race, what it boils down to is that if any action by an alderman counters what the neighborhoods stand firm on, then the alderman will have a war on their hands.

I don't quite understand why the 20th ward (sorry, but 10th ward has long gone Italian) refuses to have corner bars like every other Southside neighborhood. Sure, Cherokee won't be the next Soulard anytime soon. Still, from Slay's quiet Lindenwood nabe and its 3am-licensed Johnny Gitto's to the plethora of bars on Manchester in the latest "it" nabe of "The Grove," St. Louisans just love to drink.

I really like Craig. I think he's the most dedicated, heart-driven alderman we have. But I do think Schmid relies on the opinions of those few seniors left a little too much. Ultimately though, unless Gondolfi is some Jeff Smith clone, I think Craig's character will keep him in office.

I'm sure Travis Reems can make this correction himself, but since he hasn't yet, I will. Travis Reems does not live in the 20th ward, nor does he live in Gravois Park or Benton Park West. So whatever blogger "know the north" is speaking about, I'm guessing it isn't Travis.

While the chatter on the board is interesting, few of these comments actually talk about what can be done to move the ward forward. Like getting businesses into empty storefronts. Making LRA homes available to average citizens, and ending the real estate banking that keeps homes and streets empty, and many other things. Who was out doing things that help residents of the community(gathering signatures to raise the min. wage, registering people to vote, etc)? It sure wan't Craig. This race will be about more than old vs. new guard, it will be about what is best for the ward.
Glenn Burleigh
Camipaign manager, Galen for 20th ward alderman

Glenn,

What's an "average citizen" going to do with an LRA building?

Most likely lose his or her shirt financially.

It's funny how easy "average people" think rehabbing a derelict LRA building is. Not.

However, if your campaign has a plan to make the difficult workable for the "average", by all means, please, share!

^
Curious George, anyone looking at an LRA building for rehab is past the "average citizen" point. People looking at LRA buildings have to know what hardships they can be, and the process for buying one isn't easy either.

Perhaps Glenn is suggesting that serious micro-rehabbers or homesteaders are being told that the LRA inventory in the 20th ward is "on reserve." If that's the case, it's similar to other wards where aldermen are banking such properties for big-scle development projects that never seem to come. Meanwhile, LRA buildings continue to collapse, get demolished or burn down, and the city loses more beutiful and unique buildings.

Oh, and also: rehabbers not able to get an LRA building who take on a market-rate building may end up spending as much on the rehab with a much higher purchase price. For many people, buying market rate is easier but actually less financially sound than buying from the LRA.

Michael-

LRA buildings *are* sold at market rate...if anything, they are *overpriced*. That is the whole problem! The buildings have negative value.

The same could be said for someone paying $40,000-$50,000 for a run-of-the-mill 70-90 year-old city 2-family.

The price might sound like a great deal to some L.A. loan broker, willing to mortgage the property to the hilt; but, the fact is, on average, these properties require so much rehab, that the total project cost often far exceeds the after-rehab market value of the finished product.

That is assuming you are hiring contractors and doing professional work. But that's exactly what most "average" people have to do.

If you're counting on do-it-yourself labor, Hoods priced or salvaged materials, or the buddy system, that usually won't satisy any commercial lenders, or the LRA's requirement to establish project feasibility.

"Average people", especially the ones with regular, full-time jobs, don't typically have the time or expertise to rehab their own homes.

i live within a couple blocks of cherokee and would love to be able to walk to a bar in my own neighborhood

why can't that royale guy just keep some frozen patties in the fridge to satisfy the food requirement?

can't we all just get along... and go to the bar?

^If only that pesky food requirement were as simple as having food on site, instead of a minimum of fifty-percent of total sales. So either drunks like us need to eat more than we drink, or this unevenly applied rule should just be lifted.

A couple of things, Craig's support of both the LRA buildings being "on hold" for bigger developers, and the limitations of liquor licenses have both been covered by the RFT, in past issues. Just go to their site, you should be able to look it up in their archives. Don't take it from me, take it from Craig.

Aldermen working with neighborhood groups to attract qualified developers for LRA buildings is a proven model of success. Check out Old North St. Louis.

Brian, the bulk of the so-called Italian ward is not Italian, not even a Hill ward. The ward's population is 13,331 and the Hill is only 2,692 of it. With 62.23% voting for Amendment 2, it's certainly not wind-up toy soldiers at the ballot box for St. Ambrose and the Archdiocese.

Brian, anyone dreaming of Cherokee becoming the next Soulard either hasn't considered the demographic consequences or intends on replacing a family nabe with an adult entertainment nabe. Examples- Under 18- Soulard: 12.61%, BPW&GP: 36.43%. Male Pop.- Soulard:56.82%, BPW&GP:47.92%.

Brian, Lindenwood's Gitto venue would not have pursued a 3 a.m. license if it knew yesterday what they know today. Down the street on Chippewa is 3 a.m. Barney's, which was a problem before the 3 a.m. and now presents bigger problems. The reason that one went through is because the alderwoman and commercial district manager dropped the ball or intentionally screwed the neighbors into sending letters of opposition instead of working to remove names off the petition. I lean toward the screwed them on account of the pitiful excuse for a facade improvement that also resulted at Barney's mini-mall. Doesn't look like an extension of Hampton Village as was plan by deceased alderwoman.

Glenn, if you are saying that Alderman Schmid is not a part of the ACORN voter registration problem and that your Liquor License Candidate is, I think you should definitely make sure voters are aware of this point.

Glenn, if your Liquor License Candidate gets 100% of the ward's RFT readers-voters, Schmid will win re-election in a landslide.

Howard,

I'm still waiting to hear the Gondolfo campaign's ideas about what "average people" are going to be doing with LRA buildings.

ONSL is a great example of how to market and reuse LRA buildings, but the job isn't done there yet. And Schmid's efforts to market LRA buildings are laughable.

"Know what",

You posted: "And Schmid's efforts to market LRA buildings are laughable."

Can you be more specific?

I "know the north", but I'm interested in knowing the south, too. Thanks.

Not on anyones campaign, but i do live in the 20th. I grew up with my parents rehabing unique buildings to beautify the community and they were average people, not big investors. Although this was done in another city, the same type of grants that helped them were availible in St. Louis just four years ago in some non historic Wards. Could someone explain why this isnt possible with housing in the 20th ward.

"Pushing me out" shares a common misperception about St. Louis--that there are piles of free grant monies just lying around with which to rehab LRA buildings.

Maybe he's watching too much late nite TV? Or perhaps attending those "no money down" conferences at the airport?

Targeted grants are available to rehab properties in the city (with many strings attached), but dollars are limited, and available only as "gap financing".

Interested developers must first bring private financing to the table, and typically leverage any city grant dollars with whatever available state and federal grant or tax credit programs might apply.

The city does a good job leveraging its scarce resources, and that's a good thing. Just like the days of the "$1" city house, the days of free grant money to rehab city properties (if there ever were such days) are long gone.

Chalk 'em up to urban legend status. These are things Galen and Glenn will soon learn if they win the election.

First,"Know The North"

you assume that im a Male. Secondly, it is not hard to line up monies from construction loan programs if you are able to demonstrate that there is a party or parties interested in purchasing or leasing the property, Even if that mean buying it back from said investers( which i have done before). the only out of pocket is if the building is being sold under 50K. In that case the out of pocket money must come from private funds or personal loan. The process of aquiring the money to bring the building up to code must be done Before Applying to buy any LRA Property. Therefore, if youve shown enough financial responsibility to acquire the building, you would have already completed the requirements that you have stated above.

Pushing me out-

Sorry, ma'am.

I must confess that your explanation has stumped me. I guess I "know the north", but not much about real estate development financing!

Just out of curiosity, about how much would you ballpark the minimum total development cost on an LRA building?

When you say sell for $50,000, it doesn't sound like you're allowing for much cost.